Tabernacle or Temple?
I want to start this article by sharing an intriguing passage from the book of Acts. We find in chapter 15 a synopsis of how Peter’s proclamation of the gospel to the gentiles brought out a pejorative response from the Judaizers present in this Jerusalem synod. This particular sect of the Pharisees, who were believers, continued to advocate for circumcision in order to sustain the law of Moses. As we see, James, in speaking for those present, put this heresy to rest once and for all.
The intriguing verses of which I speak are Acts 15:16,17 and read like this in the NKJV:
After this I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; and I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.” James is here quoting from Amos 9:11,12.
Many of us, in our natural thinking, would undoubtedly have chosen Solomon’s temple over the tabernacle of David to be restored. After all, wouldn’t the splendor and magnificence of the temple be more to the glory of God than a shabby tent? Wouldn’t the structure that attracted royal visitors from distant kingdoms be enormously more honoring to heaven’s God than a common transportable cloth shelter? However, this vein of thinking is basically temporal in nature rather than eternal. Although we are presently bound to this world, we are in fact eternal creatures. As believers, we have to discipline ourselves to both read Scripture and think as eternal beings.
It is imperative that we understand that everything in Scripture, Old and New Testaments, in some measure points to Jesus. Everything we are reading in the Word is to some degree and in some way referencing the Lord Jesus Christ. We may not see it all right now but it is there all the same. Since I still “see through a glass darkly,” I don’t necessarily find Jesus in every passage I read. However, someday it will all be clear to me. Knowing this helps me to sharpen my discernment and more precisely to focus my study.
Harkening back now to our title, “Tabernacle or Temple?”, we are obviously setting up a comparison and inviting some kind of choice to be made. In reading the relevant passages pertaining to these two entities, we can see that something quite significant and common transpires with both. The event that elevates and distinguishes these “houses of God” is the bringing of the ark of the covenant to each of them. This occurrence is celebrated with much fanfare in both cases. The priests and elders of Israel are involved. Many instruments of worship are utilized and all the people of Israel rejoice. There is sacrifice and feasting and the presence of God is manifest in a cloud. In each circumstance, the reigning monarch, David and Solomon respectively, bless the people and give glory, praise, and honor to God.
Here is where we have to move beyond the historical to the representative truth reflected in our Scripture. In this sense, the repositories for the ark of the covenant assume the character of the respective kings. The ark in these stories is the presence of Jesus. The dwelling, then, can be both the church and the individual believer. It follows then that the characteristics of these monarchs can find their way into the church and into the lives of Christians associated with the respective houses of worship.
As in any race, it’s not how well one starts but rather how well one does throughout the conduct of the event. In our present scenario, David and Solomon both started well, but Solomon eventually fell into disobedience, idolatry, and ultimately abandoning the one true God.
The Acts 15 passage tells us that it is the tabernacle of David that God is going to ultimately restore, not the temple of Solomon. He is going to rebuild its ruins and set it up. Something very significant had to happen for this to become a reality. Referring to the prophecy in Amos, the apostle James said, “After this , I will return…” After what? After the Gentiles were united with the Jews this union would become the brand new people of God in Christ. This uniting of Jew and Gentile meant the new special people of God were no longer the people of Israel. This is clearly spelled out in Ephesians 2:14-16:
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.”
It should be clear to us that there is no unique nationality or race specifically claimed by God. All races and nationalities have been spiritually unified into one body, the church, believers, the company of the committed. These are the people of God. The true and faithful followers of Christ are going to be the restored tabernacle of David.
I believe Solomon’s temple represents the traditional church of today regardless of denomination. David’s tabernacle is a type of the kingdom church which the Lord has been calling into existence from the first century. The traditional church has grown more ritualistic and less relational through the centuries. Its focus appears to be on drawing ever increasing numbers of people with the staffing and programming reflecting this. More and more Jesus becomes the titular head of the church while men and women choreograph the Sunday morning and midweek services. Congregations are turned into compliant observers while semi-professionals perform onstage. Like Solomon’s temple of old, church buildings seem to be the residence of God.
Contrary to Solomon’s temple, and in many ways conflicting with it, is David’s tabernacle. This is the church of the kingdom of God. This would be small intimate groups of relational people who gather to share their experiences with Christ in ways that edify and encourage one another. There are no ornate buildings or formal school-trained pastors or designated worship leaders. They emphasize loving God and loving others not just as a confession but as a way of life. Jesus is the center and focus of their hearts, their sharing, and their lives. Here Jesus is not only the acknowledged head of the church but the actual head.
Today, the restoration of David’s tabernacle is mostly out of sight and out of mind. Much of it is still affiliated with Solomon’s temple. Mainline churches today are rupturing huge numbers of adherents. Most of these people are not leaving God. They are simply giving up on a plastic religious system that gave up on Jesus long ago.
The Lord’s promise to rebuild the ruins and set up again the tabernacle of David is being fulfilled. It will find its culmination in the second coming of Christ.
