The Open Tents Of Abraham & David

I am on a journey exploring the blessings of being in intimacy with God, its not just about the idea of being blessed or pursue God to be blessed, it is much more. To be in the realm of friendship with God translates into our lives in imitating Him and doing things that please Him. And this reflects on how we treat our families, friends, superiors and people in general.

I have been reading the book Jasher and I love the stories of the patriarchs and their wanderings by the leading of the awesome God of Israel. Abraham became a wealthy Prince of the Middle East, respected by his friends, enemies, and the pagan nations that surrounded him. He was known as a man of faith, a righteous man, a prophet, and most befittingly held the title of being the ‘friend of God”. Wherever Abraham pitched his tents, his tents were open; the book reveals that Abraham pitched his tents always over the hills so that he could see travelers who journeyed from one place to the other. Any traveler was welcome to stop by and be  refreshed with water, meals and supplies for their journey. Abraham treated thus the pagan and believer alike. His tents were open to hospitality to strangers; he took care of the poor and when need be he chased after kings to rescue the weak from the hands of the strong.

Though the tent of Abraham has a larger concept and deeper hidden meaning which I don’t want to explore in this post but in passing I do want to make a important point. God grafted the gentiles and sons of Ishmael into the Jewish vine by the grace and miraculous rescue of Yeshua. The Tent of Abraham was open in a physical sense thousands of years ago and the concept of that open tent has been enlarged by Yeshua to bring us into the glory of our savior.

King David was a man after God’s own heart. When David became King of Israel, he brought the Ark to Jerusalem and set it in a tent that he had prepared for it. Logically, one would think that David would have brought the Ark to the Tabernacle of Moses in Gibeon, but he did not. Instead, he brought it to Jerusalem and instituted worship before the Ark. David established a totally new form of worship. He provided for and appointed thousands of worship singers and musicians to praise the Lord continually in the tent. Indeed, they functioned around the clock for the remainder of David's reign. There was no veil in the tent; so the praise, worship, and intercession continued before the Ark — in other words, directly before the Throne of God.

King David also appointed priests and Levites to minister before the Lord and lead people into worship. He not only gave Israel a national identity but encouraged his people to come into intimacy with the Lord, the very intimacy that he himself enjoyed. Another character I want to highlight about him caring for his people is from the story when we see in his lifetime breaking the law by stealing consecrated holy temple bread and giving it to his hungry soldiers, men who rallied and depended on him.

David's intimacy with Lord translated in a life of seeking and pleasing Him and that in turn reflected on how he treated people; a man who valued people. Abraham and David were new covenant believers in old covenant times. They moved and lived their lives in intimacy and by the leading of the Ruach Adonai (The Holy Spirit of God). Their physical dwelling places were open tents and these dwelling places were beautiful because Lord inhabited in them and with them.

“For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to My Name, and a pure offering. For My Name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. (Mal. 1:11)

Blessings & Shalom,

Sam Kurien