Restored and Rebuilt
By Rachel Vipond
While speaking to the Jews at the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15:16-18, James paraphrases Amos 9: 11-12 to support Paul and Barnabas’ ministry amongst the Gentiles which had resulted in the Gentiles’ recent conversion. James used this opportunity to emphasise to the leaders of the early church that God’s grace extends to all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, which is as true for us today as it was then.
“‘‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name’’, says the Lord, who does these things — things known from long ago.”
The Restoration of David's Tabernacle
When the Ark of the Covenant, the key Old Testament symbol of God’s presence with His people, was brought back to Jerusalem with great celebration, David put up a tent to house it. But David’s tent was unlike the tabernacle in Moses’ time, set up in the wilderness during the Exodus from Egypt. In Moses’ tabernacle, the ark was hidden from view in the Holy of Holies behind a thick veil, representing the separation between a holy God and sinful mankind, and the only person who could enter the Holy of Holies was the High Priest once every year.
In contrast, David’s tabernacle had no veil and no walls – the only thing encircling the ark were worshippers, which meant that the ark, the symbol of God’s covenant presence with them, could be seen by all, worshippers and passers-by alike.
In Jesus, we may recognise that David’s tent is now restored. His sacrificial death, once for all, ended the need for the Mosaic sacrificial system in the tabernacle/temple. Today, as with David’s tent, God’s people are called to continual praise and prayer as the worshipping priesthood of all believers, both Jew and Gentile.
The Spirit of the Tabernacle of David
David’s tent was a night and day place of praise and prayer where God was present. Jesus too calls us to be true worshippers of the Father, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. Worshipping from our hearts, open to the prompting of the Spirit, we partner in God’s mission as He directs us how to pray. Jesus says… ‘‘Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks’’. How does the knowledge that Jesus is the restoration of the temple living in us, empower us in our worship, prayer and mission?
Thank you, God, that we get to partner in Your mission to rebuild and restore through your Son, Jesus. May your Spirit continue to prompt and lead us in our worship to You and our prayers for others. Amen.