"Before the Ark, Before the Tabernacle"

January 23, 2016

“Before the Ark, Before the Tabernacle”

Blessings Folk!

David called the people to worship.
He explained to the leaders what needed to be said and done.
All the people said “Amen!”
They agreed.

Now, watch…

1Ch 16:36-40
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.
Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD.
So he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required;
and Obed-edom with his 68 relatives; Obed-edom, also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as gatekeepers.
He left Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place which was at Gibeon,
to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which He commanded Israel.


David left them to worship.
As instructed.
Continually.
As each day required.

Remember how this chapter began?

1Ch 16:1
And they brought in the ark of God and placed it inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God.


The ark of God had been place in a tent that David built.
Not in the tabernacle of the Lord.
This is profound.
Rarely taught.
Never preached.

Asaph and clan ministered before the ark of the covenant of the Lord continually.

What about the tabernacle of the Lord?

Zadok the priest and his relatives were before the tabernacle of the Lord.
It was in the high place in Gibeon…another location.
They offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offerings…outside the Holy Place.
They did so continually morning and evening as is written in the law of the Lord.

Yet, they ministered before a tabernacle that had not the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

Again…

David’s tent had the Ark of the covenant.
David’s men ministered before it continually…not just one day a year.
They were in the Presence of the Lord…and yet lived.

The tabernacle of the Lord (Mosaic tabernacle) carried on with sacrifice, yet had not the Ark.
They did not have the Presence of the Lord.
Just faithful, religious fulfillment of commandments.

There are a couple of pictures here.

One, this is a foreshadowing of the very Presence of the Lord in those who seek Him.
Second, this is a picture of the “church”/Church.
Many go about religious activities, yet have not the Power and Presence of the Lord.
Many have the Power and Presence of the Lord outside the “norm” of religious activity.

Choose well.
Choose to be “before the Ark”.