After many years, we had this
account of Enoch walking with God for three hundred years. And he
disappeared, for God took him (Gen 5:22-24).
Then, a man called
Abraham appeared on the scene of mankind. He was in constant
fellowship with God, and was called the Friend of God (2 Chr 20:7,
Isa 41:8, James 2:23).
For Adam, Enoch and Abraham, there was no Tabernacle
and yet God could still dwell and fellowship with them. No fanfare,
no razzle-dazzle, no fancy preparations, decorations and ceremonies.
Much later, a young
shepherd boy grew and became a man whom God loved greatly. His name
was David. God Himself testified concerning him: 'I have found David
son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want
him to do.' (Acts 13:22). David did everything God wanted him to do.
"In
mercy the throne will be established; and One will sit on it in
truth, in the Tabernacle of David,
judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness."
Isaiah 16:5
"On
that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up
its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; that
they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the Gentiles who
are called by My name," says the LORD Who does this
thing. Amos 9:11-12
- worshipping God in spirit
and in truth
- walking with God in
meekness and righteousness
- working with God in
mercy and justice
"For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation,
he fell asleep" Acts 13:36
Let us take a look at the history of the
Tabernacle of God and how it has changed throughout time:
Before the
Tabernacle was constructed, the nation of Israel erected a
temporary tent called the tent of meeting outside the camp (Ex
33:7-11). Anyone who wanted to inquire of the LORD would go to
the tent of meeting.
Whenever Moses went out to
the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to
their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses
went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay
at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. Whenever the
people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the
tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his
tent.
The
LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his
friend. Then Moses would return to the camp,
but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the
tent.
After Moses received the Ten Commandments in Mount
Sinai, the Tabernacle was constructed on the first day of the
first month of the second year, 14 days before the Passover
(Exodus 40:17). The Exodus occurred at the very first Passover
the year before.
The description of
the actual building of the Tabernacle was recorded in Exodus 35
through 40. The skilled workers were enlisted as God had chosen
and commanded. Following that listing of workers, the building
of each item of the Tabernacle was then described in Exodus 36
to 39. The full record of the Tabernacle's construction was in
Exodus 40. Everyone participated in building it. Some gave, some worked and
many did both.
The Tabernacle was
very central in the life of Israel as it is graphically
portrayed in the Book of Numbers. When the Israelites pitched
camp in the wilderness, the Tabernacle was to be placed in the
centre, with the Levites camping next to it (Num. 1:53). Then
the tribes were to be arrayed in specific order on the four
sides of the Tabernacle (Numbers 2).
- For most of the wandering
years around Mount Sinai, the Tabernacle was at Kadesh as the
Israelites spent all the time there (Deuteronomy 1:46).
- Immediately after entering
the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, the Tabernacle
was located at Gilgal (Joshua 4:19), and the area of Shechem and
Mount Ebal (Joshua 8:30-33).
- The Tabernacle was then
established firmly at Shiloh for many years (Joshua 18:1-10),
continuing throughout all the periods of the Judges.
As the years passed,
certain other structures were added to the Tabernacle while it
remained at Shiloh. These included living quarters for the
priests and Levites who served at the Tabernacle. By the end of
the period of the judges, during the administration of Eli, at
least some of the attendants lived on the premises. Young Samuel
stayed in the Tabernacle (1 Sam. 3:3).
Because of their
sins of the Israelites, God allowed them to be defeated at
Shiloh. The Ark was there and then captured by the Philistines
(1 Samuel 4:3,11). It was at this point that the Ark of the
Covenant and the original Tabernacle parted company for many
months or perhaps permanently. When The Ark was recovered from
the Philistines 7 months later (1 Samuel 6:1), it was taken to
Abinadab's house in Kiriath Jearim (1 Samuel 7:1).
- Although the Ark is again
mentioned in the Tabernacle of the Lord when it was later
relocated at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39), there is some doubt as
to whether it was the original Tabernacle. The Bible does not
state specifically what happened to it, and there are a number
of possibilities, but in all likelihood, its ropes, wooden bars,
and leather materials had simply worn out after so many hundred
years of use, and the Levites respectfully retired it in some
way.
- Then King David
desired to move the Ark to Jerusalem. But his first attempt was
unsuccessful (2 Samuel 6:2-9).
- The Ark temporarily stayed
in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite (2 Samuel 6:10).
- David's second attempt was
successful. The Ark was placed inside the tent that David had
pitched for it (2 Samuel 6:17). Even if the original Tabernacle
had survived to Gibeon, it obviously hadn't made it to Jerusalem
- otherwise, David would almost certainly have used it.
The physical aspects of this Tabernacle of David may not differ much from the Tabernacle of
Moses. But the Tabernacle of David is more than just as a place
of worship; it is a place to live and rest - the dwelling place
of God and man. Remember by this time
there were already living quarters in the Tabernacle. Remember
young Samuel.
Later, the Ark was placed
in the new Temple that was built by King Solomon.
What is the Tabernacle of
David in today's terms?
In the New Testament, we are taught:
- Our body is a
temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19)
- Consequently, you are no
longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's
people and members of God's household, built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus
Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole
building is joined together and rises to become a holy
temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are
being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by
His Spirit. (Eph 2:19-22)
- Jesus answered and
said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him and make
Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not
keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the
Father's Who sent Me. (John
14:23-24)
I
personally believe the Tabernacle of David is the glorious Body of
Christ including both Israel and the Church in one union with
Christ; with each one of us, His living stones, having the Holy
Spirit abiding (dwelling) in us and we abiding (dwelling) in Him;
and as His priests, worshipping
Him in spirit and in truth; and as His people,
walking with God in meekness and righteousness; and
as His princes (kings, working
with God in mercy and justice.