"After these things I will return. I will again build the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up, that the rest of men may seek after the Lord -- All the Gentiles who are called by my name", says the Lord, who does all these things **** Acts 15:16,17

David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with joy. David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. It was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of Yahweh, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh. When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies. He gave to all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed everyone to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" David said to Michal, "It was before Yahweh, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel. Therefore will I celebrate before Yahweh. I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight. But of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, they shall honor me." Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no child to the day of her death. **** 2 Samuel 6:12-23

I want you to take note of a number of EXCEEDINGLY unique and significant events in the previous account:

David did an amazing thing in his time. As you know very well, the Old Testament way of reaching God was through the means of animal sacrifices. You could not approach the God of Israel without a sacrifice in your hands. These sacrifices had to be offered in the "Tabernacle of Moses" (also called the Tabernacle of the Congregation) area, not anywhere else. Anybody who approached God without the proper sacrifice, or sacrificed anywhere else than in the tabernacle area, would have received the death punishment.

At the time of David, the "Tabernacle of Moses" was still in place in Gibeon, and was still fully functioning with all its sacrifices, etc. Interestingly enough though, the Ark of the Covenant (which was a symbol of God's presence) was not there because it had been captured by the Philistines. Now when David came to recover the Ark of the Covenant, to the amazement of all, he did not return it to Gibeon where the Tabernacle of Moses was, but decided to build a new tent in Zion (Jerusalem, probably on a slope of Mt. Moriah) and called it the "Tabernacle of David". He then put the Ark of the Covenant there.

It is evident that the housing of the ark of God in the Tabernacle of David was an event of unusual importance, for it was celebrated by "all Israel" with demonstrations of the most impressive character - "with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets and with cymbals", while King David himself danced before the ark with all his might in the exuberance of his joy. Then followed sacrifices of burnt offerings and peace offerings, and the distribution "to every one of Israel, both man and woman" of the king's bounty - flesh, bread and wine for a feast. Furthermore, the event was signified by the fact that, "Then, on that day, David delivered this Psalm to thank the Lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren" (that is, Psalm 105 and parts of other Psalms: see 2 Sam. 23:1, and 1 Chron. 16:7). However, the most remarkable and significant feature of this great historical event is that it constituted a decided break with the Levitical ordinances given through Moses, in that the ark of God's presence was no longer in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle of the Wilderness (which was then at Gibeon), but in the midst of the Tabernacle of David on Mount Zion.

Further, there were no animal sacrifices there - only sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving - and Levites whom David appointed "to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record". That is literally, to make mention of or bring to remembrance, or in other words, to proclaim or preach the mercies and the marvelous acts of God, "and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel" (1 Chr. 16:4). Incredibly, special priests were appointed to minister music before the ark continually (1 Chronicles 16:6,37) -- whereas only the High Priest had been allowed to minister before the Ark once a year in the Tabernacle of Moses. In fact, the Scriptures indicate that there was such great intimacy with the Lord, that David would actually sit before the Ark (1 Chronicles 17:16). It is probably during these times of intimacy that he wrote new songs to the Lord (Psalm 40:3).

This was a very remarkable suspension of the system of worship of the Law, and an equally remarkable foreshadowing of that of the Gospel. You will also note that it was King David who offered up the sacrifices and blessed the people, though he had NO part in the Levitical Priesthood, to whom, by Mosaic law, these duties belonged !! So it was during the greater part of King David's reign -- during all the years the ark of God dwelt in the Tabernacle of David.

Chiefly, it is to be observed that this sojourn of the ark on Mount Zion is the foundation of the many references in the Psalms and the Prophets to Zion, as the dwelling place of Jehovah, and is what gives to the terms "Zion" and "Mount Zion" their high spiritual meaning. It is a most significant fact -- whereof we must take due notice if we are to understand some of the most important of the prophecies -- that never thereafter was Mount Moriah, where Solomon's magnificent temple stood, referred to as Jehovah's dwelling place, but always Mount Zion. Also, that when God speaks by His prophets concerning things to come in the Kingdom of Christ, He never says, "I will build again the Temple of Solomon which I destroyed", but "I will build again the Tabernacle of David which is fallen down".

King Saul and King David represent the two warring aspects of the "church" today.

Saul represents Religion, the choosing of the "natural man" - that which is impressive to "the eye of flesh". Religion LOVES to serve God (or so it claims - perhaps what it REALLY loves is to serve itself?) with sacrifice, pomp, ceremony, ostentatiousness, and especially man-centered zeal and works !!

There was a Benjaminite man named Kish son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He was a prominent person. He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people. **** 1 Samuel 9:1,2

David represents that which is impressive to the "spiritual man", the "hidden man", the man with a "heart after God".

When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab (one of David's brothers) and said to himself, "Surely, here before the Lord stands his chosen king!" But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." **** 1 Samuel 16:6,7

King David of Israel, who was the prototype of the "Greater David who would one day come", gives us glimpses of a worship of our God-Father that is not constrained by form and ritual, but springs rather from a heart full of love, joy, and adoration. We see his abandon exemplified here. He is promptly reviled by his wife Michal, daughter of Saul, who was "King after the flesh", as opposed to David, who was "King after the Spirit".

It is interesting that Michal means, "who is like God", a representative of the "Church of the flesh" which is constantly at war with the "Church of the Spirit". It is also interesting to note the side-comment: "Now Michal had no children to the day of her death". In the same way, the "Church of the flesh" remains barren of any Spiritual Fruit because, in reality, it fears and despises ITS Lord and Husband !!

Now we hear MUCH talk TODAY about God fulfilling the prophecy of Amos 9:11,12 -- and how "this-and-that-ministry" REALLY represents the new "Tabernacle of David". There was ONE fulfilling of the prophecy with the taking of the Gospel to the Gentiles in the Book of Acts:

Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, "After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own", says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago. **** Acts 15:14-18

However, as is true with MUCH contained in the Bible, I do NOT believe that this is to be the ONLY fulfillment, nor even the GREATEST. I believe that it is with the "Tabernacle of David" as is true concerning MOST of what Jesus Christ came to earth to bestow upon mankind -- that we have as of yet discerned and entered into ONLY as small a part as a "grain of mustard seed" !!

We seem to be obsessed with "alien life forms" today, and yet we HAVE been visited by the TRUE Alien, and no one even seems to recognize or understand the significance of it !! Jesus came to bring a TOTALLY new and alien life-force to mankind -- that through Him and His Holy Spirit, we would (WILL) be transformed into beings that have (had) never before existed in the universe -- Divine/human Sons of God !! Instead of embracing this transforming power and allowing and encouraging it to do the work for which it was sent, what have we humans done with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and His Church ?? True to form, we DID and have continued to do what the "keepers" of God's earlier covenant with mankind (Israel or the Jews) did, NAMELY -- to "crucify the Lord of Glory" and to distort, twist and cram the Holy Spirit and the Church into little "religious boxes" -- worshipping "sacred calves made by the hand of man". Rather than being overlaid with gold, these "calves" are instead layered with religious dogma, tradition, superstition, hatred, fear, intolerance -- as a matter of fact, with ALL of the trappings of the "natural (old) man".

Jesus answered, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must all be born from above.' The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit"" Nicodemus replied, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don't understand these things? I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I have told you people about earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?" **** John 3:5-12

Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But just as it is written, "Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him"" God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man's spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. **** 1 Corinthians 2:6-14

The Jews believed (believe) that circumcision gave them a special standing of righteous before God. They believed that it was their "Club Card" into His "Inner Sanctum" - that it conferred upon them special rights and privileges in His sight. Many "christians" think likewise about reading their Bibles, tithing, praying, going to church, doing "good works" in Jesus name, etc. The Apostle Paul would enlighten BOTH alike that the ONLY thing that is important in God's sight is that we be transformed into the Image of His Son by the Holy Spirit !!!!

For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation (creature)! **** Galatians 6:15

So just WHAT was so radical about King David establishing the "Tabernacle of David", and moving the "Ark of the Covenant" there ??

First of all, it was TOTALLY unheard of and without precedent. God had certainly revealed nothing of the sort to Moses in the establishment of the Levitical System of Worship. Where did King David, who had NOTHING to do with the Levitical Priests (the keepers of God's worship and order), get the idea, let alone the AUTHORITY, to do such a thing ??

Second, it was TOTALLY opposed to ALL that God had revealed to Moses regarding approaching and fellowshipping with Him (God). God's presence (represented by the Ark of the Covenant) was to be hidden away behind a curtain in a place called the "Holy of Holies" in the Tabernacle of Moses -- to be approached once a year, and then ONLY by the High Priest, and then ONLY after giving of the proper animal sacrifices. Any OTHER approach was punishable by DEATH !!

Third, ALL sacrifice and approach to God was the sole function of the Levitical Priesthood, and specifically the "High Priest". King David had NO descent within the Levitical genealogy, hence NO right to approach God, let alone offer sacrifices and certainly NOT to be before the Ark in His presence.

Forth, David brought Joy and Love and Exuberance and Spontaneity into the worship of God. He opened it to the people - ALL of the people - NOT just the ordained priesthood.

There had been NO singing or celebration at the Tabernacle of Moses. The worship there was one of solemn ritual, focused on sacrifices (sound like some "christian" churches today ??). The only joy that had ever been evidenced in the worship of the Israelites had occurred spontaneously, as when Miriam danced with a tambourine and rejoiced over the destruction of Pharaoh and his army (Exodus 15).

The Psalms make it clear that the praise worship inaugurated by David was a worship of great joy that was characterized by hand clapping (Psalm 47:1), shouting (Psalm 47:1), singing (Psalm 47:6-7), dancing (Psalm 149:3), hand waving (Psalm 134:2), and the display of banners (Psalm 20:5). The worshipers were encouraged to praise God with every form of musical instrument, from the gentle lyre to the "loud crashing cymbals" (Psalm 150:3,5). In other words, judging from all of the noise and excitement going on, you might have thought that the worshippers were at say, a FOOTBALL GAME, and not in "church".

To answer the previous question, "WHO gave King David the authority?", we would have to answer that it would appear that God Himself did. It is said that not only was David "a man after God's own heart", but that he was also a prophet. He was to be the forerunner of the "greater David who would one day come". During his reign, and that of his son Solomon, God blessed the House of David and the Nation of Israel greatly.

It would seem that the Tabernacle of David served as a joyous bridge between the spiritual deadness that had come to characterize the Tabernacle of Moses and the Spirit-filled glory that would characterize the Temple of Solomon. Would it not seem fitting that TODAY God should provide a similar bridge between the spiritual deadness that has come to characterize that which we call the "church" and the "Living Body" which Jesus Christ came to earth to build for Himself ?? In God's ULTIMATE Plan, it is WE, the TRUE Church, God's Divine/human Sons - who have been called out of the World System and transformed by His Holy Spirit - who constitute the REAL "Temple" or the "Tabernacle of David" - the "Dwelling Place" that God has sought from the beginning !!

3485 naos {nah-os'} from a primary naio (to dwell); TDNT - 4:880,625; n m
AV - temple 45, a shrine 1; 46
1) used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies (in classical Greek it is used of the sanctuary or cell of the temple, where the image of gold was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure)

Jesus replied, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again"" Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body. **** John 2:19-21

He (King David) found favor with God and asked that he could find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. But Solomon built a house for him. Yet the Most High does not live in temples made by human hands, as the prophet says, "Heaven is my throne, and earth is the footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is my resting place?" **** Acts 7:46-49

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, which is what you are. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? **** 1 Corinthians 3:16,17; 6:19

In Him (Jesus) the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. **** Ephesians 2:21,22

It is NOT a New Institution that the world needs and waits for, but rather, it is a "NEW MAN" !! As Paul observed, "neither circumcision NOR UNcircumcision avail anything - ONLY the 'New Man' birthed by God's Holy Spirit and fashioned after Jesus Christ". The same can be said about organizational names, dogmas, doctrines, teachings, "truths", revelations, leaders or ANYTHING else from the "heart or mind of Man". The Spirit Himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God's children. And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) -- if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility -- not willingly but because of God who subjected it -- in hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God's children. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. **** Romans 8:16-23

From the very inception of creation, God has had but ONE plan, orchestrated through various ages (aions) and dispensations. That plan has finally been revealed to those with "spiritual eyes that can see". The plan being that in the fullness of time, God has revealed the Glory of His Mystery hidden from ages past -- that He does NOT live in temples made by human hands but rather in His LIVING Body, His CHURCH, in US who have been redeemed and recreated by His Holy Spirit -- in His NEW MAN, HIS "Hope of Glory" !!

The mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints. God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. **** Colossians 1:26,27

We believe that the Church of God is a "living, growing organism", NOT to be mired in legalism, dogma and tradition, but to be growing and developing as the Spirit of God gives the increase.

Practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love. **** Ephesians 4:15,16

It is our VERY STRONG belief that it was never God's intent that Christianity should become just one more Formal ("ISM") -- nor was it His intent that our relationship with Him should be shrouded in formula, ritual, ceremony, or artificiality. Adam walked with God in the "cool of the day". It WAS and IS His intent that man should have a spontaneous relationship with Him through His Spirit, in JUST the same way that we have a relationship with the air we breath and the light that continually bathes us (in the Hebrew language, the word for Breath and Spirit are one and the same). If a person is deprived of either for very long, he will die. You DO NOT observe and maintain special, formal "Seasons and Places" to commune with the Air and the Light. Neither, we believe, was it ever God's intent that we should do so regarding Him and His Spirit !! Please Click [ HERE ].

Our ardent desire before God is that this site and ministry might be used as an instrument to better understand and rediscover this "All-but-lost Truth" !!! It is toward this end that this ministry exists and functions, and it is by God's Grace and Mercy alone that it will prosper toward this end. With Paul, we say:

I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things - indeed, I regard them as dung! - that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness - a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness. My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this - that is, I have not already been perfected - but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead, I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. **** Philippians 3:8-14

Please CLICK on the links below to further follow us on this exciting Quest and Journey, as God leads us on into an "Exploration of the henceforth UNKNOWN" !!

"Worship in Spirit and in Truth"

"The Serpent of Religion ??"