IV. TWO TABERNACLES

David’s Tabernacle was established in a glorious celebration and dedication; many new ordinances were instituted. David’s Tabernacle was built on Mount Zion, a hill on the south/southwest side of the city. Zion became a city within a city.

Five miles from Zion, on Mount Gibeon, the Tabernacle of Moses was still in operation. Read I Chronicles 16:39-42. David left some of the priests there to continue to offer animal sacrifices, morning and evening. With just a few musicians to give thanks, Moses’ Tabernacle continued to function according to the Old Law. All of the ceremony and ritual continued to go on at Gibeon, but one important element was missing - the Ark! Without the presence of God, only a few musicians could echo the desire for the glory that was transpiring five miles away.

Where Moses’ Tabernacle expressed the Old Testament Law (the ritual, ceremony, sacrifice), the Tabernacle of David expressed the concept of grace (unmerited favor) that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus came to fulfill the Law, David did not abolish the old order of Moses, but he brought the fullness of the God who gave the law to the people, so they could know their God, not just His law. As we look at the ordinances/changes that were instituted, we see a further unveiling of the “due order” of worship for New Testament priests:

1. New order of Priesthood —
At Zion, worship was being birthed! Read I Chronicles 16:4-6,37 and chapter 25. David ordained a new order of Priesthood for the return of the ark and for ministry in his tabernacle; where the Levites (except for the High Priest) had previously been restrained from access to the presence in the Tabernacle of Moses, David appoints many to minister to the Lord. It is tremendously exciting to once again see the heart of God being expressed through David, granting the priests access to the Presence. The truth of Psalm 100 is birthed as we see God’s desire for spiritual access to His presence; “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, come before His presence with singing.” In Moses’ Tabernacle, the high priest could only come into the Holy of Holies once a year, and only by ceremonial ritual; but David’s Tabernacle had no veil, just direct and unlimited accessibility to God’s presence. What a picture of what Christ has fulfilled for us!

David appointed hundreds of singers and musicians (a congregation) to minister continually before the Ark. This means their ministry did not cease, but poured out day and night before the presence of the Lord.

2. New order of Sacrifice —
Once the sacrifices at dedication were offered, no further animal sacrifices were offered in David’s Tabernacle. God revealed His plan of New Testament sacrifice through the heart of His servant, David:

Psalm 50:13-14 — “Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving.”
Psalm 69:30,31 — “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.”
Psalm 51:16,15 — “For thou desirest not (animal) sacrifice, else I would give it; thou delightest not in burnt offering…O Lord, open thou my lips and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.”

3. The Birthing of Expressions of Praise —
We will be studying the detail on this in a coming session.

4. A Prophetic Release in Song —
In I Chronicles 25, David, along with the commanders of the army, set apart those that would minister in music prophetically.

5. Systematic Musical Training for Worship —
In the same chapter, we read of the “teachers and students” who dedicated themselves to perfecting their talent, learning how to minister to the Lord with excellence and uprightness of heart.

ACCEPTING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE TABERNACLE
AS USEFUL IN OUR WORSHIP

We must be willing to accept and flow with fresh revelation—“present truth”—that God is revealing to us. As we have discussed before, seek the Lord that He might birth the truths in your heart. When that happens, the principles take root and can be applied correctly.