Tabernacle
of David
©
1999, William H. Hopper
Let’s take a look at the word we all have seen in the Bible and have always just sort of gone past: the word ‘Selah’. We all know what it means, don’t we? Or do we really?
Some definitions of selah are: pause, crescendo or musical interlude. If you examine the
book of Psalms, you will find the word selah used seventy-one times and you'll find it
used three times in the book of Habakkuk. Basically, a selah was used to drive home or
infuse the spirit of the song. To put it another way, God was trying to impart to His
people. The words sung would have a theme or message, and the selah would infuse that
message.
Instructions were given at the beginning of a psalm to ensure that David’s interpretation was preserved. He wanted to keep the ‘heart’ of the psalm intact. He (and the other psalmists) would give instructions regarding the specific instrument(s) to be used, and often the type or flavor of music to be played in interpreting the song. These instructions are not listed in the Bible regarding all psalms. It is not known why instruction is printed for some psalms and not others.
What is important is to look at the psalms that do have instructions, and glean what we can. Why is this important? It is important because down through the years, what we call worship and what is acceptable in the House of God has changed.
I used to think, "why did they do that? Why did they tear down the Tabernacle of David?" I finally realized that it was part of God's plan. I don't know His purpose, but I do know it is part of His plan. He would not be able to fulfill Amos 9:11 unless the tabernacle had first been torn down! Just like the men that crucified Jesus, they were accomplishing God's purpose for us!
We must remember that in New Testament times, they did not have a New Testament to refer to. What reference then, set the standard? How did they know how to worship? What was their model to praise their living God? They used the Word of God -- in those days, the Old Testament.
There is nothing in the New Testament to suggest that it ever changed, or should change. What we need to look at then is what was done in the Tabernacle of David. Why the Tabernacle of David? Because this is what God is going to restore in the last days. The Bible tells us through the Apostles in the days of the Early Church that they were in the last days. Certainly then, we are in the last days!
What type of music did they play in the tabernacle of David? How often did they play their instruments? How did one become a musician in the Tabernacle of David? What were the qualifications? We have many things to look at and many questions to answer.
In the church today it is the same as it was in David's time. Musicians need skill AND anointing. If you have polished skills and do not have the anointing, you can make fine music, but you have nothing of value in the Kingdom of God.
There is a very simple formula for ensuring that the anointing is on you when you lead worship or participate from the congregation. You must spend time with God and with His Word. The formula is: ‘Word of God in = word of God out’. Musicians in the tabernacle were required to know the Word of God verbatim as it was in their time. They were after all Levites (priests).
We, today, must continually eat the Word of God. John 1:1 says:
John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(NKJ)
"The Word was God." Whether or not you are striving to participate in the corporate prophetic worship, you still need to eat the Word of God regularly. How often? The answer to that is "how interested are you in God?" If you are not interested in the Word of God, you aren't really interested in God because "the Word was God." Worship leaders have a much greater need to eat the Word because:
Luke 12:48
48 "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (NKJ)
Read and study the Word of God -- it is a must. Musicians, interpret the psalms musically. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. PRACTICE NOT JUST THE INSTRUMENT, BUT ALSO THE PROPHETIC. ACCOMPANY THE WORD OF GOD WITH MUSIC.
The singer in the congregation can also interpret the psalms. Do you know the melody to any of the psalms? Let God give you one, and share it with the body at the next gathering.
The musicians set apart for service in the tabernacle of David had to be at least 30 years old:
1 Chr 23:3
3 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and above; and the number of individual males was thirty-eight thousand.
(NKJ)
This requirement was later lowered to 20 years of age
1 Chr 23:24
24 These were the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses-- the heads of the fathers' houses as they were counted individually by the number of their names, who did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and above.
(NKJ)
There is not an age requirement in the church today. I firmly believe that anyone can be a worship leader, including children, provided they have committed themselves to God and His purposes and know His Word, seeking Him daily in their lives. I am not saying that any person in the church can't take the lead during a service if God gives them a song. We all can take the lead. That is what this book is all about; ACTIVATING the body of Christ!
Worship leaders need to be secure enough in their calling to be willing to yield to the body when a song comes forth. Once we get into praise and enter high praise, who needs to lead? Aren't we all standing in the presence of God? Aren't we all on the same level, worshipers before their God? Why do we need a leader? I don't need anyone to tell me what to say to God. I don't need anyone to tell me what to sing to God. YOU don't either. If you can pray, you can talk to God and you can sing to Him from your heart.
If a worship leader has a problem yielding to the congregation and accompanying the song of the Lord coming forth, then they may have an entertainment mentality or feel somehow that they must be in full control of the service. Their role is to coordinate the song service, and act as a ‘porter’ ministry, opening the doors between heaven and earth.
The only thing a worship leader needs to do is worship. There is a responsibility to keep the praise going even if the people do not enter in. This does not mean we need to go one hour in the song service, no matter what. Perhaps the Holy Spirit wants the focus on the message today, and we should only worship for 20 minutes or so. But this should not be determined by the congregation’s response. The worship leader needs to touch God and create an atmosphere where the presence of the Lord comes into the congregation. It is up to each individual to praise and worship Him then – to ‘carry’ His presence.
WHATEVER God wants is what we should do in our meetings. If the Spirit is leading into further worship, then keep the ball rolling. If the leading is not there, then STOP! Conversely we should not limit ourselves to a set amount of worship and praise. If God wants four hours of praise and worship, then give it to Him! What could possibly be more important than what God wants? Doesn't the day belong to Him in the first place?
The musicians in the tabernacle of David had to be instructed in the prophetic.
1 Chr 15:22
22 Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he was skillful;
(NKJ)
This word "music" is singing in some translations. It really is the word "massa'" in the Hebrew and it means "prophetic burden".
The musicians in the tabernacle of David had to build their own instruments.
5 four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the LORD with musical instruments, "which I made," said David, "for giving praise."
(NKJ)
Let's look at this realistically, David couldn't and wouldn't have built 4,000 instruments by himself, would he? I feel that he probably was the one that designed the instruments. So who do you suppose actually built them? Can you imagine if it was a requirement to build your own instrument today? I think I would be a wood block player!
There was continual worship, day and night in the Tabernacle of David:
1 Chr 9:33
33 These are the singers, heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night.
(NKJ)
The singers (all you non-musicians listen up. You've got a part in this tabernacle thing) were separated and set apart for service. They got their sustenance from the tithe. The above verse states very clearly they were employed day and night. Not every one is to be set apart for the temple, but clearly all of Israel was musical and not everyone is to be employed in the temple. This verse also speaks of round-the-clock worship; they were employed day and night. They prophesied even when the rest of Israel was sleeping.
The following verse covers this clearly. This was the sole work for those set aside for service in the tabernacle of David:
1 Chr 16:37
37 So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day's work required;
(NKJ)
This is a kind of picture of the church. These musicians were separated and set apart. Look at what we are told and compare:
2 Cor 6:17
17 Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."
(NKJ)
We are also called to separated and set apart - ALL OF US. We are called to be holy:
1 Pet 1:16
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
(NKJ)
Titus 2:14
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(KJV)
Let's touch on a tactic of the enemy for just a moment. Have you ever heard an unbeliever say we act like we are "holier than thou?" This is a tactic of the enemy! We ARE holier than they are. We must be, because we are told to be holy. WE MUST NOT TAKE ON THE ATTITUDE THAT WE ARE HOLY, but we must BE HOLY. We are told to. What does it mean to be holy?
By definition ‘holy’ is ‘hagios’; sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated). What is this word consecrated? It is male' or mala' (Esth. 7:5) (maw-law'); a primitive root, to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively):
Consecrated means to fill or be full of. Full of what? God! What do you suppose this ‘new wine’ movement in is all about? We are being filled with God to the point of intoxication.
Paul prayed in the book of Ephesians:
Eph 3:19
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you
may be filled up to all the fulness of God.
(NAS)
We are being consecrated! Consecrated for what? To be set apart for service. Let's get about serving! Forget the attacks of the enemy. Don't react! Be holy, but be on guard not to have the ‘attitude’ of holiness! (Perceived as haughtiness or arrogance).
1 Chr 25:1
1 Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:
(NKJ)
These men were set apart. Separated for service. This is the only duty they performed. They were sold out to God and their sustenance came from the temple. What has happened to the New Testament church? Why are musicians not recognized for what they truly are?
Worship was day and night as stated in 1 Chr 9:33.
Therefore, ‘shifts’ were taken and they drew lots for these shifts. There were twelve musicians per shift and there were twenty-four shifts.
1 Chr 25:7
7 So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the LORD, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.
(NKJ)
Notice here that the musicians were instructed in the songs of the Lord, not songs to the Lord. Remember Chenaniah? He taught in prophetic burden -- songs of the Lord.
What about the word skillful? All musicians must be skillful. A musician is not born with skill, they are given a gift from God. Skill is not the gift. The gift is the ability or aptitude, if you will. Skill comes from dedication and practice.
It is true that the musician must be skillful as I elaborated above. However, this particular word skillful as used here is not skill at all. It really is the word ‘cunning’ in the Hebrew text. It is the word "biyn (bene); a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e. (generally) understand. These men ‘understood’, they ‘discerned’.
These were learned men, men that were educated and dedicated to their God. This puts a whole new light on this verse, and upon our understanding of the musicians in the tabernacle of David. They were not a bunch of pickers selected because they could play a hot lick. Neither should we be.
1 Chr 25:8
8 And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student.
Notice here a quality that we should all have in the body of Christ. We should all prefer one another and consider ourselves less important than the others. This clearly says we are all on even ground. Isn't it interesting that we find a model for the church in the Tabernacle of David?
1 Chr 13:8
8 Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.
(NKJ)
1 Chr 15:28
28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps.
(NKJ)
It appears from these two verses and actually says that ALL of Israel was musical, either with instruments or with song. Should we do anything less?
1 Chr 16:41
41 and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endures forever;
(NKJ)
What about these men that were designated by name? Let's first look at the word ‘name’. Names in the Bible tell us more than how to identify that individual. Names also speak of the nature of the individual and can often reveal new meanings to scripture if we delve into the ‘nature’ of that person through the meaning of their name. The nature of a person is in the name, very often in scripture.
This word designated actually is translated from the word ‘pierced’. So let's read this again. It says ‘who were pierced by nature’. Wow! The musicians had to have brokenness (having been pierced) within their nature. It is not stated as a requirement for the tabernacle of David, but clearly this was a desired quality. Piercing brings up images of Christ, whose side was pierced. It also brings up the Old Testament practice of a piercing with an awl the ear of a bondslave who chose through love to stay with his master once his time of indentured service was complete.
What about us? Should we be ‘pierced’?
The tabernacle of David was established according to God's instruction, in His proper order. The presence of God is a very serious thing. We are to rejoice in Him, but there is a reverence…
1 Chr 15:13
13 "For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order." (A man died because he dared touch the Ark of the Covenant).
(NKJ)
2 Sam 6:13
13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.
(NKJ)
The Ark was brought from Kirjath-jearim, which was about 8 miles north of Jerusalem. If they stopped every six paces, how many times did they stop to sacrifice? How long do you think it took to bring the Ark to Jerusalem? WOW!
This praise and worship in the Tabernacle of Davis was continuous for 33 years! Can you imagine? We worship for an hour and we get to glorious places in the Spirit. What if we praised and worshiped for three continuous days? Can you imagine? What glorious heights we could reach!
I would have loved to be able to walk into the Tabernacle of David in about the fourteenth continuous year. Can you imagine the awesome presence of God that must have been there?
Not to put a damper on the atmosphere, but do you think we would be able to praise and worship continuously for a week? Sure we could. But don't you think that the songs would lose their zing after a few repeats?
We, the church as we are, are not in a position to participate in the restored tabernacle. We are not trained and skilled in the ‘new song’. Singing the same songs time after time after time after time would get old, real fast.
Ever buy a new music CD? What was your favorite CD at the time? What is your favorite CD now? I have CD's that I couldn't wait to get my hands on. I played them over and over and over. You know what? They lost the ‘anointing’ they had for me at some point. Repeated play made them less interesting.
God wants a fresh relationship with His people. He doesn't like repetitious prayer. I think that if the truth were known, we would discover that He doesn't necessarily have a favorite song. And if we get tired of hearing the same songs, how does He feel about them – magnified worldwide?
This brings us back to the question: Who are we praising and who are we singing to? We are praising God and singing to Him. What song does He want to hear? I firmly believe that He wants to hear the song that comes from our heart. He wants to hear the spontaneous song.
We are not to throw out the established songs for the new songs that are coming forth. The important thing is the heart. Why are you singing? Is it because it is ‘time to sing’? Is it because the sign out front of the church said "10:00 worship"? If that is the reason…
We must do all that we do out of love. If we do not have love, we have nothing. If you sing Amazing Grace, then sing it with all your heart, and sing it to God. It is Him, after all, that we came to worship and to praise.
The ‘new song’, the spontaneous song is the whole basis for the musical activity that took place in the Tabernacle of David. Why else would David appoint recorders if not to write down the new songs coming forth? Another name and one of the original names for the book of psalms is "the Book of Tehillam". This is plural for Tehillah, that spontaneous praise.
We must gain an insight into what we call Davidic worship. We must begin training for the restoration of the tabernacle of David. He said He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh in the last days; that our sons and daughters would prophesy. Do you think it could be or include the prophetic song? If we were skilled at prophetic song, would we ever have to repeat a song in our continuous praise and worship? I think not.
1 Chr 29:27
27 And the period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years he reigned in Hebron, and thirty-three years he reigned in Jerusalem.
(NKJ)
David established the Tabernacle on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. He reigned there 33 years. This is how long the Tabernacle of David was in place.
1 Chr 6:31-32
31 Now these are the men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark came to rest.
32 They were ministering with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they served in their office according to their order.
(NKJ)
So, to summarize this chapter, we see that musicians were not just grabbed from the crowd. They had to meet certain standards. They were trained to prophesy both in word (song) and on their instruments.
1 Chr 25:1
1 Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was:
(NKJ)
This verse clearly says they are to "prophesy with" and lists various instruments. We have already established what music can do and how God can speak to His people through music. Let's take a closer look at how it all fits together. The selah will do just that.