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Worship on Earth Like It Is in Heaven

Written by billraul

Worship on Earth Like It Is in Heaven: David’s Revelation of Worship

I. David’s sacred vow: to extravagantly pursue God until…

A. As a young man, David made a vow to dedicate his life to find a resting place or dwelling place for God. This refers to a place where an unusual measure of God’s presence is manifest on earth. David’s life work was to establish a dwelling place for God in Jerusalem in his generation.

¹ LORD, remember David and all his afflictions; 2 How he swore to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One: 3 "Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed; 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes…5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob"…8 Arise, O, Lord, to Your resting place. (Ps. 132:1-8)

B. David vowed to live in extravagant devotion to seek the Lord with all his resources (time, talents, treasures). His vow included his time (Ps. 27:4), fasting (Ps. 69:7-12) and money (1 Chr. 22:14). This has vow changed history. It is at the heart of the end-time worship movement.

C. David’s vow positioned his heart to receive insight into worship as it is in God’s sanctuary.

¹¹ David gave his son Solomon the plans…12 for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD…13 also for the division of the priests and the Levites, for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD…19 All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans." (1 Chr. 28:11-19)

D. Rev. 4-5 describes the worship order around God’s Throne. Those nearest God’s Throne agree with Him in 24/7 worship and intercession as the most exalted occupation in the New Jerusalem.

⁸ The four living creatures…do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy…” (Rev. 4:8)

⁸ The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders…9 sang a new song… (Rev. 5:8-9)

E. After David became king, he set up a worship tabernacle in commitment to his vow (2 Sam. 6).

¹ David…prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it…16 David spoke to the…Levites to appoint…singers accompanied by instruments of music… (1 Chr. 15:1-17)

F. David put Levites before the Ark (which spoke of God’s Throne and presence) to worship God.

¹ They brought the ark…and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David erected for it. 4 He appointed Levites (singers) to minister before the ark…to praise the Lord…37 to minister before the ark regularly, as every day's work required… (1 Chr. 16:1, 4, 37)

G. David established 4,000 full-time paid musicians, 288 singers (12 x 24 = 288) and 4,000 gatekeepers. Thus, he financed about 10,000 full-time staff to facilitate worship. It would cost $200 million a year to provide $3,000 a month for 5,000 full-time people (plus buildings costs).

⁷ The number…instructed in the songs of the Lord…who were skillful, was 288. (1 Chr. 25:7)

⁵ 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 praised the Lord with musical instruments... (1 Chr. 23:5)

H. David commanded God’s people to honor the heavenly order of worship that he received by revelation because it was God’s command (2 Chr. 29:25; 35:4, 15; Ezra 3:10; Neh. 12:45).

²⁵ Hezekiah…stationed Levites in the house of the Lord with stringed instruments… according to the commandment of David…for thus was the commandment of the Lord. (2 Chr. 29:25)

I. David provided financial support so that singers could sing as a full-time occupation.

³³ These are the singers…who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night. (1 Chr. 9:33)

J. God’s order for supporting the singers and gatekeepers was revealed to David. The storehouse was the central place to receive tithes that was under the spiritual leadership of the Lord’s House.

³⁷ So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark regularly, as every day's work required… (1 Chr. 16:37)

K. David gave over $100 billion (at modern prices) to God’s house. One talent is 75 lbs. or 1200 ounces (16 oz/pound) and would be worth about 1 million dollars ($800/ounce). Thus, 100,000 talents of gold worth about $100 billion plus a talent of silver ($12/ounce) worth about $15,000.

¹⁴ Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the House of the LORD 100,000 talents of gold ($100 billion) and 1,000,000 talents of silver ($15 billion)… (1 Chr. 22:14)

II. Embracing David’s revelation of worship in the Old Testament

A. Solomon established the singers according to the direction that God gave his father David.

¹⁴ According to the order of David his father, he (Solomon) appointed…Levites for their duties to praise…as the duty of each day required…for so David…commanded. (2 Chr. 8:14)

B. Amos (about 750 BC) prophesied of the restoration of David’s Tabernacle. The fullness of the Tabernacle of David speaks of Jesus’ Millennial government based on 24/7 Davidic worship.

¹¹ On that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old… (Amos 9:11)

C. When Israel went astray, God raised up spiritual reformers with a vision to restore worship as David commanded it. All of the 7 “revivals” in OT times restored Davidic worship.

D. Hezekiah’s revival (about 725 BC) included restoring singers/musicians as David commanded.

²⁵ He stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with…stringed instruments…according to the commandment of David…27 The song of the LORD began… (2 Chr. 29:25-27)

E. Josiah’s revival (about 625 BC) restored full-time singers and musicians as David commanded.

³ He said to the Levites…4 “Prepare yourselves…following the instruction of David…” 15 The singers…were in their places, according to the command of David… (2 Chr. 35:3-15)

F. Zerubbabel (about 536 BC) established full-time singers and musicians as commanded by David.

¹⁰ The Levites…to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David. (Ezra 3:10-11)

⁴⁷ In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. (Neh. 12:47)

G. Ezra and Nehemiah (445 BC) established full-time singers and musicians as David commanded.

²⁴ The Levites…give thanks…according to the command of David…45 The singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of God…according to the command of David… (Neh. 12:24, 45)

H. Jehoiada the high priest restored temple worship in the order of David (about 835 B.C) with singers and musicians and enthroned King Jehoash (Joash) when he was only 7 years old.

¹⁶ Jehoiada (high priest) made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the LORD's people…18 Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to…the Levites…with singing, as it was established by David. (2 Chr. 23:16-18)

I. Jehoshaphat’s reform (about 870 BC) included establishing singers and musicians.

¹⁹ The Levites…stood up to praise the Lord…21 He appointed those who should sing to the Lord…28 They came…with stringed instruments…to the house of the Lord. (2 Chr. 20:19-28)

III. The governmental center of the universe

A. God’s desire to be worshipped on earth as He is in heaven has not changed. The Spirit has not emphasized this through history, but currently is around the world. The order of worship that God commanded David to embrace is timeless and valid today, such as establishing singers and musicians in God’s House. The application of this has differed in each generation and culture.

B. In May 1983: “I will release 24-hour a day prayer in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David.”

C. The governmental center of the universe is in the “Prayer Ministry”. It includes all the Spirit inspired prayers on earth and in heaven converging before God. The end-time prayer movement will be mature. The bowls of prayer will be full before Jesus releases His judgment on the earth.

⁸ When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders…each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Rev. 5:8)

D. Isa. 42:10-15 gives us the clearest picture of place of prophetic singing before Jesus’ return.

¹⁰ Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you coastlands and you inhabitants of them! 11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing…12 Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare His praise in the coastlands. 13 The LORD shall go forth like a mighty man (Jesus’ Coming); He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies…15 I will lay waste the mountains and hill (end-time judgments)…” (Isa. 42:10-15)

E. The 144,000 prophetic singers will sing a new song.

³ They sang …a new song...no one could learn that song except the 144,000. (Rev. 14:3)

F. The saints at the end of the age will be engaged in the greatest worship movement in history.

⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their mouth…7 to execute vengeance on the nations…9 to execute on them the written judgment-- this honor have all His saints. (Ps. 149:6-9)

¹⁴ They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing; for the majesty of the LORD…16 From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: "Glory to the righteous!" (Isa. 24:14-16)

G. Isaiah prophesied of prayer ministries that would continue 24/7 until Jesus returns and restores Jerusalem as a praise in the earth. They will not keep silent day or night. God promised to set intercessors in place by stirring them to this mandate and by making provision for this calling.

⁶ I have set watchmen on your walls…they shall never hold their peace (be silent, NAS) day or night…7 give Him no rest till He establishes…Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isa. 62:6-7)

H. The great conflict at the end of the age will be between two “Houses of Prayer” or between two global worship movements. The Holy Spirit is raising up the most powerful prayer and worship movement in history (Lk. 18:7-8; Rev. 5:8; 8:4; 22:17; Isa. 24:14-16; 25:9; 26:8-9; 27:2-5, 13; 30:18-19; 42:10-13; 43:26; 51:11; 52:8; 62:6-7; Jer. 31:7).

I. The Antichrist will raise up a state-financed false worship worldwide movement (Rev. 13:4, 8, 12, 15). This music movement will deeply move people and will be backed up by miracles.

J. God commanded Israel to financially support the singers. God will again command this support.

⁴⁴ The tithes…the portions specified by the Law for the…Levites; Judah rejoiced over the… Levites who ministered….47 In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. (Neh. 12:44-47)

²³ King's command…a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day. (Neh. 11:23)

⁵ The tithes…were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers...10 I realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. 11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe…to the storehouse… (Neh. 13:5-12)

¹⁴ According to the order of David his father, he (Solomon) appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, the Levites for their duties (to praise and serve before the priests) as the duty of each day required…for so David the man of God had commanded. (2 Chr. 8:14)

⁵ They brought in abundantly the tithe of everything…16 They distributed to everyone who entered the house of the LORD his daily portion for the work of his service... (2 Chr. 31:5-16)

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