Tabernacle of David

CONTENTS

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

DAVID BRINGS THE ARK

DISTINCTION BETWEEN WORSHIP & PRAISE

IT'S NOT JUST SINGING A SONG

THE PURPOSE OF THE TENT

THE TABERNACLE TODAY - THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN

The history and establishment of the Tabernacle of David is recorded in 2 Samuel 6, and 1Chron. 13-16. The Tabernacle of David was simply a tent that housed the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark was a gold covered box made of Shittum wood. On top of this box rested a solid gold cover called the Mercy Seat. On this cover were placed two golden cherubim facing each other whose wings overshadowed the center of the lid. The presence of the Lord dwelt between the wings of the cherubim (2 Sam 6:2).

Ex 25:22
There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. NIV

The building and use of the Arc originated at Mt. Sinai where the Lord gave instructions and imparted vision and skill to those leaders and elders assembled in His Presence with Moses. God said build it” exactly as I showed you on the mountain.” Everything of the building and functioning of the Tabernacle of Moses was given as a “pattern of heavenly things” These things are God’s ideas, not man’s imagination, and their purpose is

to help us perceive the unseen realities of the Kingdom of Heaven. They are maps, and patterns that help us understand mysteries and show us God’s plan.
They also reveal what. Specifically, “on earth” God is doing.

The Ark of the Covenant traveled with the Israelites for forty years through the desert. The Ark was carried across the Jordan River at flood stage and caused the waters to part. All of Israel crossed as the Ark was held in the center of the river; in other words all of Israel “passed by” the Presence of God as they moved from the desert realm into the Promised Land. The Ark was carried around Jericho behind trumpets and the walls of the city collapsed after seven days. During all this time the Ark was covered with the curtain that divided the Holiest room of the Tent of Meeting from the Holy place. When the Tabernacle was set up and the prescribed ministry and sacrifices were offered. the Ark was hidden behind the Veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy place.

Num 4:5
When the camp prepares to set forward, Aaron and his sons shall take down the veil [screening the Holy of Holies] and cover the ark of the Testimony with it, AMP

In all of this we see that the presence of God was always with His people, but there was still some separation between the Lord and Israel. The only direct access allowed to the Presence was given to the High Priest and then only once a year under very specific and stringent conditions, and “not without blood”. Obviously restoration of relationship with man was not yet complete. Adam walked and talked with God in the garden in the cool of the day. After Adam’s sin, he was driven from the presence of God and two cherubim armed with flaming swords to guard the way (back) to the tree of life were stationed at the gate to the Garden of Eden.

Gen 3:23-24
Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.
So [God] drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned every way, to keep and guard the way to the tree of life. [Rev 2:7; 22:2,14,19.] AMP

Indeed, the Ark was placed in the most inaccessible room of the whole Tent of meeting, and many today still perceive that the presence of God is hidden behind a veil that cannot be removed. To try to push this veil aside, they believe, is to risk the wrath of a demanding and holy God and bring about certain death or punishment. To claim to hear God’s voice and to claim to have unbroken and intimate fellowship with Him is “unbelievable”. And yet, this is exactly the claim of Christianity.
He, Jesus, came that we might have abundant life, ZOE life, that is the highest form or level of living. He said that He is the Way (back into the Father’s presence), the Truth, and the Life. He is the Way PAST those two cherubim so that we may once again eat of Tree of Life. He is the Vine and we are grafted (united) into the vine as LIVING branches that partake of nourishing sap and produce the good fruit of the Kingdom. His prayer to the Father (John 17) is that we would be ONE as He and his Father are one. This describes intimate and unbroken fellowship, walking on the cool of the day is only one aspect of such a relationship and yet we still so easily believe that there MUST be some form of veil or covering between God and ourselves “lest we die”.

We find the Ark in the Tabernacle of Moses (also called the “Tent of Meeting”) and we find the Ark once again in the Temple of Solomon. In both structures, the ark is located in the Holiest room of the structure, accessible only once a year by only one man, the High Priest, a direct descendant of Aaron and his sons. The Tabernacle of Moses shows the Lord MOVING about with and LEADING His people through the desert journey – a land full is scorpions and snakes. The Temple of Solomon shows a PERMANENT DWELLING for the Name of the Lord IN HIS CITY. The Temple was built during a time of PEACE, Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and His Permanent dwelling is built with no interference or warfare from His enemies. But the Ark was NOT transferred directly from the Tabernacle of Moses to the Temple. The Ark was brought OUT of the Tent of Moses and Separated to its’ own tent referred to as the Tabernacle of David. This event has been chronicled in 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles13-16.

I will summarize the story, but it is worth giving these accounts a careful reading because they are full of significant details and revelation.

It was on David’s heart to bring the Ark of the Lord INTO the CITY of DAVID that he had just recently conquered. This was not just his own desire, but the Lord planted the desire. At that time, the Tabernacle was set up and in operation outside the city. David prepared a place ON MOUNT ZION, the same hill that Solomon, his son, would later build the Temple of stone and wood, a “permanent dwelling”. The location of the Tent was ON THE HILL of ZION, but it was placed at a LOWER ELEVATION than the Temple. This demonstrates that the Tent of David was a Higher realm of operation THAN THE Tabernacle of Moses, but NOT the HIGHEST.

Even though the desire to bring the Arc was planted by the Lord, David failed to bring the Ark to its’ place on his first attempt. They placed the Ark on an ox-cart, and when the Ark slipped, the man who reached to steady the Ark (Uzzah) was killed.

2 Sam 6:9-11
David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, "How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?" He was not willing to take the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household. NIV

We see here the Kindness and the Severity of the Lord. While God’s desire for us is intimacy, it is important that we know His ways and show respect and obedience to His instructions. David was afraid, and Obed-Edom the Gittite prospered beyond belief. What’s the deal?

David found out that only Levites were to carry the Ark. It was to be ON THEIR SHOULDERS
The Levites were chosen because they chose to obey God and execute justice over their own family
bonds. This all happened many years before with Moses in the wilderness. We must see and understand this pattern if we are to operate successfully today. Hebrews tell us that they (the old testament believers) are there for our admonition and instruction. God chooses only those who choose Him above any other (the Levites), He places the task of carrying HIS PRESENCE upon their shoulders, and this task can never be handed over to the invention of man (a new ox cart), neither can it be powered by any strength outside of what the Lord has given his people (like oxen).

1 Chron 15:1-2
After David had constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, "No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before him forever." NIV

Even as the Lord began a new form and manifestation of worship through David on Zion, He did not abandon the foundations established through Moses. The whole time that the Tent of David was in operation, the Tabernacle of Moses was in operation as well. All the prescribed sacrifices were given at the proper times, freewill and fellowship offerings were given, tithes were collected and distributed, and so on. The Lord did not take away, neither did He replace, as some replacement theologies may teach, but rather, He added to, advanced, made new, and increased the availability to His Presence.

1 Chron 16:4-6
He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel: Asaph was the chief, Zechariah second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. NIV

This worship was like no other form of worship ever released on the earth. Many of the Psalms that are in our Bible today were recorded directly from the songs and words that were spoken in this Tent. These words are so powerful that they are still performing the will of God to this day. The ministry of the Tabernacle of David went on continuously for thirty-three years. Jesus was on this earth as a man and “tabernacled” among us for thirty-three years. The words He spoke are still very much alive today as well. The worship that takes place in the Tent of David is not just expressing thanks and adoration TO God for all the things He has done and promised to do. This is surely fitting and appropriate, however, the expression of worship TO God is only part. The Spirit of God spoke to and through the worshippers in this place and these words expressed as song and sounds execute justice and perform warfare against the enemies of God (PS 149). Remember that the Permanent Temple was built during a time of Peace, but before there is Peace, all the enemies of Peace must be brought under control. The worship, sounds, and ministry of the Tabernacle of David IS WARFARE birthed and empowered by the Presence of God IN and through the WORSHIPPERS. This warfare is not like the warfare of David where thousands of people were killed because they were enemies of the people of God. There is a shift from the natural realm to the unseen realm that drives many of the behaviors and decisions that we see manifested in the natural world. These are the root cause of many sins and failures.

Eph 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. NIV

Heb 11:3
By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible. AMP

Let’s take a look at this worship so we can gain the understanding of its operation, AND its relevance to us today.

The distinction between worship and praise is quite simple. Worship is an attitude of the heart. When we worship, we position ourselves properly before God. In the Hebrew, the word used is ‘shachah’ which means “to bow down, prostrate before, in order to show respect and honor to”.

Gen 22:2-5
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
NIV

Abraham had come to live in a constant state of prostrating himself before the Lord. It was a long and difficult path that got him there, but now the only thing he would consider is obedience. “WE will worship” – we will bow to you, Lord, in order to honor you. It is the attitude of the heart that produced the obedience.

Matt 14:29-33
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." NIV

There was no singing going on here, there were no specific actions except that all those in the boat suddenly positioned themselves low before the Lord as they received a revelation of His greatness and power. This is worshipping in Spirit and in Truth. Worship produces all kinds of actions like singing, dancing, bowing, leaping, weeping, shouting, raising hands, plucking strings and playing instruments.

All of these activities can be more accurately defined as PRAISE. There are many words used in the Bible translated as praise. Some are:

halal (haw-lal'); OT:1984
a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:
KJV - (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feignself) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.

yadah (yaw-daw'); OT:3034 a primitive root; used only as denominative from OT:3027; literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands):
KJV - cast (out), (make) confess (-ion), praise, shoot, (give) thank (-ful, -s, -sgiving).

towdah (to-daw'); OT:8426 from OT:3034; properly, an extension of the hand, i.e. (by implication) avowal, or (usually) adoration; specifically, a choir of worshippers:
KJV - confession, (sacrifice of) praise, thanks (-giving, offering).

zamar (zaw-mar'); OT:2167 a primitive root [perhaps ident. with OT:2168 through the idea of striking with the fingers]; properly, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music:
KJV - give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.

tehillah (teh-hil-law'); OT:8416 from OT:1984; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn:
KJV - praise.
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

All of the above words speak of actions, things that we do. There are many different manifestations produced by this inner positioning of our hearts in Worship before the Lord.

Eph 5:17-21
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is .And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation;
but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. NKJV

- HYMNS – individual songs or odes springing from the heart. A psalm is a recorded hymn, a song from the heart that has been written down and recorded

- SPIRITUAL SONGS -“PNEUMA” spiritual, breath or wind of the spirit, breath of God
-SONG – ode or ANY piece of music. “Spiritual song” means Song of the Lord, or God’s Song (Music). That is the Song that God sings to and through us.

SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART – Singing is made with your voice, “Making Melody” means to “Pluck as a stringed instrument”. This phrase then means to release all of the above types of music (odes) through our voice accompanied by and in unity with this attitude in our heart THAT IS WORSHIP!

The voice is singing the very breath (pneuma) of God while our heart is proskunia (Bowed down in order to bring honor to) the Lord.

In other words, HIS STRENGTH (breath and life) IS MADE PERFECT (completed) IN OUR WEAKNESS (bowing, worshipful attitude of our heart). And here is a great mystery, His Strength will NOT BE PERFECTED WITHOUT US. This is an incredible concept, that the UNITING of our weakness WITH GOD produces and completes HIS OWN STRENGTH. This is the intimacy that is warfare. He wars against everything that’s against His perfect will and marvelous plans.

Ps 32:7 (Amplified)
You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble,
You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance.
Selah

2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with tambourine and harp.
4 For the LORD takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the saints rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.

6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7 to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
9 to carry out the sentence written against them.
This is the glory of all his saints.

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this:
'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
There is no commandment greater than these."
NIV

The worship at the Tabernacle of David included singing, dancing, kneeling, bowing, up-raised hands, clapping, and instruments of many kinds like cymbals, tambourines, harps, and trumpets. Davidic worship involves the WHOLE PERSON.

“The majority of the Psalms were originally sung as prophetic songs in David’s Tabernacle. They account in detail the expression of worship offered by the Israelites before the Arc. In addition, they describe the full range of human emotions revealed in the Presence of God, from deepest despair to highest joy.” (From; “A short Catechism on the Tabernacle of David” by Bob Johnson.)

It is important to note that the Levites were “appointed” by delegated authority.

They were assigned to particular jobs because they were “skillful” in that area. In other words, the worshippers were assigned and equipped by the Lord’s design. Additionally, they “sanctified themselves” for the assigned ministry, the Levites set themselves apart from every other thing, voluntarily, for the ministry to which they were appointed. Also, David set aside the clothing of a king to wear fine white linen, the clothing of a priest. He was the first and only King of Israel that the Lord allowed to operate as a leader in both these areas. We can see here the prophetic picture of our Messiah, Jesus who is both a King AND a High Priest who is interceding for us to this very day!

Heb 5:4-5
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest.
NIV

It is the KING (Jesus) who calls and appoints the WORSHIPPERS (Levites). It is the PRIEST (Jesus) that leads the procession of the WORSHIPPERS (Levites) who alone are qualified to CARRY THE PRESENCE OF GOD OUT of the isolation of the most Holy chamber of the Taberncle to the PLACE PREPARED FOR IT ON MOUNT ZION WHERE EVERY HUMAN CONDITON IS REVEALED AND RECONCILED BEFORE THE LORD.

Even though we can see divine order, delegated authority, and specific skill for service, the scriptures says that ALL OF ISRAEL brought the ARC.

1 Chron 15:28
So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD
with shouts, with the sounding of rams' horns and trumpets,
and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps. NIV

Hear o Hear Israel, the Lord your God is One! – We each have our place, ability, and calling, and when WE ARE IN OUR PROPER PLACE, The LORD calls US ONE (ECHAD). We all benefit from everyone else’s strengths and abilities as if THEY were our own. Our individual efforts are MULTIPLIED by the actions of THE WHOLE NATION.

The WHOLE NATION, the Tabernacle of David is the gathering place for EVERYONE, ALL PEOPLES FROM EVERY TRIBE AND NATION.

The Tabernacle of David is a demonstration of WHOLENESS with GOD. Wholesomeness, Completeness, Shalom. We have unrestrained continual access and communication with the PRESENCE of GOD! This is a place where every human emotion and problem can be exposed and released to the Lord. Nothing must or can remain hidden, no failure, no pain, no joy or lament, all is laid bare to Him with which we have to do.

A tent is by definition a temporary and portable shelter or dwelling. Paul refers to our physical bodies as “tents” that are “corruptible” by nature. This is as it should be for we are promised in

1 Cor 15:53-54:
For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death). And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory. [Isa 25:8.] AMP

Isa 25:8
He will swallow up death [in victory; He will abolish death forever]. And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; and the reproach of His people He will take away from off all the earth; for the Lord has spoken it. [1 Cor 15:26,54; 2 Tim 1:10.] AMP

We see here in the Tabernacle of David the pattern and picture of the Heavenly, or Spiritual RELATIONSHIP promised to us in the FUTURE being manifested right NOW in our “earthly tents” EVEN BEFORE we receive the FULLNESS of the PERMANENT TEMPLE (imperishable) described in the scripture.

The picture and progression we are shown is this:
The ARC which represents the Presence of God is first established with God’s people (Israel) as they were birthed (delivered) out of Egypt (sin) and came into the bonds of strong Covenant at Sinai. This is where all the particulars of the Tabernacle, its construction, and its operation were given. The ARC (presence) never left the people of God all through the desert and into the Promised Land. Even though the people of God were unfaithful on many occasions, God is always faithful. Finally after periods of rebellion, deliverance, and many troubles and tragedies, the Lord places King David, a man after His OWN HEART, on the throne. King David (a type or representation of JESUS, the KING of KINGS) wars against all the ungodly peoples and authorities that occupy the Land God has given to His people. After David (JESUS) conquers these enemies, the ARC (Presence of God) is brought out from the isolation of the first Tabernacle and it is placed on ZION (the CITY of GOD). There is more yet to come, but the PRESENCE (the ARC) has already arrived at its PERMAMENT LOCATION. That is, it is no longer carried from place to place. HIS PRESENCE is IN THE CITY (the people) OF GOD!!

1 Cor 3:16
Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]? AMP

The Tabernacle of David came and went. It was replaced by the elaborate and marvelous Temple built under the supervision of Solomon, David’s son. It might be easy to write off the whole experience of the Tabernacle of David as some oddity of worship style, or some small event except that this Tabernacle comes up in prophetic scriptures and we are told that the Lord will “once again raise the Tabernacle of David”. With this resurrection, He states His purpose and plan for this type of worship and ministry.

Amos 9:11-12
"On that day I will raise up
The tabernacle (booth or sukkah) 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;
That they may possess the remnant of Edom (mankind),
And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,"
Says the LORD who does this thing.
NKJV

This prophecy is cited at the Council of Jerusalem where the disciples discussed and confirmed that the salvation and relationship with God provided by Jesus was and is for all mankind.

Acts 15:14-17
Simeon [Peter] has rehearsed how God first visited the Gentiles,
to take out of them a people [to bear and honor] His name.
And with this the predictions of the prophets agree, as it is written,

After this I will come back, and will rebuild the house of David, which has fallen;
I will rebuild its [very] ruins, and I will set it up again,
So that the rest of men may seek the Lord,
and all the Gentiles upon whom My name has been invoked,
AMP

The function and purpose of this Tabernacle Ministry is to provide a doorway, an open and obvious access for ALL MANKIND to seek and find the Lord! The New King James Version says “I (God) will repair its damages, I (God) will raise up its ruins”, so this new tabernacle is NOT the labor of man, but that of the Lord himself. It is important to notice that the disciples did not decide how THEY were going to accomplish the “Great Commission”, but rather they discovered with the help of prophetic scripture, what it was that God had already started to do. The disciples were witnessing moving and manifestations of the Spirit of God, but these events did not line up with their thinking and expectations. This led to confusion and arguments, which were resolved by the revelation of this scripture.

Some say that this “booth or sukkah” of David is all of “Christianity”. We are the tents, God’s Presence is in us so everything we do or say is an expression of God, but this is an over generalization that can lead to us away from the truth. we need to inspect the details of the pattern expressed in the Bible in order to see correctly this aspect of the Kingdom of God. The Lord says in Amos that He will “rebuild it as in days of old”. In other words, it will be true to the original pattern.

The Tabernacle of David was Not THE ONLY form of worship in operation at the time of David, the whole ministry system established by the Law of Moses was still functioning at the same time, but at a different location of the city. So we can see that the Davidic type of worship is PART OF THE WHOLE relationship and working of the Lord. Also, only certain of the Levites were appointed to this ministry. They did not volunteer for the tabernacle, they were appointed BY THE KING. Additionally, they were “Skilled” which means not only that they had musical abilities, but more importantly, they were skilled in knowledge and understanding of the scriptures.

“He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel”

SOME of the Levites (those dedicated to the service of the Lord) MADE PETITION, made requests to the Lord. What request did they make? If we read the Psalms, which are a collection of the songs and words spoken before the Presence of God, we see these petitions.

Ps 3:7
Arise, O LORD;
Save me, O my God!
For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
NKJV

Ps 4:1-2
To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
How long, O you sons of men,
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood?
NKJV

Ps 5:1-2
A Prayer for Guidance
To the Chief Musician. With flutes. A Psalm of David.
Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
NKJV

Ps 6:1-5
A Prayer of Faith in Time of Distress
To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled;
But You, O LORD -- how long?
Return, O LORD, deliver me!
Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake!
For in death there is no remembrance of You;
In the grave who will give You thanks?
NKJV

Ps 7:1-2
Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies
A Meditation of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

O LORD my God, in You I put my trust;
Save me from all those who persecute me;
And deliver me,
Lest they tear me like a lion,
Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
NKJV

Ps 8:1
The Glory of the LORD in Creation
To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
NKJV

Ps 12:1-2
Man's Treachery and God's Constancy
To the Chief Musician. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
NKJV

Ps 13:1-2
Trust in the Salvation of the LORD
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
NKJV

LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
NKJV
There are many more Psalms and many more petitions, complaints and praises at the Tabernacle. Nothing is excluded, nothing is too large or too small, and nothing is too vile or too hopeless. The Levites at the Tabernacle of David expressed Constant INTERCESSION and PRAISE ON BEHALF OF AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL MANKIND. This is the Place of NOTHING HIDDEN, God sees all, He is Light, there is nothing is this tent that has the ability to cast a shadow. Not everyone is physically present in this tent at the same time, but it is the only doorway into HIS PRESENCE. If you are going to enter His Kingdom, you must meet Him at the Tent.

Rom 14:11-12
"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.'"
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
NIV

1 John 1:9-10
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned,
we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
NIV

We at His Present Glory Church have been meeting in a one-room building since the fellowship was formed. There are some offices, restrooms and such downstairs, but on the main floor there is only one room. This condition has been at times a frustration and what we have perceived as a limitation. How do we effectively minister to different ages of children, or have diverse groups and ministry at the same time? Every time that we re-arrange the meeting room for a particular use, it must be set back up for the next type of meeting. We have struggled with the limitations of space and have wondered how we would manage large numbers of people in our place. As I was meditating of the Tabernacle of David a few days ago, the whole thing suddenly made sense! It is all so simple.

Just as EVERY human condition is laid bare and exposed before the Lord in the historical Tabernacle of David, this is exactly the nature and type of ministry that the Lord has established in our church. We are not like many other church fellowships, we are not a large multi-faceted city church that has teen ministries, missions, nurseries, childrens’ groups and the like. IT is not that we have failed at growing into a particular form or formation of organization, or that the other churches are not functioning in the call and ministry to which they have been called and appointed. This is not about competition or caparison. It is not about “who is right” or more “spiritual”, and who is wrong.

1 Cor 12:4-6
Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments
(gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians,
due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit)
and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same.
And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration,
but it is the same Lord [Who is served].
And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things],
but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all.
AMP

THERE ARE DISTINCTIVE VARIETIES OF OPERATION [OF WORKING TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS], BUT IT IS THE SAME GOD WHO INSPIRES AND ENEGIZES THEM ALL.

The distinction of our operation is that it is a particular manifestation of the ministry of the Tabernacle of David that the Lord promised that He would raise up and repair. We have several ordained and soon to be ordained pastors and ministers on our worship team. Not one of these individuals made application for a particular job. These people are ordained because it became obvious that they were functioning in the “endowments” given to them by the grace of God. The ordinations then are simply a public recognition and agreement with the will and working of the Lord.

We never set out to be a “ Tabernacle of David” type or style of worship team or ministry. We believe that the Christ in us IS the Son of God, and that He is continually worshipping the Father. We learned to tap into that Truth and reality and no one was exempt. “ Whosoever” was given opportunity for expression in song or word. There was a lot of difficulty with all of this because it violated many conventions with which we are familiar, and it is only because we have been hemmed in and constrained by the love of God that we are still together and functioning. Truly, there is ample opportunity for Him to display His strength in our weakness. More than this, we are actually growing and expanding the influence and power of this ministry.

Everyone that is on the team of this ministry has been and is presently being refined and purified in our hearts. This is not easy work, but it is fruitful, and it is liberating. We all, I believe, have wanted to jump ship and run off to something easier and less demanding. Weakness is not the thing we usually want exposed, but in the Presence of the Lord, all is laid bare. It has become a very safe place because we all know our own weakness, we have all forgiven much between each other, and humility has become a very easy and natural attitude in which to remain. This indeed IS OUR PROPER PLACE, God exalts the humble, and He resists the proud. One CANNOT be present in this Tent without an attitude of humility, your are resisted and disqualified at the door. You can walk in the room and hear the worship music, but you will never enter the Tent of David that is right before your eyes without true humility. Humility is not shame and it is not shyness. The Spirit of the Lord is not here to shame or intimidate us, He is here to fellowship with, deliver, and teach us His ways.

All are welcome at our meetings. Come in with your gifts, your thanksgiving, your needs, and your weakness and join us with the Lord. Many have come in and they have not recognized or understood what is going on. Some are overwhelmed by the power of His Presence made known in this way. Some have turned and left the place because it was not what they expected, or wanted, or could understand. Some of those have returned, some have not. Not everyone can accept this working, but all are invited. We have many people that are connected with other fellowships, but they also participate in our ministries at some level. I believe this is as it should be, we are NOT the only working of the Lord, as was that Tent on the Hill in Jerusalem. All the traditional service established by the Law of Moses operated simultaneously. Both operations were required.

Traditional ministry lines and separations no longer determine the flow of the meetings. We have found that deep personal intercession, deliverance, and prayer may begin to flow at the same time there is a powerful spontaneous “song of the Lord” springing forth in the music. Teaching and exhortation may come forth before, during, or after worship. Most times, the scriptures and prophecy that are expressed during the Song confirm and align with the “prepared” message given by one of our leaders. The Lord is speaking and working in us continually, whether we are at home, work, or at the meetings. It’s just that when we come together, it COMES OUT OF US in a corporate, mulitplied, and more powerful way. This is not just doing what “feels” right, rather it is a demonstration of the working of the Lord

We do more than worship with singing and prophecy.. Sunday morning and Monday night we have worship music, teaching and prayer ministry. On Thursday nights there is the Spirit of Counsel Meetings, in depth counsel, deliverance, and accountability groups. Wednesday nights are devoted to intercessory prayer, you can e-mail your prayer requests and they will be specifically brought before the Lord at that meeting. Our intercessors also operate day and night according to the leading of the Spirit. Saturday mornings, there is the Men’s Finishing School group for men. Once a month we share a meal together after the meeting at the church. We have had weddings, Leadership meetings, we have observed the Passover Feast, and many other things ALL IN THE SAME ROOM! I am thoroughly convinced that this IS ONE PLACE where the LORD has raised “The tabernacle (booth or sukkah) of David, which has fallen down,” He has “repaired its damages” and “raised up its ruins.” I believe that there are many other similar “Tent of David Groups” that have been birthed at other locations, though in the realm of the Spirit, they are all on Zion.

The purpose of this is so that the “remnant of Edom (mankind)” may come into His Presence.

OUR PURPOSE IS to GATHER IN ALL from whosoever will into the Kingdom of GOD.
The WHOLE PERSON, BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT
into ALL OF HIM in whose image we have been formed
and to WHOSE PRESENCE WE HAVE BEEN INVITED AND CALLED

WE ARE ALL CHANGED IN HIS PRESENCE,
AS WE CAN BE CHANGED BY NO OTHER EXPERIENCE
HE HAS RAISED THIS TENT FOR ALL MANKIND.

JOIN WITH US AS WE ENTER INTO HIS PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING
AND INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE.