Jul 19 – Amos 8, Amos 9 Romans 5:12-21 Proverbs 17:15-24

Amos 9:11

“In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old.

This passage was one that God brought to mind for James during the council of Jerusalem. And James could see it’s establishment there.

What is the booth of David? Well, this tabernacle was different – it was built for a specific purpose – it was built for worship. No special materials or plans or dimensions are ever mentioned. It was a tent – built on Mt Zion in Jerusalem.

It was built to be a place of singing and praise and worship. You don’t see this in any of the other houses of God in this way.

David took the ark and placed it in here – the presence of God rested upon this place.

The Priests praised and worshipped and played instruments – you can read about this in 1 Chron 16. The rest were given trumpets and harps and so on – and they worshipped in shifts so that it could go on continually. Worship that would never cease day or night!

The Tabernacle of David existed for around 40 years and stopped. So what relevance does it have to us today? How does it help in our praise? It’s gone.

Well – God said that this tabernacle would be restored.

So… In the day that God raises up the booth or tent of David – something will happen. The rebuilding of the tabernacle leads to something. Gentiles coming into the kingdom.

In acts 15 James realises this. It’s like an “oh yeah – of course” moment. God reveals it to him.

He sees the fruit – gentiles getting saved and he knows that means something… he sees what God is doing: God has restored the tent of David.

In this moment James recognises that the birth of the Church, a house without a roof where God dwells – where the priesthood had been restored, but instead of a levite tribe it is a worshipping community of believers who are offering spiritual sacrifices to God.

And it’s been the case since then. The Tabernacle of David is still restored.

The worshipping church brought about an open heaven – where gentiles could enter the kingdom, receive the truth and understand it for the first time and could even receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Today we worship in front of an unveiled ark. When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn in two – signifying that barrier coming down.

That unveiled ark represents the presence of God amongst us – there is no barrier. When we worship and come before God it is in an open heaven – He is right in the midst when we worship – there is nothing blocking the glory of God. We are worshipping in the spirit of the restored tabernacle of David – singing, dancing, clapping – all of it.

This is how God wants us to come into His presence!