The Tabernacle of David

”

The Tabernacle of David

“Acts.15

[16] After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I

will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: [17] That the residue of men might seek after the

Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

”

What was the Tabernacle of David and why

is it important to us?

• We know about the tabernacle of Moses, but what was the

tabernacle of David?

The Tabernacle of Moses Revision

Exodus25

• [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

• [8] And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may

dwell among them.

[9] According to all that I shew thee, after the

pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the

instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

• It had a rectangular, perimeter fence of fabric,

poles and staked cords.

• This rectangle was always erected oriented to the

east.

• In the centre of this enclosure was a rectangular

sanctuary draped with goat-hair curtains,

• with the roof made from rams' skins.

• Inside, the enclosure was divided into two areas,

o the Holy Place and

o the Most Holy Place.

• These two areas were separated by a curtain or veil.

• Inside the first area were three pieces of furniture:

o a seven-branched oil lampstand on the left (south),

o a table for twelve loaves of show bread on the right (north)

and

o the Altar of Incense (west), straight ahead before the dividing

curtain.

Beyond this curtain was the cube-shaped inner room

• known as the "Holy of Holies"

• This area housed the Ark of the Covenant

• the two stone tablets holding the Ten

Commandments,

• a golden urn holding the manna, and

• Aaron's rod that budded and bore ripe almonds. • (Hebrews 9:2-5, Exodus 16:33-34, Numbers 17:1-11, Deuteronomy 10:1-5.)

History of the tabernacle

• During the conquest of Canaan,

• the main Israelite camp was at Gilgal, (Joshua 4:19; 5:8-10) • the Tabernacle was probably erected within the camp

• After the conquest and division of the land among the tribes, • the Tabernacle was moved to Shiloh in Ephraimite territory • It remained there during the 300-year period of the biblical

judges • Ark was captured by the Philistines when it was taken into battle • The ark never returned to its place in the Tabernacle of Moses again.

History of the tabernacle

• the priestly service and sacrifices continued unchanged[1] • King Saul moved the Tabernacle to Nob, near his home

town of Gibeah • When Ahimalech gave David the shewbread

• Saul afterward massacred 85 priests there (1 Samuel 21-22),

• it was moved to Gibeon. (1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29; 2 Chronicles 1:2-6, 13)

• Abiathar escaped and went to David • After David was made king

• The Ark was eventually brought to Jerusalem • it was placed "inside the tent David had pitched for it"

(2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Chronicles 15:1), • not in the Tabernacle, which remained at Gibeon. • The altar of the Tabernacle at Gibeon was used for

sacrificial worship (1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29; 1 Kings 3:2-4)

History of the tabernacle

• Solomon finally brought the structure and its furnishings to Jerusalem to furnish and dedicate the Temple. (1 Kings 8:4)

Two Tabernacles • After David brought the Ark back to Jerusalem there were two

Tabernacles

o The Tabernacle of Moses at Gibeon (1 Chr 21:29; 2 Chr 1:3,13)

o The Tabernacle of David in Jerusalem (1 Chr 15:1)

• This was still the case when Solomon became King

2Chronicles Ch.1 [1] And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. [2] Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. [3] So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. [4] But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. •

Two Tabernacles

• Zadok officiated at Gibeon in the tabernacle of

Moses

• Abiathar officiated at Jerusalem in the tabernacle

of David o He had faithfully served David as high priest and spiritual advisor

during the years they both lived in the wilderness running from

King Saul.

The Tabernacle of David

The Tabernacle of

David 1Chr.15 [1] And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. 1Chr.16 [1] So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. [4] And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: [5] Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals; [6] Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

Significance of and restoration of

The Tabernacle of David

Amos.9

[9] For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel

among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the

least grain fall upon the earth.

[11] In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is

fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his

ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

Significance of and restoration of

The Tabernacle of David

Acts.15

[13] And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: [14] Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. [15] And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, [16] After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: [17] That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

The issue was the problem of what to do with the Gentiles. James says

• They do not have to come under the Law, that is, the Tabernacle of Moses.

• They come into the Tabernacle of David without the rituals of the Mosaic Law

Significance of and restoration of

The Tabernacle of David

Heb.13

[14] For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

[15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God

continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.