A Layman Looks at the Word: The Tabernacle of David

The Tabernacle of David was a tent that King David set up to house the Ark of the Covenant.

In order to understand why David did this, we need to take a look at the history of the Ark of the Covenant; why it was made and what does it represent. In so doing we will learn about David and his relationship with God which will increase our faith and knowledge of our Lord.

Moses was called by God to deliver Israel from Egypt. God with a mighty hand and power took Israel to the wilderness at Mt. Sinai. Through Moses, God made this offer to the children of Israel:

Ex 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Moses told the elders of the people, and this was their answer:

8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

The people rejected the Grace God offered, and instead wanted to rely on their own ability to please God. So God gave them the 10 commandments and the other 603 laws contained in the Torah. While the LORD had Moses on Mt. Sinai, He spoke to him about His Son, the coming Messiah. All aspects of the Tabernacle which Moses was instructed to build represented God's Son, who is Jesus.

The courtyard where there was only one way in, Jn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The altar where sins were forgiven yearly by sacrifice of animals. Jesus’ cross is our altar forever. Jn 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

The brass laver where the Priest’s washed before coming to God. 1 Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The Holy Place; were the Priests could go after cleansing. There were 4 covers on the tent, each representing something about Jesus; His rough appearance, His Blood, Scapegoat, and honor of all Angels.

Wood columns overlaid with gold, 5 columns representing Grace and the Torah at the entrance to the Holy Place.

4 columns at the entrance of the Holy of Holies where there was a vail with Cherubim keeping the Ark out of sight, representing the 4 gospels and the 4 Seraphim around God’s throne.

Inside the Holy Place where the wall boards and furniture were all gold representing the Divine.

Inside the Holy Place was the Menorah; a solid gold, 100 pound, 7 place lamp stand. Jn 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

The Table of Shewbread where there was bread cakes and olive oil for the Priests. Jn 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

The altar of incense where the Priests would offer incense before the Vail which was the entrance to the Holy of Holies, the smoke represents the prayers of the saints coming before God. Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

The Ark of the Covenant was the center of the Tabernacle behind the vail, where Moses communed with God at the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies, Ex25. This is also where the High Priest came before the Ark once a year to atone for the people of Israel. We will talk about the specifics of the Ark of the Covenant a little later.

Joshua succeeds Moses and leads the children of Israel to conquer the Promised Land. When he comes to the Jordan River he has the Priests carry the Ark to the river's edge. When their feet touch the water it separates at flood stage and they are able to walk across on dry land.

Joshua has 12 stones taken from the middle of the Jordan and sets the Tabernacle in Gilgal, which is a giant footprint. Here he set the stones for a memorial.

The "footprint" was a natural amphitheater where they set up the Tabernacle. Here Israel could gather round and see the religious ceremonies. God told Joshua in Ch 1 that where ever his feet trod would be his land. He would be with Joshua and he just needed to be courageous and follow God's Word. Josh 1-4 tells us this history.

There are many of these "footprints" that were used by the children of Israel where they worshiped and placed the Tabernacle during their conquest. This principal was used even in Egypt when the Pharaohs would write the name of their enemies on the bottom of their shoes. God had said that your enemies would be under your feet and told Joshua that were his foot tread would be his. Josh 1, Ps 110.

Joshua went on to conquer Jericho by supernatural intervention involving the Ark. The Ark was then taken with the army of Israel to conquer the land of Canaan. By the end of the conquest of the Promised Land, the Ark and Tabernacle was moved to Shiloh, Josh 18:31. Here is a picture of a dig at Shiloh in 2019, Elif Millan project.

Through the Judges period the Ark and Tabernacle remained in Shiloh. There was a time that the Ark and Tabernacle may have been in Bethel, Jud 20:26-28.

When we get to 1 Samuel, Eli is the Judge and High Priest at Shiloh where the Tabernacle and Ark were. His evil sons, Hophni and Phineas are also Priests but do not know or follow God. At this time, Hanna prayed to God for a son and promised she would lend him to the Lord. God gave her Samuel, which she brought to Eli after he was weaned to minister to God at the Tabernacle. God blessed Hanna (who's name means Grace) and gave her 5 more children.

The Philistines attacked Israel so the people came to get the Ark of the Covenant to take into battle. Hophni and Phineas took the Ark and were killed, Israel lost the battle, and the Philistines took the Ark. When Eli heard about it he fell off the wall on which he was sitting and broke his neck and died. The Ark was separated from the Tabernacle for the first time.

The Philistines were plagued because of the Ark by God. They send it back to Israel on unmanned ox cart. They included a box with 5 gold mice and 5 golden hemorrhoids representing the plagues that God had laid upon the 5 cities of the Philistines. The Ark comes to Beth-shemesh where the people look into it and many die. They beg the people of Kerjathjerim to come get the Ark and they do. The Ark stays there for 20 years, 1 Sm 6, 7.

Samuel becomes the last of the Judges and the first of the Prophets. He got the people to repent from idolatry. He then offers sacrifice of a lamb before the children of Israel and the Philistines are repulsed by God and never come back to Israel during Samuel's lifetime. The Bible says that Samuel was a mighty Prophet of God and that God never let any of his words fall to the ground. The Ark was in his supervision for many years.

After this the people of Israel wanted a King to rule over them. Samuel tried to dissuade them for God was his King. The LORD told Samuel to go ahead, and he anointed Saul to be Israel's first King and Samuel loved him. Saul moved the Ark of the Covenant to Nob, a place closer to his hometown, Gibeah. Saul reigned 40 years but disobeyed God. The LORD then sent Samuel to find and anoint David to be King of Israel. David was the 8th son of Jesse. 8 has a meaning of new beginnings in the Bible. Jesus’ earthly lineage descends from David.

David was a man after God's own heart, 1 Sm 16. David was strong in the Lord and killed the Philistine champion, Goliath. Saul makes David his armor bearer and later his comforter and minstrel. Saul gives into evil and thinks of David as his enemy and he hunts for him. The Priests of Nob aid David in his flight and Saul kills them all. The Ark is moved after this to Gibeon, 1 Sm 21-22. Samuel is old and dies. Saul and his son Johnathan are killed in battle with the Philistines, 1 Sm 30. After a long war with Saul’s army and Ishbosheth, Saul's son who became King for a short time after Saul's death, David becomes king over all Israel, 2 Sm 5.

David gets the Ark from Gibeon by ox cart to bring it to the Tabernacle he had pitched for it. Uzzah touched the Ark to steady it and was killed by its Power. David leaves it there for fear at the house of Obed-edom (servant of Edom), a Levite, for 3 mo.

When David learns that Obed-edom was blessed because of the Ark, David goes and brings it to Jerusalem with joy, gladness, singing, dancing, 2 Sam 6. David discovered that the Ark must be handled as God has prescribed, on poles by Levites. He is pleased that God is blessing the event that he stops and makes sacrifice after 6 steps of the Levites as thanksgiving to God. When he gets to Jerusalem he places the Ark in the Tabernacle he had pitched. The rest of the furniture of the Tabernacle of Moses was left in Gibeon.

David knew God since a child and shepherd. You can see David’s heart in the Psalms and how he honored, and loved God…moreover how God loved him. Ps 23, 91.

God revealed to David, Jesus, His only begotten Son who is the Messiah. David saw the whole crucifixion in great detail in Ps 16, 22, 35, 55, 69, &129.

He knew that Jesus the Messiah would be in the order of Melchizedek, and not Aaron, Ps 110:4, Heb 7, Gn 14.

Now the Spirit of God would come upon some in the Old Covenant; prophets, kings, judges, and the like to accomplish what God willed. However this is not how The Holy Spirit of God comes upon the Church since the day of Pentecost, which was fulfilled 49 days after Passover as written in Acts 2.

David wrote the Psalms at the direction of the Spirit of God, that is obvious. He had a revelation that of all the furnishings in the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant represented the way to God the Father. He saw the Messiah there, he knew Jesus there.

Ark of the Covenant Specifics

The Ark of the Covenant is a wooden box, representing the humanity of Jesus.

It is overlaid with pure gold inside and out, representing Deity of Jesus.

The lid of the Ark’s box is surrounded with a crown, representing royalty of Jesus.

To the sides of the Ark’s lid were 2 Cherubim with wings outstretched toward each other facing downward, representing the eyes of God overlooking the area between them called the Mercy Seat.

Inside the Ark originally was the 10 commandments (sapphire cubes), Aaron’s rod that budded, and a bowl of manna. Each of these items represented man’s sin.

· Aaron’s rod symbolizes that God picked Aaron as the High Priest. The sons of Korah challenged Aaron and Moses at Sinai for the leadership of Israel. God had each of the elders bring their rods into the Tabernacle and the next morning Aaron’s rod had produced buds, flowers, and almond fruit. When the sons of Korah objected, the earth opened up and swallowed them.

· Bowl of manna represents the people not being thankful to God for feeding them all of the years they were in the wilderness.

· 10 commandments show that man cannot have salvation under the law, because no man can keep the law…only Jesus, our Saviour.

Once a year the High Priest would come and sanctify the people before the Ark with blood at the feast of Atonement. He would cleanse himself and present himself before God at the Ark with a bowl of blood from bulls or goats and sprinkle with his finger before the Ark 6 times. The 7^th time was Eastward on the Ark’s Mercy Seat between the Cherubim. The eyes of God through the Cherubim could not see through the blood of the innocent animal sacrifice to see the sins of men.

Under the strictness of the law, if the Priest was not clean, or if he made a mistake in the Holy Presence of the Ark, he could die. (Nahab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons offered strange fire and were consumed by the fire of God, Lv10.) The High Priest had bells on the bottom of his robe and the other Priests could hear him moving behind the Vail. Tradition has a rope tied upon the foot of the High Priest just in case he died in the Holy of Holies the other Priests could drag him out without entering themselves.

You could not see the Ark from the Holy Place because of the Vail. However, because the Ark was orientated East to West you could see bumps on the Vail from the carrying poles that were always through the rings on the Ark pushing on the Vail.

As the High Priest came behind the Veil and faced the Ark, he would be facing North. As the Ark is a symbol of God and His throne, so his sprinkle of blood on the Mercy Seat would be to the Priest’s right and God’s left hand when the Bible says Eastward.

The Ark of the covenant is the Throne of God on this earth. Jesus the messiah is God's Grace and connection to mankind. The saviour sent by God the Father, the eternal Son.

An example of the Ark representing our Lord Jesus is found in Deu 28 and Joshua 8. Moses instructed Joshua to go to Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal when he led Israel into the promised land. Joshua built an altar at Mt. Ebal and plastered it over the natural stones and there wrote the 10 commandments. At Mt. Gerizim, half of the tribes gathered with the Ark present to hear the blessings that would overtake them if they kept the law of the Lord. At Mt. Ebal the other half of the tribes gathered to hear the cursing's that would overtake them if they did not keep the Law of the Lord. The Ark was again present there, and the altar that Joshua built was for the atonement of man's sin, where many burnt offerings and peace offerings were performed. Jesus took all of God's wrath upon Himself for man's sin. When we believe Him and accept Him into our spirit, we become the righteousness of God and all of our sins are forgiven.

The altar of Joshua built at Mt. Ebal for the atonement of the sins of the people where many sacrifices were made. The Ark was there representing Jesus, who took the sins of man on Himself.

Excavation and reconstruction of Joshua's altar discovered by archeologist Adam Zertal, who became a believer in Jehovah after using the Scriptures to find the altar.

What Did David Know?

He realized that coming to God was done by faith, and not the rudiment elements of the law.

Jn 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

He knew that the Ark of the Covenant represented the redeemer, the coming Messiah, the only way to the Father.

Ps 132:7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

David knew that worship directly to God was important and worship involves music.

Jn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

He knew that Abraham received righteousness by faith and not the law.

Rm 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

He knew that the goodness and mercy of God was everything. God’s righteousness is a gift.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, Ps 23:6.

The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works, Ps145:9.

I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness, Ps 145:5-7.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty, Ps 91:1.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him, Ps 34:8.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, Ps 100:4-5.

As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust, Ps103:13-14.

He knew that the anointing of God was priceless, and that he had it. He had never come against King Saul, even though Saul had hunted him to destroy him. He said he would never come against the Lord’s anointed. Remember that Saul and David were both anointed by Samuel.

David knew that to come to God, you needed not a lot of religious protocol, but a relationship with the Redeemer. He knew the closest thing in this earth to the Messiah was the Ark of the Covenant.

Dimensions: 1.5x1.5x2.5 cubits. If you divide each measurement by .5 it would be 3x3x5. Theses are all Divine numbers of God and Grace. 3x3x5=45 4+5=9. 9 is 3+3+3, a Trinity of Trinities.

David placed the Tabernacle before the people with Priests tending the Ark of the Covenant.

We have the same promise of God and the gift of His righteousness through our Lord, Jesus.

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Sm 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

David put Levites to minister to the LORD at the tabernacle he had constructed for the Ark of the covenant. No doubt this included the sprinkling of blood on the Mercy Seat.

This is a symbol of the future blood of Jesus the Messiah.

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

This is the blood of Jesus. This blood covers those who are in Christ and He in them and redeems them from the curse of the law.

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

There is power in the Blood of Jesus, atonement of the soul, protection, and deliverance.

We know that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, Heb 1:3. Because of the New Covenant in Christ we also know that we who are in Christ and He in us are seated with Him in Heavenly places, Eph 2:6.

There was no vail here, but the Ark of the Covenant of God was clearly visible for all to see the way to God. Grace and the Mercy Seat were visible where the law was not, for Grace is over the law.

Ron Wyatt’s Finds

Ron Wyatt was an archaeologist who in the 1970-80’s discovered many notable artifacts showing that the major happenings in the Bible were true by powerful evidence. Some of those were: Noah’s Ark, The Red Sea Crossing at the Gulf of Aqaba, The actual Mt. Sinai in Arabia, Sodom and Gomorrah ruins, and discovery of the Ark of the Covenant. https://wyattmuseum.com/museum

Mr. Wyatt has passed on, but he is the only human from modern times to have seen the Ark of the Covenant. His description and models are pictured in this blog. Pictures he took did not turn out. One of the amazing things about this find that was inspired by God for Mr. Wyatt to find is that it was in a cave hidden below the actual crucifixion site. The Ark was put there by Jeremiah before Nebuchadnezzar took Judah to Babylon and destroyed the Temple. Also in the cave was the Menorah, Altar of Incense, Table of Shewbread, and the sword of Goliath. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8TRoQk6WUE&list=PLJYoGwCLWM1AXO-TPOhC4LaUWgAo2_j6H&index=14&t=243s

When the earthquake happened at the crucifixion, as recorded in the Gospels, the blood of Jesus of Nazareth ran down a crack formed in the rock and through a broken lid on the vault that the Ark was contained and dripped on the West side of the Ark, which would be the right hand of God’s earthly throne. Ron Wyatt scraped off some of the dried blood and took it to a laboratory in Jerusalem. When hydrated, it was living. The blood had 22 single chromosomes (Mary) and one pair for the 23^rd (God determined the sex.)

This is the precious Blood of the only begotten Son of God, fulfilling prophecy by forever forgiving our sins once and for all and anointing the Most Holy Ark.

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

This was not only heaven, but here on the Ark of the Covenant Mercy Seat in the space reserved for the Redeemer’s Blood. . It was preserved for this purpose, for the Son of God will not see corruption, Ac 13:37.

Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Mr. Wyatt was told by Angels at the site of the find that the Ark would remain hidden until God wanted it revealed. The cave contained not only the Ark in a rock box, but the menorah, table of shewbread, and altar of incense, and the sword of Goliath as mentioned earlier. The apocryphal book of Maccabees tells how Jeremiah hid these things before Judah was taken by Nebuchadnezzar.

Prophecies of David’s Tabernacle

Ps 15:1 « A Psalm of David. » LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

David knew that no one is worthy to stand before God, only by the gift of righteousness that was accepted by faith in the One who would come as Redeemer and Saviour…our Lord Jesus Christ.

Isa 16: 5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

Isaiah is talking about the future in the millennium when the Jesus will rule for 1000 years.

Am 9:11 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:

Ac 15:16 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 here is recording the preaching of Paul about Amos and the Tabernacle of David, which represents the Ruling of the earth by Jesus in the millennium, Rv 20.

Jesus Christ is our only way to Salvation. If you do not know Him, ask Jesus into your heart today.