The Tabernacle of DavidSample

Results of the Tabernacle

A significant shift occurs after the triumphant return of the Ark to Jerusalem and its placement in the tent David constructed. David appoints 4000 Levites to be commissioned 24/7 for the continuous ministry to the Lord. Music and praise take on a central role, with instruments being used for the first time in recorded scripture instead of just the shofar. Many of the Psalms were created during this time. How many songs were sung that we don’t even know about today?

Unlike the Tabernacle of Moses, where the Ark was in the Holy of Holies, inaccessible to the people, it appears that in David's tabernacle, the Ark was available for ministering to the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:4 and 37). David, as the new king in the captured city of Jerusalem, prioritized making the presence of God more accessible than ever before.

Tyler Staton aptly describes David's impact: "David put prayer back at the very center of God’s people. And he invited everyone—men and women, slave and free, Israelite and pagan. The thirty-three years of David’s kingship were the only time before the resurrection that there were no restrictions on access to God’s presence. David’s tabernacle was a New Testament reality in an Old Testament world. That’s the scandal of this prayer tent."

During David's reign, there were two tabernacles. The Tabernacle of Moses went through the usual processes but lacked the presence of God. On the other hand, David's basic tent was filled with God's presence. Obed-Edom, the gentile blessed by having the Ark in his home during David's attempts at retrieval, and 68 of his brothers were chosen to be in charge of the Ark in the Tabernacle of David.

Remember when James in Acts 15 references the Tabernacle of David in terms of accepting Gentiles into the New Testament Church? I believe these examples and many more of gentiles who caught a taste of being a part of God’s chosen people was a preview of our reality post-resurrection of Jesus.

In 1 Chronicles 17, David expresses his desire to build a house for God, but God tells him that his son, Solomon, will be the one to build the temple. David's longing for a permanent structure arises from a deep intimacy with God. He prioritized the presence of God not only for himself but for his people. David's heart is evident in his worship, quick repentance, and genuine desire to please God.

Understanding the implications of the Tabernacle of David has profound significance for us today, and that's what we'll delve into tomorrow.