“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..” Amos 9:11
“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” Acts 15:16 (KJB)
The tabernacle, or tent, that the prophet Amos spoke of was not the temple of Solomon, or the rebuilt temple with Herod’s name attached. Herod’s temple was standing during the days that Jesus walked the earth, and Jesus prophesied that it would be totally destroyed with not even a stone standing that would make it recognizable. (Matt 24:2) That physical temple was monumental in its pomp and glory, representing where God dwelt with Israel. But the temple, itself, was just a building, and as beautiful as it was, the most beautiful aspect of it--God--was taken for granted, since rules and literal walls distanced Him from all not in the priesthood.
David’s tabernacle was not the same as the tabernacle of Moses, with its specific pattern instructed by God during the wilderness journey. David had taken back the ark of God after it had been allowed to fall into the hands of the Philistines (to their detriment). But the time had come for David’s joy to be full with its return, so he took it back to his newly established Capital in the City of David (Jerusalem), its permanent home in the promised land.
David’s tabernacle was merely a cloth tent pitched for the ark of God to reside in when it returned. A great celebration took place as the ark was brought in, borne up by the Levites and placed in the middle of that tent. This was a joyous homecoming, for the blessing and presence of God had returned. Musicians played, a feast was had, gifts and blessings for all the people were given by David. The presence of God on the ark was seen, not being shut away as in the tabernacle of Moses (where only Moses and the high priest could enter). But David’s tabernacle was unique and inspired by his desire to bring God’s glory out for all to share and worship.
As spoken of in I Chronicles 16, offerings were continually made before the Lord--in front of the ark, and outside of it--but not shut off from it. All who were celebrating and worshiping God were indeed experiencing a new thing! David’s passion for God brought it about, for he was not only a king, but a priest--in the direct lineage of Jesus. Jesus was both King and Priest to God, and David was a type of that spiritual anointing. This great demonstration was also a type of a future wedding, as we shall see.
The tabernacle of David preceded the building of the solid temple by his son, Solomon, but it offered more heart in its simple display. David’s heart belonged to God, and while the Levitical priesthood continued to fulfil the law with the receiving and offering of sacrifices, the presentation of the ark in that special way showed forth the coming of a spiritual kingdom where God’s abode would also be openly on display for all to approach.
While that last statement could point us to the giving of Himself in Holy Spirit form by Jesus, there is more to be seen and understood than that happening–as wonderful as it was! In Acts 15:16 (listed at top), the apostles spoke of David’s tabernacle, bringing its significance into the now. They had, of course, received the Holy Spirit and the access to communicate with God that comes with that permanent visitation. All of us who have experienced the indwelling presence of God can attest to the glorious reality! We become the habitation of God and He appears with us and in our midst as we gather. But there is a greater reality shining forth from the tabernacle of David..
God never does things in flat applications. No, there are layers of meaning and understanding to be discerned from scriptures (and everything else). Sometimes a scripture that we had taken as literal can suddenly develop “legs” and stand up on the page with new insight for our soul and spirit. Those legs are spiritual enlightenment provided by the Holy Spirit, for it did not come from natural understanding. Think of a dried kernel of corn laying in a pan with its own natural flat appearance. But after heat is applied to it, that little kernel becomes a totally different creature (popcorn). All of its insides have been maximized and expended outward to reveal a hidden personality. So it is with the word of God. Hidden inside the dead letter of scriptures is new life that offer revelations of beauty beyond our senses.
Thus is the reality of David’s tabernacle. An expanded view lies beyond its literal existence. That 1000 BC tabernacle housed the presence of a Holy God where all men–not just the priesthood–could see God’s glory, short-lived though it were. And it was an outward exposure that left no inward changes. Then, in the first century AD, the memory of the former visitation was taken to a higher level in this realm when the Holy Spirit was given for all to receive. God offered his presence in and with us as an assurance of our salvation. This was an experience for the inward man, for our soul (our mind, intellect, and emotions). We could go to the grave knowing God was with us and knowing that physical death didn’t separate us from him.
But there is a higher view for all of creation to experience that will bring credence to the purpose of God residing in us. This expression will bear witness to a complete salvation of spirit, soul, and body–in that order, for salvation covers all of our dimensions. The foundation for this was laid secretly at Calvary in the body of Jesus, and its full manifestation will dispel the delusions of the Adamic mind and the dreamworld that came with it.
Jesus reinstated--or married--the whole soul realm for Father before he died on the cross. While his death was necessary as the undefiled sacrifice, nonetheless, the door had been opened for the completed work to show itself. This would be through a symbolic but literal touching in spiritual oneness of a male and female representation of the body of Christ, his Church. They represent a “witnessing” of marriage between heaven and earth. This would bring the invisible happening at Calvary into the visible, AND this event would put a fatal crack in the delusion of the spiritually dead mind. An allegory of that visible scene showed itself back when David expressed his love for God in that humble tabernacle.
King David stood on Mount Zion with the ark of the covenant, the ark of God. The ordained King (a type of Jesus) stood in his stronghold of Jerusalem. This mountainous territory had been occupied by the Jebusites, who were the seventh and final nation to be conquered in the promised land, Canaan. Canaan symbolizes the carnal nature and the seven nations were the manifestations of that nature that Jesus would conquer in us. Since the days of the leadership of Joshua until that time, battles had ensued and victories were attained. This final victory in that high place sealed the conquering. Jebusite speaks of a threshing place. The threshing of our self life is the end of the line for resistance to God as Jesus totally overcomes that gnarly nature spoken of in the wood of the ark of the covenant.
The ark was made of acacia wood (human nature) overlaid with gold (divine nature). Acacia wood was thorny and difficult to work with, as is the flesh nature. Father chose that wood to represent us as we are, but complements it with an overlaying of Himself (gold). This speaks of the soul of mankind and the soul of God (because we got our soul from God) fusing together as one, with the lower being subject to the higher. It also speaks of a new creation man (the 2nd race of Adam) walking with God, because they dwell together in the same body. The tent was representative of a “covering” or body to house this union. David’s tabernacle was open and “simple”. This bespeaks of a pure, uncomplicated acceptance of God. No delusional barriers from religious concepts or intellectual assessments. The Adamic mind has been overthrown!
Symbolically, anointed King David (Jesus Christ, Bridegroom) stands with the ark of God (the Bride of Christ--the soul of mankind, purified and fused with God’s soul) on Mount Zion (the heavenly city, Jerusalem). The king has brought his bride back home after he has conquered all of his enemies (the carnal nature). The marriage takes place and he throws back the veil (the covering of the ark) to put the beauty of his bride on display, announcing her as his wife.
Likewise, when Jesus married the soul realm to the spirit realm, his spirit (and Father’s) became one with a submitted soul realm. Thus, he had a bride to reveal, but it couldn’t happen because his body expired in that current form. He couldn’t pull back her veil (of flesh) and say “behold my bride”. Though he cried out “It is finished!”, and it was, this finished work had to be expressed, and this expression can only come through his Church (his body).
Mankind has inherited the bride order, and there will be manifestations as such upon individual inward “receptions”. Then will His beauty be shown. But the specific expression of the whole soul realm being married to the whole spirit realm inside the body of Jesus needed a specific expression in the visible. This has had to happen to unleash the power of the happening loose on this world, to unleash the “spirit without measure” that Jesus had. No followers of Jesus have individually displayed this degree of spiritual authority, but that doesn't mean it isn't flowing. But Father has kept this secret for his timing in its disclosure. I will discuss this in depth in pt 2.
Two witnesses of this event were needed just as every wedding has witnesses. These witnesses would have to represent the soul and spirit realms (the two sides of the body of Christ--daughters and sons), bearing the good news that the wedding had been consummated. They would have to be living members of the body of Christ to give credence to the claim. Here is the vision: their “appearance” at the spirit/soul marriage takes them to the Most Holy Place in spiritual ascension. Exposure to this divine scene-- touching the Bride of Christ (the consummated soul realm) makes them “one” with that overcoming anointing from the throne of God. They now step out from behind the veil (religion), manifesting the bride of Christ they have touched and become.
The vision is symbolic of David standing before the ark of God with the curtain (veil) thrown back to expose the soul of God. What a beautiful sight to behold! The implications for the rest of the body are forthcoming. But the time is in the current, as in “now”.
To be continued..............
