Читать книгу Worship That Touches the Heart of God - Nina Gardner - Страница 4

The Lord has compelled me since my youth to research the Ark of the Covenant; therefore, I have clipped and stored many articles pertaining to this subject. By the Lord’s design, I became a worship leader at a local church where I gained different viewpoints of leading worship from a variety of ages, cultures, denominations, and preferences.

I absolutely loved being a worship leader, but I kept feeling there was something missing, there was something more than what I knew. Although I loved the hymns, it wasn’t enough to satisfy my longing for a deeper worship experience. My desire was to entertain God, but I didn’t know how. This provoked me to learn more.

As I sought out worship conferences, I found that most had no teachings on the subject, so I was thankful when I heard of a conference offering worship leadership training. However, once again I was deeply disappointed when all they offered was, “Just be led by the Holy Spirit.” After this, I realized that God was the only one that held my answers. My hunger to experience God in worship brought a great enthusiasm to seek Him.

In my quest, I discovered that the Ark of the Covenant was only part of what I sought. I knew that we were the temple of God as stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19, yet I needed more information to go deeper. Years later, on a Wednesday evening, the youth leader of our church did a one-time teaching about the places in the tabernacle. She posted a sign on the front door of the church that said, “You are now entering through the Gates of Thanksgiving.” As I entered into the foyer, a sign was posted, “You are in the Outer Courts of Praise.” As I walked into the sanctuary, a sign was posted in front of the pews, “You are now in the Inner Courts of Worship.” A sign was posted at the altar, “The Brazen Altar.” A sign was posted on the platform, “The Holy Place,” and a sign was posted in the corner of the platform, “The Most Holy Place.” These signs brought clarity as she taught about the places in the tabernacle with their symbolism and significance. I felt so blessed that God had heard my prayers for more information.

More years of researching and praying about the old tabernacles was rewarded by the Lord when He led me to The Tabernacle of David written by Kevin J. Conner (Conner, 1976). Here is where God began to unfold the secrets of the worship He desired. I researched the scriptures that Conner gave, but I also did a study of my own. I read how God had given the pattern of the tabernacle to Moses, giving explicit commands for him to “do all according to the pattern” (Exodus 25:40). From this I knew that God had a pattern of worship that must be followed to His exact desires.

As I continued praying, reading, and researching, I discovered that David introduced a joyful worship that defied the pattern of Moses, and God loved it! The institution of this pattern would have baffled the minds of the traditional leaders of David’s day. After this discovery I wrote my first book, The Coming Order of Davidic Worship and held my first conference on this topic. In further studies God revealed to me the various Davidic Worship positions; although, I didn’t realize at the time that it was for another book. Now, after more than a decade, I have written this book to lay out the pattern of worship as David had instituted.

The Bible bears record that only a few kings and priests followed after the ways of David their father, meaning they re-established his pattern of worship (2 Chronicles 34:2). Yet after their death, their successors did not follow the set pattern. Therefore, time and again, a break in leadership would happen and the worship that God loved would cease.

The prophet Amos clearly saw God’s desire for heart-felt worship and he prophesied, “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). Amos knew that God had full intentions of rebuilding the tabernacle of David and never again would there be a breach of joyful worship in His tabernacle.

The apostle James, the brother of Jesus, recognized that David’s pattern of worship was indeed being re-instituted and it now included the Gentiles. After James heard of the Gentiles being saved, he said, “And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up’” (Acts 15:15-16). This time, God not only raises it up, but He also closes the breach that it cannot breakdown, fall, or be destroyed, but it will remain eternally.

As you read this book, keep in mind the layout of the Mosaic and Davidic Tabernacles. Although we are not under the law, this pattern is based on the layout of that era because it was, and is, an example of God’s eternal pattern. We know that Jesus came to fulfill the law, redeeming us from the curse of sin by being our blood sacrifice. Therefore, this book is not about following the letter of the law but is about re-instituting this eternal, foundational pattern of worship that God said would be perpetuated forever (1 Chronicles 17:14).

David had found the key to God’s heart, but God also found His man. God said, “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth” (Psalms 89:20, 27). I am convinced that God wants to give us an inheritance of an everlasting proportion if we will use the key of worshiping like David!

After all the research, I am blessed that God has allowed me to share the pattern with you. Truly my quest has not been in vain. I believe that this book will deepen your worship experience, change your life, and give God pleasure in His greatest creation – you!