Scriptures that Speak of the Tabernacle of David

Those scriptures that reference Mt. Zion, Zion, the Holy Mountain, His Holy Hill, the Cherubim, His glory shining forth, His tent, etc. must refer to the Tabernacle of David because the Tabernacle of Moses was at Gibeon and the Temple of Solomon was not yet built. While Zion sometimes refers to Israel, it sometimes refers to the Hill of God or the Presence of God. It may also refer to God’s Eternal Purpose. The uniqueness of David’s Tabernacle sets it apart from all the other dwelling places of God on earth. For example: All of Israel along with the Levites could appear before God at the open veil of the Tabernacle of David. There seemed to be no requirements to worship there. Then why do we read of these requirements in Psalm 15 and Psalm 24? This must be speaking of the eternal Tabernacle of David, the Heavenly Mt. Zion in the New Jerusalem. In studying these scriptures we can’t always assume they are speaking of the earthly Mt. Zion or historically of the little tent that David pitched. There may also be a difference between dwelling on God’s Holy Hill and visiting there. Example: Psalm 132:13 is obviously speaking of the Eternal Mt. Zion. If Mt. Zion is to exist “forever”, because the first earth passes away, then the reference is to the Eternal Mt. Zion spoken of in Hebrews 12. However, we may participate to some degree in this realm and at this time through the anointing and the manifest Presence of God. The fact is that God is restoring the Tabernacle of David today and in our lives.

For example in Psalm 132 we read that God has chosen Zion and He has desired IT for His habitation. In Psalm 9 we see that God dwells in Zion. In Psalm 48 it declares that Mt. Zion is the joy of the whole earth. In Psalm 133 & 134 the scriptures say that The Lord will bless you out of Zion. In Psalm 31 it says that God’s fire is on Zion. In Psalm 20 it says that God will strengthen you out of Zion. Zion represents the “source” of all the blessings which of course is God, Himself. Many of these scriptures are not listed here as referring to David’s Tabernacle because it is important that each one of us search out these many blessings and apply them to ourselves, personally. What ever applies to Mt. Zion also applies to David’s Tabernacle because that is the significant item that was on Zion. Of course with it was the manifested Presence of God. There are 162 references to Zion in the scriptures. Some of these scriptures God will surely quicken to you as promise of personal blessings.

PS 15:1 O LORD, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? [2] He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart. [3] He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; [4] In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt, and does not change; [5] He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

PS 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. [2] For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the rivers. [3] Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? [4] He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, And has not sworn deceitfully. [5] He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation. [6] This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Thy face-- even Jacob. Selah.

PS 27:4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to meditate in His temple. [5] For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. [6] And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

PS 36:5 Thy loving-kindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Thy faithfulness reaches to the skies. [6] Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are like a great deep. O LORD, Thou preservest man and beast. [7] How precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings. [8] They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house; And Thou dost give them to drink of the river of Thy delights. [9] For with Thee is the fountain of life; In Thy light we see light.

PS 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for Thee, O God. [2] My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? [3] My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" [4] These things I remember, and I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God, With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

PS 48:9 We have thought on Thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of Thy temple. [10] As is Thy name, O God, So is Thy praise to the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness. [11] Let Mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of Thy judgments. [12] Walk about Zion, and go around her; Count her towers; [13] Consider her ramparts; Go through her palaces; That you may tell it to the next generation. [14] For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.

PS 50:1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, has spoken, And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. [2] Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shone forth. [3] May our God come and not keep silence; Fire devours before Him, And it is very tempestuous around Him. [4] He summons the heavens above, And the earth, to judge His people: [5] "Gather My godly ones to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." [6] And the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is judge. Selah.

PS 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. [2] From the end of the earth I call to Thee, when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. [3] For Thou hast been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. [4] Let me dwell in Thy tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Thy wings. Selah.

PS 65:1 There will be silence before Thee, and praise in Zion, O God; And to Thee the vow will be performed. [2] O Thou who dost hear prayer, To Thee all men come. [3] Iniquities prevail against me; As for our transgressions, Thou dost forgive them. [4] How blessed is the one whom Thou dost choose, and bring near to Thee, To dwell in Thy courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, Thy holy temple.

PS 67:1 God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us-- Selah. [2] That Thy way may be known on the earth, Thy salvation among all nations. [3] Let the peoples praise Thee, O God; Let all the peoples praise Thee. [4] Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For Thou wilt judge the peoples with uprightness, And guide the nations on the earth. Selah. [5] Let the peoples praise Thee, O God; Let all the peoples praise Thee. [6] The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. [7] God blesses us, That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.

PS 68:15 A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A mountain of many peaks is the mountain of Bashan. [16] Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, At the mountain which God has desired for His abode? Surely, the LORD will dwell there forever. [17] The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness. [18] Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captive Thy captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there.

PS 68:32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; Sing praises to the Lord, Selah. [33] To Him who rides upon the highest heavens, which are from ancient times; Behold, He speaks forth with His voice, a mighty voice. [34] Ascribe strength to God; His majesty is over Israel, And His strength is in the skies. [35] O God, Thou art awesome from Thy sanctuary. The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be God!

PS 78:65 Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep, Like a warrior overcome by wine. [66] And He drove His adversaries backward; He put on them an everlasting reproach. [67] He also rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, [68] But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved. [69] And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has founded forever. [70] He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds; [71] From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him, To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. [72] So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them with his skillful hands.

PS 80:1 Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, Thou who dost lead Joseph like a flock; Thou who art enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! [2] Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up Thy power, And come to save us! [3] O God, restore us, And cause Thy face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.

PS 84:1 How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! [2] My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. [3] The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Thine altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God. [4] How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house! They are ever praising Thee. Selah.

PS 84:8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah. [9] Behold our shield, O God, And look upon the face of Thine anointed. [10] For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. [11] For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. [12] O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!

PS 87:1 His foundation is in the holy mountains. [2] The LORD loves the gates of Zion More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. [3] Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah. [4] "I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me; Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia: This one was born there.'" [5] But of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her"; And the Most High Himself will establish her. [6] The LORD shall count when He registers the peoples, PS 87:6 "This one was born there." Selah. [7] Then those who sing as well as those who play the flutes shall say, PS 87:7 "All my springs of joy are in you."

PS 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. [2] I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" [3] For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper, And from the deadly pestilence. [4] He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. PS 91:5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; [6] Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. [7] A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not approach you. [8] You will only look on with your eyes, And see the recompense of the wicked. [9] For you have made the LORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. [10] No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. [6] Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

PS 96:7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. [8] Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. [9] Worship the LORD in holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth. [10] Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity

PS 98:4 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. [5] Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre; With the lyre and the sound of melody. [6] With trumpets and the sound of the horn Shout joyfully before the King, the LORD. PS 98:7 Let the sea roar and all it contains, The world and those who dwell in it. [8] Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains sing together for joy [9] Before the LORD; for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity. PS 99:1 The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! [2] The LORD is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples. [3] Let them praise Thy great and awesome name; Holy is He. [4] And the strength of the King loves justice;

PS 100:1 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. [2] Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. [3] Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. PS 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. [5] For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations.

PS 102:12 But Thou, O LORD, dost abide forever; And Thy name to all generations. [13] Thou wilt arise and have compassion on Zion; For it is time to be gracious to her, For the appointed time has come. [14] Surely Thy servants find pleasure in her stones, And feel pity for her dust. [15] So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, And all the kings of the earth Thy glory. [16] For the LORD has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

PS 108:1 My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul. [2] Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn! [3] I will give thanks to Thee, O LORD, among the peoples; And I will sing praises to Thee among the nations. [4] For Thy lovingkindness is great above the heavens; And Thy truth reaches to the skies. [5] Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Thy glory above all the earth. [6] That Thy beloved may be delivered, Save with Thy right hand, and answer me!

PS 110:1 "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet." [2] The LORD will stretch forth Thy strong scepter from Zion, saying, PS 110:2 "Rule in the midst of Thine enemies." [3] Thy people will volunteer freely in the day of Thy power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Thy youth are to Thee as the dew. PS 110:4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, PS 110:4 "Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." [5] The Lord is at Thy right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. [6] He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. [7] He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head.

PS 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. [2] As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. [3] For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous; That the righteous may not put forth their hands to do wrong.

PS 132:6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the field of Jaar. [7] Let us go into His dwelling place; Let us worship at His footstool. [8] Arise, O LORD, to Thy resting place; Thou and the ark of Thy strength. [9] Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness; And let Thy godly ones sing for joy.

PS 132:13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. [14] "This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. [15] "I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. [16] "Her priests also I will clothe with salvation; And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy. [17] "There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. [18] "His enemies I will clothe with shame; But upon himself his crown shall shine."

PS 135:1 Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; Praise Him, O servants of the LORD, [2] You who stand in the house of the LORD, In the courts of the house of our God! [3] Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely. [4] For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own possession.

PS 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion. [2] Upon the willows in the midst of it We hung our harps. [3] For there our captors demanded of us songs, And our tormentors mirth, saying, PS 137:3 "Sing us one of the songs of Zion." PS 137:4 How can we sing the LORD'S song In a foreign land? [5] If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill. [6] May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

PS 141:1 O LORD, I call upon Thee; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to Thee! [2] May my prayer be counted as incense before Thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering. [3] Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. [4] Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

PS 149:1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones. [2] Let Israel be glad in his Maker; Let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King. [3] Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre. [4] For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.

PS 150:1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. [2] Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. PS 150:3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. [4] Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. [5] Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. [6] Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

If we study the height, the width, the depth and the magnitude of David’s praise and worship it should be clear that all this is just the result of seeing and knowing Him and Who He is. It is impossible to praise and worship the God that we really don’t know. The praise that David expresses has no limits or boundaries and he makes it clear that everything and everybody and every instrument should be used to praise the Lord.

If we ask where did David get this revelation of God we can only answer in His Presence before the open Ark of the Covenant. If this had been just a picture for us of the “Ark of the Old Covenant” David could not have survived the open Presence of God and His glory. For that reason this must be a picture of the “Ark of the New Covenant” and was prophetic of the veil that was opened when Jesus was crucified. Now we have access to the “Ark of the New Covenant” but how many are really taking advantage of the opportunity and the invitation? As we can see with David’s Tabernacle all this was not “automatic” because David’s Tabernacle was set up with innumerable sacrifices.

Of course we understand that all these thousands of sacrifices were types and shadows and were speaking of the “Sacrifice” of Calvary. It was Jesus’ sacrifice that “opened the veil”. Never the less there is still sacrifice for anyone who wishes to dwell in God’s Presence, see His glory and hear His voice. While the sacrifice is different and can be interpreted from David’s revelation of the proper sacrifice that we may offer in His Presence, there is still very real sacrifice. [ Prayer, praise, worship, lifting holy hands, bowing in His presence, a broken and contrite heart, songs, etc.] For the proud and hard hearted even these sacrifices are too much. Really? Then they can take up their eternal position somewhere far from the Open Ark of the New Covenant! If we just understood this much we could no longer stand with our hands in our pockets and our mouth closed, being bored until the “worship” is over and we can get on to something important.