The Tabernacle Of David In Biblical Prophecy -- By: Kenneth R. Cooper

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 168:672 (Oct 2011)
Article: The Tabernacle Of David In Biblical Prophecy
Author: Kenneth R. Cooper


The Tabernacle Of David In Biblical Prophecy

Kenneth R. Cooper

Kenneth R. Cooper is a Minister with Biblical Faith Ministries, Fort Worth, Texas.

Tucked into what is almost an appendix to Amos’s prophecy lies a brief passage (9:11-15) offering a tiny glimmer of hope peeking out from devastating judgment—a glimmer of hope not only for Israel but also for a select portion of Gentiles, those called by the name of the Lord. These last few verses contrast so distinctively from the rest of the book that many scholars regard them as a later addition by either a writer during the Babylonian Exile or a postexilic writer.1 They say he added the message of hope to encourage his contemporaries, as well as to make the message applicable to Judah during or just after the Exile.

Others regard these final verses as integral to the message of Amos because (a) this places Amos and his prophecy in the mainstream of eighth-century prophets, (b) it is an appropriate ending to a word from God full of judgment, (c) there are no compelling reasons for denying Amos’s authorship of this passage, and (d) it is consistent with the literary coherence of the entire book.2 Amos “is

a highly structured unity.”3 The Minor Prophets consistently balanced judgment and blessing as well as destruction and restoration in their prophecies. In Amos 9:11-15 the Lord predicted a future hope for Israel, reflected specifically in the restoration of the tabernacle of David (“I will raise up the fallen booth [tabernacle] of David,” v. 11). It also included the fruitfulness of the land (v. 13) and the establishment of the people of Israel both in the land and in the true worship of God (vv. 14-15). The reference to the tabernacle of David raises a few questions.

The one mention of the tabernacle of David in the New Testament adds more questions to the discussion. At the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:16-18), the issue was what to do with Gentiles who were being saved. After listening to the testimonies of Peter, Paul, and Barnabas about what God was doing among the Gentiles through their ministries (vv. 7-12), the apostle James rendered the Council’s decision, supporting it by reference to Amos’s prophecy of the tabernacle of David. James quoted Amos’s prophecy to substantiate the fact that God has a work among the Gentiles. This article examines the issue of the tabernacle of David in <...

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