We may not have recognized it, but our compromises and departures from the ways of God have been like broken down walls that have allowed the enemy to run rampant in our personal lives, communities and nations. Even now I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying so clearly ‘it is time to repair the breaches’.
A few years ago, the Spirit of the Lord declared to me “I am coming to restore the ancient foundations”, but it was not until recently that I began to understand the significance of this declaration. As an illustration, the Lord is seeking to rebuild His altar; the dwelling place where He is worshiped in spirit and in truth.
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]
From the very beginning God’s desire has been to tabernacle with a people and to dwell in their midst. The bible tells the story of Moses as he follows the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night leading the people out of Egypt to worship the one true and living God. It is in that moment that a nation was born. A chosen people, a holy nation adopted by and set apart for God. As a testament to that truth His presence dwelt in their midst. His presence would later be represented by the ark of the covenant located in a tent.
When Moses wanted to speak with God, he would go into the meeting tent and talk face to face with God as a man to a friend, and the presence of God would be seen from the outside as a thick cloud descending on the tent. The people understood that God was present and they would direct their attention and worship towards Him. The very presence of God distinguished them from all other nations. They were the people that worshiped the ‘I am’.
The lost ark
However, as a consequence of their disobedience the nation would be defeated in battle and lose the ark of covenant to their enemies. After a period of time, David was inspired by God to have the ark of the covenant returned to its rightful place. David would later establish a tabernacle on Mount Zion that would house the ark of the covenant and would host day and night worship to God. The story in 2 Samuel of the return of the ark of covenant beautifully illustrates the heart of God to restore for himself a dwelling place in the midst of His people. The story also sets the backdrop to Psalms 24’s call to Ascend penned by David.
“Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. [Psalms 24: 3-4]
This is a Holy Season
In this season the Lord is reminding us of his original intention to covenant with a people; that we would be His people and He would be our God. He wishes to visit us with His glory and mark us once again with His presence. His presence in our midst would identify and distinguish us.
However, He is also reminding us that He is a Holy God. His standards have not changed and His requirements have not changed. The Lord’s glory will not dwell amongst an unholy people. If we are to ascend to meet with God, we can only do so with clean hands and a pure heart. It cannot be church as usual. God is calling His church back to a place of reverence on a corporate and an individual level; so that we may be a host to the very presence of a most Holy God.
I believe that we are in a season where God is seeking to repair the breaches and return us to his ancient foundations, which is why He is calling us to return to the tabernacle; the place of true worship. To those that answer this call, He will distinguish and mark them as His.
A few weeks ago, I heard the Spirit of the Lord say:
“I am looking for a people to whom I could show favor to.
I am looking for a people to encounter
I am looking for a people I can mark with my glory
I have searched every tribe and every nation
I am looking for a people I can rest upon.”