The Tabernacle of David
In 750 B.C., Amos prophesied of the reestablishing of the Tabernacle of David. (Amos 9.11) This tabernacle, or tent, dismantled after the Temple was built by King Solomon. The Tabernacle of David housed the Ark of the Covenant during a 40 year period and represents the transition from Sinai, the Mosaic covenant, to Zion, the Messianic covenant. The Tabernacle of Moses, which had housed the Ark, since its construction by Moses, was set up in Shiloh. There the Levites continued their daily sacrifices and service in accordance with the Law. When Eli was High Priest, his sons took the Ark out of the Tabernacle into the camp of the Israelite army. They were worthless men who tried to use the presence of God as a means of personal advantage. The battle turned in favor of the Philistines, Hophni and Phinehas were killed and the Ark was captured.
The Philistines rejoiced in their victory and the capture of the Hebrew’s God, but the Ark only brought disaster to the Philistine cities where it had been taken. Fear came upon the Philistines and they decided to return the Ark to Israel. It first went to Beth-shemish where several men of the city profaned the Ark by trying to look in it. The wrath of the Lord broke out against them and 70 men died that day. In fear, they called on the men of a neighboring town, Kiriath-jearim, to take it from them, and there the Ark stayed until David brought it into Jerusalem. During the days of King Saul, religion, according to the law, prevailed in Shiloh, but the presence of the Lord was not there.
David, from the tribe of Judah, which means praise, was a worshipper before he was a king. His primary desire was to be in the presence of the Lord and to worship Him with all his might. God chose this country pastor-boy to be the king of His people Israel. His first “order-of-business”, upon arriving in Jerusalem, was to recover the Presence of God. With celebration, dancing, sacrifices, and worship, David brought the Ark into Jerusalem. Remember, the Tabernacle of Moses was still in Shiloh; the ritual worship, according to the Law, was still going on. David had another mandate. The Ark was to be honored by all, accessible to all, and God was to be worshipped continually.
The Tabernacle of David was quite different from the Tabernacle of Moses. There was 24/7 prayer and praise, the use of musical instruments, dancing, hands being raised, amen to blessings, thanksgiving and extravagant giving. David was a man after God’s own heart and his worship reflected his love and devotion to God. This is what the prophet Amos was envisioning when he declared that there would come a day in which the all peoples everywhere would worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. The leaders of the early Church in Jerusalem saw this prophecy’s fulfillment in the entrance of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God. (Acts 15.16-17) Today, we can see it’s fulfillment in the emphasis on exuberant prayer and praise in the Body of Christ.
Amos spoke of a specific time, “in that day”, of a divine initiative, “I will raise up”, and of a global mission, “all the nations”. The clock was set with Israel’s return to their land, from captivity in all the nations, as the beginning point. (Amos 9.15) There is promise of abundance, restoration, revival and end-time harvest. Today, is the day!
Scriptures to meditate on:
Amos 9.11-15; I Chron. 13.1-4; 16.1-7; II Sam. 4.4; 6.1-14; Ps. 61.4; Is. 16.5; Acts 15.16-19