Agreeable Rebuilding

"With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, 'AFTER THESE THINGS I will return, AND I WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID WHICH HAS FALLEN, AND I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL RESTORE IT, SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, AND ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD, WHO MAKES THESE THINGS KNOWN FROM LONG AGO.' Acts 15:15-18

In this passage James is making an application of what Peter and Barnabas had preached earlier (according to Matthew Henry’s commentary). The “tabernacle of David” was actually Jesus, since He came from the lineage of David.  Jesus birth was prophesied—so the Prophets were in agreement that a Savior would be born and would come for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Not all of the Jewish people, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees, recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. In this passage James is symbolically explaining that the Gentiles would be called to know and seek Jesus as the Lord of their lives. Jesus came for all mankind—to be their Savior…to be our Savior. He wasn’t just Lord and Savior during His lifetime—but for all mankind for all time. Is He your Savior? If not, pray about that and seek Him today—with all your heart, soul and mind. Build for Him a tabernacle in your heart. 

Training Tip – Do your children know what a tabernacle is? Read some of the Old Testament passages about the Tabernacle—the one in the desert that the Hebrew people built and then the temple that Solomon, David’s son, built in Jerusalem. See Exodus 26 and 2 Chronicles 3. Find pictures on line or in books of the tabernacle and the temple. Here are some suggested sites:  

Tabernacle images http://www.bibleplaces.com/tabernaclemore.htm http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=photos+of+moses+tabernacle&id=4B1D76340E5ED47C63CE56A9858B57DB37458451&FORM=IQFRBA

Temple images http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=2Ch&c=3&t=NASB#s=t_misc_370001

Prayer - Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…as written in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Lord, may my children, grandchildren and I live lives that are holy and blameless before You. Guide our thought, words and actions that we would daily, hourly, moment by moment choose to honor You.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.