"In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old."
Amos 9:11
Anytime scripture is given that foretells events from the Old Testament about Israel's future, it is extremely important that we interpret them correctly. Many such promises do not pertain to the church. Some do. Most of them are promises that will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ returns and sets up his kingdom on this earth, and reigns over the house of David for a thousand years.
Any prophetic declaration spoken during Old Testament times, which can be applied to the church, is generally considered from a spiritual viewpoint. For instance, Ezekiel thirty-six talks about a day coming when God would gather Israel out of all nations and bring them to their own land, and that he would sprinkle clean water upon them and cleanse them from all their filthiness. This is a clear reference to the millennial reign when all Israel shall be saved. Paul points this out in the book of Romans (Rom 11:26-27). But, as you continue to read from this same chapter, Ezekiel goes on to describe God creating in them a change of heart. He says, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you..." (Ezek 36:26). Keeping this all in context, we know that in that day Israel shall be given a new heart and a new spirit. However, reading from the book of Hebrew, we discover that this is a clear reference to the new birth, which applies to all those who are believers during the dispensation of the church age. We call this a double reference-applying to both a physical and spiritual promise.
Another example is the promise of the coming Messiah. Isaiah prophesied, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek"...and so forth (Isa. 61:1). We know this is the same verse Jesus read in his home town of Nazareth, found in Luke chapter four. If you look carefully at this entire passage, you will find that he proclaims the acceptable year of the Lord, but never mentions the day of vengeance of our God (v. 2). Part of this passage was fulfilled in Jesus' day and applies to all who accept him as their Messiah. But some will be fulfilled at the end of the church age, when Christ returns to judge the earth.
The Tabernacle of David fits this same criterion. Some of it applies to the church, and other parts of it apply strictly to Israel. The proceeding verses in Amos chapter nine, deals with the same thing Ezekiel prophesied concerning Israel returning to her land and rebuilding her nation, so we know that the fulfillment is an earthly, physical promise. However, over in the New Testament we find a reference to the restoration of the tabernacle of David (Acts 15:16). How can we take this promise that was given directly to Israel and apply it to the church?
The Bible clearly teaches us that the earthly house and kingdom of David was to be established forever (2 Sam.7:16). The fact that God promises to rebuild it indicates that it came to ruin. Did God's promise fall short? Was that which was to be established forever ceased to be? We know that even today, after nearly two thousand years since the days of the early church, Israel has yet to see the fulfillment of the house and kingdom of David restored. But keep in mind this applies to just one aspect of the promise-the earthly, physical of it. From a spiritual perspective, the restoration of the house and kingdom of David was established through the Lord Jesus Christ. That's one reason you find references made to Jesus being the Son of David. Much of what was prophesied over David's house and kingdom finds its fulfillment in the Messiah, the Lord himself.
When we talk about the restoration of the tabernacle of David, these are the things we need to focus our attention upon. First of all, David's rule was pure and his intention as king was to bring true divine order to the people of God. He did that by restoring the Ark of the Covenant to the center of Jerusalem. The Ark represented the presence of God. David realized the importance of having God's presence at the very center of all activities. Secondly, David realized that the Ark represented God's power. By restoring the Ark to its rightful place, David was declaring to all his utter dependence upon God's power to make Israel a great nation. And lastly, David realized having the Ark in the center of Jerusalem that God was looking for more than just a burnt offering. He wanted Israel's offering to be the sacrifice of praise. Psalm fifty-one says, "For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
