Sunday, 5 February 2023
THE TABERNACLE OF PRAISE
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I oWer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord (Psalm 27:6).
In the days of David, there were two tabernacles: one was in Gibeon, while the other was in Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles 16 talks about both of them. The Tabernacle in Gibeon, which was the tabernacle of Moses, was the place of sacrifice (Read 1 Chronicles 16:39-40 NIV). The tabernacle in Jerusalem, which was the tabernacle of David, had Levitical singers whom David had appointed to minister before the Ark of God: “And he (David) appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 16:4).
The Levites were to minister before the ark night and day, singing praises to the Lord. While in Gibeon, they were offering the sacrifices of bulls and goats in Jerusalem; they offered sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving continually to the Lord.
David said, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs” (Psalm 69:30-31). Many years later, in the New Testament, James, while debating with some Church elders about God’s plan for the Gentiles, quoted a prophecy: “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 15:16).
Notice the Lord didn’t say, “I will build again the tabernacle of Moses.” Rather, He said He would build again the tabernacle of David where was unending praise. This tells us what we’re supposed to have in the Church today: unending praise in the sanctuary! It’ll usher us into a higher and more glorious arena of life and ministry, as we build a living tabernacle that’ll never be destroyed.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I’ll bless your Name at all times, and your praise shall continually be in my mouth, declaring your greatness in all the earth, and making known your wonders to all generations. Thank you for your glory in my life; you’re righteous, holy, gracious, kind and pure. Your Kingdom is everlasting, and you rule the nations in righteousness. Blessed be your Name forever, O Lord. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Chronicles 16:39-40 NIV; Psalm 150:1-6
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 25:1-30 & Exodus 29-30
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 12:31-38 & Genesis 36