Really 24/7 worship in the Tabernacle of David?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
26,102
14,087
113
#21
A lot of Charismatics and NAR/INC groups promote the idea of 24/7 prayer and worship. They say there was 24/7 praise and worship before the Ark of the Covenant during the time of the Tabernacle of David. For example see here: https://billyhumphrey.com/billysblog/247-prayer-in-the-spirit-of-the-tabernacle-of-david. It says: "David set the Ark in a tent and commanded Asaph, the song leader, along with specifically trained singers and musicians, to worship the Lord before the Ark night and day (1 Chron 16:37)."

But 1 Chronicles 16:37-40 says: "So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required: And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters: And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon, To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening

I agree. It looks like the speaker you quoted doesn’t understand the distinction between “continually” and “continuously”. The former is like a dripping tap; the latter is like a major river.
 

PaulThomson

Well-known member
Oct 29, 2023
4,003
558
113
#22
A lot of Charismatics and NAR/INC groups promote the idea of 24/7 prayer and worship. They say there was 24/7 praise and worship before the Ark of the Covenant during the time of the Tabernacle of David. For example see here: https://billyhumphrey.com/billysblog/247-prayer-in-the-spirit-of-the-tabernacle-of-david. It says: "David set the Ark in a tent and commanded Asaph, the song leader, along with specifically trained singers and musicians, to worship the Lord before the Ark night and day (1 Chron 16:37)."

But 1 Chronicles 16:37-40 says: "So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required: And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters: And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon, To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;" (KJV)

Every translation says "continually" or "regularly," not day and night. And v. 40 says "morning and evening." Humphrey seems to be taking a lot of liberty with the phrase "morning and evening." To me this just means in the morning and in the evening; Humphrey twists it into "day and night" which carries the meaning he wants it to carry.

Why is this significant? Mainly because Charismatics like to push this idea and they say that in the last days God will restore the "correct worship" as it was during the time of the Tabernacle of David. This will be a sign of the Lord's imminent return. The scripture they use as justification is Acts 15:16: "After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;" James quotes this verse at the council in Jerusalem. The context is whether or not the Gentiles are included or if they first have to convert to Judaism before they can be Christians and has nothing to do with "proper worship."

I'd like to discuss what the Tabernacle of David was all about and whether there was 24/7 praise and worship before the Ark during this time.
I would suggest that what passes for Christians gathering together today is not much like the Christian gatherings of the original church. Paul said that the main priority of coming to church meetings is to edify, exhort and comfort one another by each one bringing a ,a psalm, or a doctrine, or a tongue, or a revelation, or an interpretation. The early church did not come together to focus on God up there, but to express God in here to one another.

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesies speaks unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort....
1Co 14:4
He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.
1Co 14:5
I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
1Co 14:12
Even so you, forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.
1Co 14:17
For you verily give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
1Co 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
1Co 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1Co 14:30 If any thing be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace.
1Co 14:31 For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

The worship of God was done in the believers' daily walk out in the world, as well as in church relationships. This worship was done by offering ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, and singing to oneself, making melody in the heart to the Lord and giving thanks, and serving one another.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour....
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:...
Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

They did not spend an inordinate amount of time in vertically focussed singing in their meetings. They spent their time ihorizontally focussed on mutual edification, comfort and exhortation.

So, I am unconvinced that God intends us to meet together to sing Godward 24/7. However, I am for our singing in our hearts and worshipping God in our 24/7 walk.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
3,262
1,904
113
#23
In Revelation Chapter 4 we see this scene:

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’
who was, and is, and is to come.”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”


The four creatures along with the 24 elders around the throne likely represent the Body of Christ. If this is true, praise and worship from the Body of Christ will always be active somewhere in creation.

If unbridled charismatics got a hold of this passage they'll likely turn it into another impossible "test of true faith".