In order to understand the place and the importance of praise and worship in the church today (the NT church) we need to understand how the OT praise, worship, and the Tabernacle of David are types and shadows of the Church of Jesus Christ under the new covenant. The Tabernacle of David A tabernacle is literally a tent or a dwelling place. The tabernacle of David was different than the tabernacle of Moses. In the tabernacle of Moses, burnt offerings and sacrifices were offered daily by the priest. The Tabernacle of David was a place where the continual sacrifices of praise and worship, prayer and ministry to God were offered daily. When Jesus offered himself as the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, he put an end to the blood of bulls and goats on the altar of Moses’ tabernacle under the Old covenant. (Hebrews 1:3, 7:27, 9:12, 9:24-28). The tabernacle of David was a type of the worship of the church of Jesus Christ and the sacrifices of praise, joy and thanksgiving in David’s tabernacle are a type that foreshadowed the New Covenant priesthood and it’ s worship of Jesus Christ as the Head and the authority of the church. This also foreshadowed the priestly and prophetic ministries of the Church. (Hebrews 13:15, 1 Peter 2:9) Amos 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: Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 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: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Here we see that James quoted Amos 9 and interpreted the salvation of the Gentiles as a fulfillment of the prophecy and the Church as being the restored Tabernacle of David. The Restored Tabernacle of David, Being the Church Is it a physical tabernacle as in a church building or edifice? No, It is not. Acts 7:48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Psalms 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. The NT church may meet in a strip mall or a gazebo, or a house or a church building to offer the sacrifices of praise, and to worship God. For this purpose we would consider such a place a “sanctuary” because where believers meet, God is in the midst. Yet the true tabernacle or dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, who is God, is the believer. When believers meet together for fellowship, praise and worship of Almighty God, this is Church, or the Tabernacle of David restored. This is the place that God inhabits according to Psalms 22:3 Davidic Praise and Worship Mentioned before, we said that the sacrifices of praise, worship and thanksgiving, which were offered in the Tabernacle of David, was a type and shadow of the same in the NT Church. What does Davidic Worship mean? It is worship in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David, that is, worship that is an act of the whole person, not just the intellect. The worship of David's Tabernacle included singing, instrumental music, standing, kneeling, bowing, upraised hands, clapping and dancing. Davidic worship fulfills the command of Jesus to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength" (Mark 12:30). Scripture References 2 Samuel 6 and 1 Chronicles 13-16. 1Chronicles Chapter 15, 2 Sam. 6:14, 2 Chr. 5-7, 2 Chr. 20, 2 Chr. 23-24, 2 Chr. 29-30, 2 Chr. 35, Ezra 3:10-13, Neh. 12:28-47, Isaiah 16:5 Amos 9:11-12. Isaiah 2:2-5, Isaiah 9:2-7, Isaiah 35, Isaiah 40:1-5, Isaiah 60:1-3, Isaiah 61, Isaiah 62, Jeremiah 33:10-22, Micah 4: 1-2, and Haggai 2:6-7. |