David House Fellowship - The Vineyard

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Heaven and Earth

Unlike any other structure on earth, the Tabernacle was unique; it was designed in heaven. It was the earthly place of residence for the Sovereign King of the Universe, the God of Israel. It was His residence while He lived among His people Israel, and among the nations.

The Children of Israel are the sole recipients of this unique dwelling-place. The Tabernacle is therefore unequalled among the nations. The design of the tabernacle was given to Moses while he was on Mt Sinai, in the Presence of the Sovereign King. Indeed, before any work began, Moses was commanded to make sure that the Tabernacle, and even its furnishings, would be constructed exactly to the specifications he had been shown."According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the furnishings, just so you shall make it." (Exodus 25:9)The understanding is straight-forward. In order to dwell among men, the Creator of the Universe who is holy, holy, holy must have a Holy Place. And likewise, the Children of Israel, among whom He chose to dwell, must be able to approach and serve Him -- the Holy One in His Holy Place. Therefore, the criterion from which the design of the Tabernacle was determined was holiness. The structure was heavenly perfect. Designed in heaven and constructed on earth, the Tabernacle would be filled with the Presence of the Holy One -- this was no ordinary structure. Things happened here that just didn't (couldn't) anywhere else. This was where sins were atoned for -- forgiveness lived here. Here, the poor and the widow were comforted. Here, the mourner wept no more. Those who hungered for righteousness were filled and satisfied. Here, the lost were found, and those who were searching for truth and purpose were now singing of the goodness of the Lord and praising Him for His wondrous works. This was the place where the captive was set free to serve the Lord and to walk in His paths. Here, the old and the young listened together to Word of the Lord. This was where the Children of Israel worshipped the God of the Universe, as one, a people united. He who brought them out from the land of bondage, with an outstretched arm and mighty deeds, their Redeemer, now lived among them, here in this holy place. Here, they worshipped their King … it was heaven on earth.This heaven-on-earth Tabernacle is also a wonderful prophetic picture of the Messiah, the One of whom the Lord promised through Moses. "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren . . . " (Deuteronomy 18:18). Just as God's Presence dwelt among men in the earthly Tabernacle, so too, God would dwell in human form as the Messiah, the Sent One.Yeshua the Messiah taught, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38) The Tabernacle was the resting-place for the faithful, and a fortress for those who walked the paths of righteousness, so too, for all who believe in the Messiah. Hear the Word which He taught in the synagogue at Capernaum."The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (Luke 4:18-19) This is a fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy, Isaiah chapter sixty-one and verses one and two.And so, we delight in the witness from one of the Messiah's disciples, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of lovingkindness (chesed) and truth." (John 1:14)May there be many today who like Nathaniel declared of Yeshua the Messiah, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 1:49)Mark Warren