The Mystery of the Tabernacle of David

The Tabernacle of David was a simple tent containing the ark of the Covenant that ‘housed’ the presence of God that king David erected in Jerusalem. The key feature of it was the presence of God as the focal point of Israel’s worship. It was Christ centered, and prophetically pointed to a time when His church made up of individuals would become the tabernacle in which God resides (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).  The restoration has been taking place for over 2000 years when the gentiles were added to the mostly Jewish church at that time. However, it is considered by many biblical scholars that the fulness of the restoration will reach a climax at the end of the Church age. It remains obscure to many believers today as an Old Testament theology that has no relevance for the ‘modern’ day twenty first century church, although it’s teaching had prominence in the early church (Acts 11-15). 

It’s important to establish the connection and significance between David and his tabernacle, and Jesus and the Church. This foundation is necessary to understand why the restoration of the Tabernacle of David in our modern Church era is important. 

David, as a prophet saw the resurrected Christ

David is considered as the greatest and most accomplished man in the Old Testament, and his relationship to worship and experiencing God’s presence was unsurpassed. David was a prophet who understood that a Messiah would come, die, and be resurrected.

Acts 2:31-32 Amp

…he foresaw and spoke [prophetically] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), that He was not abandoned [in death] to Hades (the realm of the dead), nor did His body undergo decay. 32 God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses.

Jesus allowed himself to be referred to as the Son of David

There are many instances in the book of Matthew where people refer to Jesus as the Son of David. Although Jesus did not make the reference himself, He did not stop those who did

(Matthew 1:1, 9:7, Romans 1:3)

On day of Pentecost 

At the inception of the Church, Peter’s famous sermon referred to the fact that Jesus was a descendant of David and would sit on the royal throne he had established.

Acts 2:29-30

Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne…

Paul’s first recorded sermon 

Referred to the fact that Jesus was a descendant of David. 

Acts 13:22-23

And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’ 23 From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus.