24 Hours a Day in the Spirit of the Tabernacle of David
The Holy Spirit is orchestrating a global prayer strategy in these very days. It will far eclipse any other payer movement
in church history. The Holy Spirit is equipping the church to partner with Jesus’ intercessory prayer ministry at the right
hand of the Father. The end result is the Great Harvest of souls being added to the Kingdom of God. The number of
people coming to Jesus at the present hour across the nations is unprecedented in history. I believe this will continue to
increase numerically and in both power and intensity. Jesus is not coming back to a prayerless church rather to one
enjoying mature bridal partnership with Him in intercession for the Great Harvest. The church will complete the Great
Commission reaching to all 255 nations in the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 24:14).
There are several primary aspects to the Great Commission – preaching, mercy deeds and prayer, etc. Historically, the
prayer side of the Great Commission has been neglected. This in turn has hindered effectiveness in our preaching. The
preaching and the prayer side of the Great Harvest will fully come together.
A NEW NAME DESCRIBING A NEW NATURE
“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations”. (Isaiah 56:7) Isaiah the prophet has a lot to say about this
global prayer movement. He described a time when God’s people worldwide will experience unusual grace and authority
in prayer. He summarized this by declaring that God will name His church a “house of prayer”. This prophetic naming is
in itself a promise of functioning in grace empowered prayer. Imagine God naming the church a ‘praying church’. All over
the earth, it will become common to hear of intercessory worship ministries that continue non-stop, 24 hours a day.
God has established in the genetic code a passion to reach ‘all nations’. It will result in bringing the outcasts of the
earth to Jesus (Isaiah 56:8). These 24-hour-a-day prayer ministries are vital to reaching the cities in the 10/40 window.
NEW PARADIGM OF ENJOYABLE PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Isaiah also prophesied of a totally new paradigm of prayer characterized by ‘joy’. The Lord promised, “I will make you
joyful in My house of prayer’ (Isaiah 56:7). The church will be surprised by joy. In other words, God will fill the church
with enjoyable prayer that is ‘refreshing and invigorating’. Imagine the implications of a paradigm of ‘enjoyable prayer’.
The climate within the body of Christ worldwide will be different because of deep ‘partnership’ in prayer with the Eternal
Intercessor who is our Bridegroom God. If prayer is not enjoyable it will not happen 24 hours a day. Historically, prayer
has been hard and thus greatly neglected but new days of refreshing prayer are breaking forth even now.
TABERNACLE OF DAVID
The global prayer movement will operate in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David. What is the Tabernacle of David?
What will it look like? I do not claim to have complete answers to this often asked question. Historically, King David built
a special tent (tabernacle in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chronicles 15:1; 16:1). The glory of God
rested on the top of the Ark that was housed within a small tent that was only about 10 or 15 feet high and long. In the
Tabernacle of Moses the glory that rested on the Ark was hidden in the Holy of Holies behind a thick veil. The significance
of David’s tent was that there was no veil to keep the people from seeing the glory of God. In an unprecedented way,
David set the Ark of the Covenant in open view!! In place of the veil that Moses used, David put musicians and singers
before the Ark. David organized 4,000 musicians and 288 singers to minister to God in shifts that continued 24 hours a
day (1 Chronicles 6:31-33; 15:16-22; 23:4-6). In fact, David financially released them that they might worship and pray
as their full-time occupation (1 Chronicles 9:33; 25:7). Being full-time, they had the opportunity to develop in skill and
grace. Skillful singers who sang the s\Song of the Lord before the Ark of God became the norm (1 Chronicles 15:1, 7;
2 Chronicles 29:27). For more on the priestly dimension of the Tabernacle of David see 1 Chronicles 13; 15-16; 23; 25;
2 Chronicles 29; Nehemiah 12.
Why did David put singers before the Ark? David taught that God inhabits or is enthroned upon the praise of His people
(Psalm 22:3). David understood that the people of God upon the earth through worship would enter into spiritual
agreement with the heavenly symphony around God’s Throne. This voluntary agreement (worship) is the vehicle that
God ordained to release His life and power (Psalm 8:1-2). He manifests His life through the highways of praise. When
satan’s accusations against God lodge in our hearts, it disconnects us from experiencing more of God’s life. The
opposite of accusation is agreement with God. This agreement is called praise. Praise is not an ego boost for God.
Praise brings the created order into agreement with Him releasing His life on behalf of His creation.
HEAVENLY SYMPHONY AND THE BEAUTY REALM OF GOD
John the apostle had unusual understanding into how God desires to be worshiped. He described some of this in
Revelation 4-5, which is a magnificent passage on the heavenly symphony that continues non-stop in God’s presence.
No place in scripture gives more insight into the beauty that surrounds God’s Throne. The jasper, sardius, emerald glory
is only a hint of the splendor of God’s beauty being displayed. I like to speak of this as the “beauty realm of God”. Oh to
live fascinated with God’s beauty. Those nearest Him are filled with marvel, awe and wonder. To touch this reality in even
a beginning way is to live exhilarated with God. Oh to live on earth as lovesick worshippers awestruck with God. The
fascinating God wants His people to live fascinated with Him.
It is essential to point “intercessory worshipers” to gaze on the Throne of transcendent beauty. Feasting on the beauty
realm of God is one of the secrets of David’s quality of worship. David’s primary life desire was to behold the beauty
realm of the Lord (Psalm 27:4; 145:5). The “beauty realm of God” is a vital foundation to “intercessory worship” in the
spirit of the Tabernacle of David. As we feast on God’s beauty our spirit becomes “fascinated and exhilarated”. (Note –
fasting in the grace of God is a divine catalyst that enhances our capacity to freely receive more heart revelation of God’s
beauty). Oh! The wisdom of a fasted lifestyle gazing on the beauty of God. One chronic disease in the kingdom of God
in the western world is spiritual boredom. It is so unnecessary to live spiritually bored with our God of transcendent
beauty. When our hearts are fascinated, we worship and obey Jesus in a deeper way. I call this happy holiness because
it flows out of holy lovesickness.
In other words, holiness that is motivated by the discovery of God’s beauty and the exhilaration of love. Legalistic cranky
holiness does not touch our hearts strings and cannot empower us for the intercessory worship set forth in the Tabernacle
of David. The ideal model of worship in spirit and truth is found around the Throne (Revelation 4-5). Jesus taught us to
prayer that God’s will be done “on earth like it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10. The book of Revelation gives some insights
to the church on how to worship God on earth like they do in heaven. This divine pattern of worship is something David
undoubtedly had great passion for. God entrusted a measure of insight to him on this. God has hidden some of this in
the psalms and in the order of worship that David established in his tabernacle. We are focused on understanding the
heavenly model of worship of which David’s tabernacle only points the way offering us significant divine hints.
‘HARP AND BOWL” INTERCESSORY WORSHIP
When Jesus had taken the scroll the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of
incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Revelation 5:8). The heavenly elders and the four living creatures came to
Jesus with two things, a harp and a bowl. The harp speaks of God’s music and worship songs; the bowl speaks of
intercession. IN other words, the worship around the throne incorporates god’s music, God’s songs and God’s prayers
flowing together. This is a key to the “enjoyable prayer” that Isaiah prophesied about. When the Harp (worship music)
comes together with the bowl (intercession) then a spiritual dynamic occurs. God ordained that the worship music around
the Throne flow in an interactive relationship with intercession. In the book of Revelation worship often flows with prayer
in what I refer to as “intercessory worship”. The spirit of worship gives wings to prayer. We call this the “Harp and Bowl
model of intercessory worship”. I believe it is integral to the present worldwide prayer movement. These intercessory
prayer furnaces will burn 24 hours a day fueled by love songs to God. As praise is joined with intercession that presents
the needs of others before the Throne, great spiritual benefits are released on earth. Worship that has the element of
intercession presents in it is dynamic. David was the first man to put together into one context the worship singers,
musicians and intercessors. Many of the intercessory psalms were written on site in David’s tabernacle.
In principle, we are seeking to understand how worship music can flow together with intercession in an interactive
relationship like it is in heaven. Intercessory prayer joined with anointed music unlocks a part of our heart and unifies
the intercessors, aiding us in our desire to pray with one heart.
In his tabernacle, King David valued the prophetic spirit (spirit of inspiration) resting on the singers and musicians
(1 Chronicles 25:1-3). So also in our prayer meetings, it is important to learn how the prophetic spirit can flow more
freely on the musicians, singers and on the intercession in an interactive relationship. David also emphasized responsive
singers and the antiphonal choirs that sang and then answered one another (Ezra 3:11; Nehemiah 11:23-24).
THREE RESPONSES TO JESUS IN INTERCESSORY WORSHIP
King David described three responses of people who are fully possessed by God. They tremble, rejoice, and kiss the
heart of God (Psalm 2:9-12). These words speak of three primary focuses of intercessory worship that are coming
together. First, it is worship that causes us to tremble before God as we focus on His majesty. Second, it is worship that
celebrates with rejoicing as we focus on the benefits of redemption. Third, it is worship that kisses the heart of God as
we seek greater intimacy with Jesus. Historically, it is common for different parts of the body of Christ to only emphasize
one of these three dimensions of grace. However, the Holy Spirit is bringing them all together, to equip the church to
experience enjoyable prayer. Intercessory worship in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David emphasizes trembling before
His majesty, celebrating the benefits of redemption and kissing the heart of God in intimacy. All three elements must be
present to worship on earth as they do in heaven.
RESTORATION OF THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID
The apostle James, at the Jerusalem counsil confronted a crisis related to the Gentiles being saved by faith without the
laws of Moses. In the midst of this, James quoted an obscure prophesy from Amos 9:11 about God’s promise to rebuild
the tabernacle of David which was fallen down (Acts 15:14-18). Though James’ primary point concerned salvation by
faith, his secondary points are significant for us today. His secondary points include the reality of David’s insight into the
heavenly order of intercessory worship being vital in the gospel impacting all the nations of the earth. “I will rebuild the
tabernacle of David which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins and I will set it up; so the rest of mankind may seek the
Lord even all the Gentiles who are called by My name.” says the Lord who does all these things”. J(Acts 15:16-17) God
has chosen to restore the Tabernacle of David as one essential element in releasing the fullness of revival in the nations.
The intercessory worship ministry of the tabernacle of David will be restored that the Great Commission will be completed.
We can be assured of the success knowing that every tribe, tongue and nation will be present on the last day
(Revelation 7:9-10; 5:9; 14:6; 15:4; Matthew 24:14).
What is the restoration of the tabernacle of David? There is both a priestly and kingly dimension. It includes much more
than a priestly worship and prayer ministry reflecting some of the principles of David’s tabernacle from the days of old. I
believe it speaks of a kingly (apostolic) dimension, which includes a unified victorious church reaching to all nations and
successfully reaping the Great Harvest and walking in mature love, etc. In other words, this restoration speaks of more
than the intercessory worship ministries that function in a priestly dimension of the Tabernacle of David. This article is
limited in that we are only considering the priestly dimension. The kingly dimension that exercises God’s government
and authority to fulfill His purposes on earth is a grand subject that equally captures my heart.
NIGHT AND DAY
Isaiah prophesied that intercession would continue 24 hours a day (Isaiah 62:6-7). The first 24-hour-a-day intercessory
worship ministry in history was led by King David. I believe that intercessory worship will continue 24 hours a day in many
cities of the earth before the Lord returns. This is part of God’s answer to satan who accuses the church night and day
(Revelation 12:10). Anna is a picture of this radical commitment as she served God with fasting and prayers night and
day (Luke 2:37). The Apostle Paul unashamedly called the widows of his day to this (1 Timothy 5:5).
EXAMPLES IN HISTORY
In 1727, a young wealthy German nobleman, Count Zinzendorf committed his estate in East Germany named, Herrnhut
(literally “Watch of the Lord”) to a 24-hour-a-day prayer ministry. This Moravian prayer ministry continued for over 100
years, 24 hours a day. This nobleman who lead this night and day prayer furnace also led the first Protestant missionary
movement in history. And he sent out the intercessors, two by two, to the unreached people-groups of the earth. As they
were sent out in evangelism, the prayer furnace covered them. In other words, the first protestant missionary movement
married the prayer side of the Great Commission with the preaching side. County Zinzendorf put the two together.
STORY OF KANSAS CITY
In May 1983, a church in Kansas City hosted a citywide, 21-day time of prayer and fasting for revival. They interceded
for the church to break forth in power. In the midst of this, the Lord spoke to them in a dramatic way. He told them that
one day He would establish in their midst a 24-hour-a-day prayer ministry in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David.
Of course, then and now they are not sure what all this means in fullness. Over the last sixteen years, they posted this
promise on the wall in their church prayer room. Their first response was to begin to just be faithful in the small beginnings
of this promise. The Lord graciously helped them to establish a public intercessory ministry that continued 3-5 hours a
day for the 16 years of waiting until eventually worship teams would lead the intercessory worship 24 hours a day. For
sixteen years they waited anxiously and expectantly for the releasing of a 24-hour-a-day schedule to be established.
On May 7, 1999, they signed a least on a 200 seat building about one mile from the church. They began with 13 hours
a day of intercession all led by worship teams. Then four months later on September 19, they began 24 hours a day.
BETHLEHEM STABLE AND PAYING SINGERS
It is regularly emphasize that what they are doing is admittedly embryonic. The worship teams are told not to be
discouraged in these early days of building and training, knowing that what we are doing is “little, rough and ugly”.
However, God often chooses to birth His purposes in rough little Bethlehem stables. All who want to pursue this type
of ministry need to brace themselves for the Bethlehem stable years that are a necessary part of God’s way.
We are seeking to see singers, musicians and intercessors flow in what we call the “harp and bowl” model in this
interactive relationship with one another. For example, one intercessor prays for a few moments then one of the singers
will paraphrase the same prayer in song for a few moments. The intercessor continues to add to the prayer then pauses
and allows the singers to echo the prayer back again.
We do this with 7-10 singers and musicians on a worship team while using New Testament apostolic prayers, the hymns
of Revelation and the Psalms as foundational in our model. We do this 24 hours a day. We have 84 prayer meetings a
week, each one lasting two hours. Each one is lead by a worship team that works together with intercessors. We have
three types of prayer meetings.
The first is intercessory worship in which we engage in spiritual warfare for revival for the cities of the earth (see Anna
in the temple – Luke 2:37). The second type consists of devotional prayer meetings that provide an anointed atmosphere
to sit at the feet of Jesus (see Mary of Bethany – Luke 10:38-42). Worship from the Word is singing in a corporate,
antiphonal way the Psalms (see King David) and the Song of Solomon. We seek to pray for the 10/40 window at each
prayer meeting. We use a book called “Light the Window” by Floyd McClung that offers a brief overview of all 66 nations
in the 10/40 window. We are in the early development of antiphonal choirs that responsively answer each as part of the
worship model. There were tow types of antiphonal choirs each making a different impact, the small responsive choirs
and the large thanksgiving choirs (Nehemiah 12:23, 24, 31, 38, 40; Ezra 3:11).