Monday, 11 May 2020

Tabernacle of David

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Question of the day: 2 Samuel 6:17a "They brought in the ark of Adonai and set it in its place in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it." What is the Tabernacle of David?

Answer: Between the Tabernacle in the Wilderness (called the Mishkan) and Temple of Solomon (called the Beit HaMikdash) there were 30 years in which the Ark of the Covenant was kept after being returned from the Philistines.

Rabbi Trail: The "Mishkan" is the place of the "Shekinah" glory of God. Can you see both words have the same Shoresh (roo)? That Shoresh, Shin-Kaf-Nun means "neighbor." God brought His glory into the midst of the camp of the children of Israel, and became their neighbor. The "Beit HaMikdash" is the name given to both the first and second Temples. It means the "Sanctified House" or "Holy House." Mikdash has the Shoresh Kuf-Dalet-Shin," from which we get the words Kodesh, Kaddish and Kiddush. They all mean holy or sanctified. End RT.

For 30 years there were no sacrifices before the Ark. David's tent was a house of prayer, praise and intercession. David brought worshippers into the presence of God (before the Ark) with song, both voices and instruments.

David's tent is also called David's Tabernacle or David's Sukkah (temporary dwelling). And there is a promised revival of David's tent ... Amos 9:11-12 "In that day I will raise up David's fallen sukkah. I will restore its breaches, raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in days of old - so they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations called by My Name. It is a declaration of Adonai, the One who will do this."

Those verses made their way into the Acts 15 discussion so familiar to Messianic Jews. In that "Jerusalem Council," many of the Apostles and other leaders of the body of newly formed followers of Yeshua came together to answer one question; "What do we do with these non-Jewish followers of Yeshua?" They wanted to know how Jewish the non-Jewish people have to be to walk with God in this Jewish movement of faith.

I will debate the merits of their discussion another time. For now, I want to point out that Paul and Barnabas quote from Amos and rightly connect Amos' vision of restoration of the Tabernacle of David to revival in the nations (among the gentiles).

Here's the point. Jewish followers of Yeshua are not going to reach their destiny without a lot of non-Jewish people coming along. And neither will non-Jewish followers of Yeshua reach their destiny without a lot of Jewish people coming along. So we may as well embrace each other and come along. Ephesians calls this a mystery ... Ephesians 3:6 "This mystery is that the Gentiles are joint heirs and fellow members of the same body and co-sharers of the promise in Messiah Yeshua through the Good News."