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As we look at what has happened in the Church over the past 2,000 years, we can see that in many ways the world has invaded our lifestyles and softened the gospel of Jesus. For the most part, it has turned the church that was birthed in the midst the of burning flames of revival into buildings full of slumbering, sleeping saints. Jesus spoke of our day in the parable of the “10 Bridesmaids” in Matthew 25

Matthew 25:5 “As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.”

God has promised in the scriptures to bring us back to his paths if we will co-operate with him.

Amos 9:11 “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.”

The pattern of the Tabernacle is now being manifest and made known to the people of God. It illustrates the true pattern of worship, reverence and intimacy God designed – and has always intended – for his people. It is a plan for his church to be, “. . . a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10). This is a group of called-out people who are preparing themselves in this season of time. This royal calling is found in the pattern of the Tabernacle, in the original Tabernacle of Moses and the subsequent Tabernacle of David. God has promised that the Tabernacle of David would be rebuilt as it was in the days of David. This is one of the paths he promised his people would take. It is a path to true worship and intimacy.

Why the Tabernacle of David?

Because David established it in obedience to the Lord as pattern for true worship — and he also promised that it would be rebuilt!
Jesus came to bring his Kingdom into this world and it has never changed! To change the analogy, his desire is to bring his bride into the true pattern of adoration and worship he ways intended us to enjoy. But . . . he has his ways of doing that:

Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Amos 9:11 “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.”

God is bringing his church into a fresh new paradigm of his majesty and holiness. The Old and New Testament are being reunited in the person of the Bride! This is the eternal realm of the his end-time activity when God is reviving his “called out ones” for the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). I would say that we’ve seen only a small part of what God’s intention is.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”

God is in the process of leading his people into the Promised Land again. It is a place of victory, fruitfulness, peace, purity and supernatural intimacy. There is nothing else that can stand in this place, only oneness in the Spirit. There is only true intimacy, only the pattern he gave us from the beginning, only true intimacy with our God.

Bringing in the Presence

Before he established his Tabernacle David decided to bring the Ark of God from the house of Abinadab into the city of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 6:2 “He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.”

As a true King David wanted to acknowledge the Lord’s Kingship and rule over both himself and the people by restoring the Ark to the place of prominence in the nation. But he decided to bring the Ark of God in his own way; he didn’t ask the Lord about it and as a result it brought destruction and disappointment. David thought that putting the Ark on a new cart and making music with different instruments was good enough to bring God’s presence to Jerusalem. We are often no different from David in this day and age. How often do we bring new programs, new speakers, and new ideas into our churches in order to initiate some move of God, usually without success.

There is God’s order to bring his presence to his people and we must do it his way and his way only. According to 1 Chronicles 15:12-15 the Levites should have carried the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders but instead, David followed the examples of the Philistines, rather than following the instruction of the Lord. (1 Samuel 6:7) When Uzzah reached out to hold the Ark, God struck him and he died. Uzzah’s intent may have been good, however he violated the clear instructions of the Lord of how to handle the Ark (1 Samuel 6:19). At this important new beginning in Israel, the Lord gives a shocking and vivid reminder to David and to the people of Israel; that those who claim to serve him must acknowledge his rule with absolute seriousness (Leviticus 10:1-2). In 1 Samuel 6:9 we are told, “David was afraid of the Lord that day.” David’s anger was matched by his fear; not the wholesome fear of awe and respect for the Lord but an anxiety arising from sensing his own guilt. David decided to leave the Ark in the house of Obed-Edom for a while. And in 2 Chronicles 6:11, “…the Lord blessed him and his entire household.” God’s presence resided in the house of Obed-Edom and everybody was blessed. There was healing, restoration, prosperity and all of the goodness of God! When God’s presence comes to you, he brings everything with it. So what is God’s order to bring His presence on our midst?

God’s Protocol

First of all because of its importance, the sacrifices of burnt offerings were offered to the Lord, the blood of bulls and calves were shed. In Leviticus 17:11 it says, “The life of a creature is in the blood.” The bloodshed in the sacrifices was sacred and had to be treated with respect. Atonement involves the substitution of a life for a life. The blood in the Old Testament points forward to the blood of the Lamb of God who obtained eternal redemption for his people

Hebrews 9:22 “And without the shedding of the Blood, there is no forgiveness.” 

The Blood of the Lamb opens us to a door of entrance into his presence.

Secondly, David was wearing a linen ephod (2 Samuel 6:14). A linen ephod is a priestly garment worn by those who serve before the Lord in his sanctuary. It was a close fitting sleeveless pull-over usually of a hip length, specially worn by the High Priest. The breast plate piece containing the Urim and Thummin, these were divinely ordained means of obtaining guidance from God, placed in the custody of the High Priest (Exodus 28:4-13). When we want to enter God’s presence we put on the garments of salvation.

Isaiah 61:10 “For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in the robe of righteousness.”

God chose Israel to be, “His treasured possession… a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6) As the nation God intended Israel to be, we as God’s children are called to be set apart for him, to seek his face daily and to serve him as his priests (1 Peter 2:9). As we walk with the Holy One, we are clothed with God’s righteousness and holiness.

Thirdly, in 2 Samuel 6:15, It says, “David danced before the Lord with all his might.” Our exuberant praise and worship from a pure heart brings the presence of God. In John 4:23, Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “A time is coming and has now come when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” To worship God in Spirit means to worship him through the Holy Spirit and by the Holy Spirit. There is no other form of worship acceptable in God’s eyes. In verse 20, when David danced before the Lord, Michal, the daughter Saul came out to meet David. She criticised him for dancing half naked in the streets in front of everyone and she despised him in her heart.

To worship God in truth is to worship Jesus, for he is the Way, the Truth and Life.

Hebrews 10:21-22 “We must draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

In John 4:23 the last part of this verse says, “For they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”  Another translation would be, “passionately waiting for”. God is waiting passionately for you that you will seek him; and when you find Him, you will be in his presence.
We are entering into the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle, the place of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark represents the Throne of God in the earth. The Ark represents the glory of God revealed in divine order and worship. The Ark represents what Paul spoke about: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9)

The Ark of the Covenant

This Ark of God, with the Mercy Seat captured between the two wing-stretched Cherubim, is a picture of God’s grace, his perfect love and his eternal protection.

Psalm 91:11-12 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

This Mercy Seat, this place of rest in the “Holy of Holies” represents the “secret place” of the Most High. It represents the only place we can find true rest – true peace and joy! It is our rest in Him!

Psalm 91:1 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

God is restoring the Tabernacle of David. He is restoring his priesthood, his Kingship and his Eternal rule through his church – His “called out ones.” He is restoring the joy, the singing of psalms, the shouting, the dancing – the fullness of worship. As priests in the kingdom of God we can enter the Holy Place and have intimacy, rest and perfect peace and joy. God is preparing his loved ones for the harvest.