“The tent of David” housed the Ark of the Covenant while the “tabernacle (tent) of Moses” was located at Gibeon. What does “the tent of David” have to do with the Church? This question relates to how the Jerusalem Council was able to apply the spirit of the prophecy in Amos 9:11 to the Church (Acts chapter 15). This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled in its final sense (in the way that the Apostle Peter’s “This is That” prophecy on the Day of Pentecost, related the outpouring to Joel 2:8-32.
At this first ever church council in Jerusalem, the Law of Moses and the Grace of Jesus Christ were contrasted — the Grace as seen in God’s mercies to King David, as Jesus’s ancestor (Acts, chapter 15 & 1 Chronicles 15:13, & 1 Chronicles chapters 16 and 21).
Solomon’s Temple would later be built in Jerusalem, where David worshipped at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Many years later, the Grace tent was erected at Jerusalem (while the Law Tent remained at Gibeon). The Tabernacle of David was a prophetic portrayal of the Church, in which the emphasis was Grace. “The Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1: 17)
The Jerusalem Council’s meeting in Acts 15 was about whether non-Jewish converts to the Lord Jesus should be circumcised. The council ruled that they should not. King David was able to worship as a priest in the Tent of Grace, but he could not have done so in the Tent of Law.
Thank God that through our Lord Jesus we are able to do likewise! The risen and ascended Lord Jesus was to become the King-Priest that David portrayed prophetically. In the Lord’s case, not just for a time, as David did, but forever! (Another portrayal of the coming King/Priest is recorded in Zechariah, chapter 3.)
Significantly, after his sin of numbering Israel, David did not go to Gibeon, where the Law Tent of Moses was at the time, but remained in Jerusalem, with the Ark of the Covenant and its Mercy Seat. He offered worship in it as a priest/king!
Why seek God in a place of judgement when His presence can be found in a place of mercy? (1 Chronicles 21) Yet many do so, perhaps thinking that they need a bit of self-punishment before asking God for His forgiveness. It can be tempting to wait until you feel very bad after sinning so that you can feel so much better after being forgiven. We should never forget that Grace and Law are opposites, and cannot be mixed. The Jerusalem Council got it right! I pray that you will too, my friend.