July 7 - The New Tabernacle

July 7 - The New Tabernacle
2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Chron. 16:1; 2 Chron. 1:4;

It seems as if there was a second tabernacle … a home for the ark of the Lord.  Just before this we read that the ark finally made it to Jerusalem – the city of David. When it arrived, everyone was dancing and shouting; trumpets were blaring. It was a great time of celebration.

We read in 2 Samuel 6:17, “They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.”

In 2 Chronicles 1:2-4, there is a little more clarification.

Solomon (et al) went to the high place at Gibeon, because God’s tent of meeting was there.  But David had brought the ark of God up from Kiriath-jearim in the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.  The bronze altar that Bezalel had originally made for the tabernacle was also there, in front of the tabernacle of the Lord.

Solomon offered one thousand burnt offerings on the bronze altar.

A great moment between Solomon and God occurred there at Gibeon.  It was now that God told Solomon he could ask for anything at all, and Solomon asked for wisdom.

It was for the safety of the ark, that it was separated from the tabernacle. There is no good explanation for why the tabernacle hadn’t been safely packed up and brought into Jerusalem until this point.

These two stories offer us insight into the hearts of the men who served the Lord as kings over Israel, though. When the ark was brought into Jerusalem, there was great joy. David danced before the Lord … with no inhibition. He was so filled with love and joy for the Lord that he could barely contain himself. No wonder he was a man after God’s own heart.

When Solomon went to Gibeon to track down the tabernacle, he worshiped the Lord with great extravagance, holding nothing back. His reward could be anything he desired from the Lord of Creation. He desired wisdom.

The Lord desires our hearts and our minds. We offer both in unfettered and glorious worship to Him.