Biblical Mandate
It is absolutely necessary to have direct biblical reasoning and support for this effort. Without its biblical mandate a house of prayer will never come into reality. That is to say, without a biblical mandate a house of prayer is just another good ministry idea, something someone has dreamed in order to express their own personal journey in God. Without a biblical mandate- one that puts borders on the vision- any group effort to create a house of prayer will overflow its banks of purpose and try to do too much. The temptation will be to try to become all things to all people. and the effort will become paralyzed by the grandeur of its assignment to save the entire universe. Without a biblical mandate there can be no legitimate call for people to sacrifice time, energy and resources to see the vision come into existence. The biblical mandate is crucial.
The true biblical mandate for a house of prayer begins with Isaiah’s direct statement: “Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa 56:7)
In one of the most profound statements in Scripture, God declares a day in which all peoples would have access to Him and that His house- created for that purpose- would be a joyful house! This is God’s vision for a house of prayer for all nations! The word prayer used here is the Hebrew word tephillah, meaning intercession, supplication, and- by implication- it refers to music, a hymn.
If we use the Hebrew interpretation of the word tephillah in the passage above it reads:
“My House will be called a House of Intercessory Song for all Nations.”
This verse succinctly summarizes the biblical mandate for this and any house of prayer.
The only time in the Bible we see Jesus angry and turning over tables forcibly is in the temple, where He quotes this very passage. “He said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” but you have made it a den of thieves'” (Matt 21:13). Jesus and His Father were referring, of course, to the Tabernacle of David.
What is that?
The Tabernacle of David was a place of continuous worship, praise, proclamation and intercession. It was so important to Israel that they actually employed the priests and Levites to tend to it around the clock- what we call 24/7. There were thirty-five thousand who ministered to the Lord. Four thousand were musicians and singers. (To put this into perspective, the city of Post Falls has a population of twenty-eight thousand people, the city of Coeur D’ Alene has forty-four thousand.) The ministry of the Tabernacle of David was that of a city, dedicated to worship and intercession ascending to the Creator. The blessings and protection that came from its existence were profound. It captured the heart of the Father for all time and eternity. According to God’s Word, that tabernacle will be restored:
“‘ In that day I will raise up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name, ‘declares the LORD who does this.” (Amos 9:11-12).
Are we that people called to a vision to restore and raise up a house of intercessory song for all nations? Is this our calling? Is this the time? May the Lord bless those who stand at His door and say, “Yes, Lord, send me.”
One of the greatest events that ever took place in the history of mankind was the day of deliverance for Israel in the book of Exodus. Israel stood at the edge of destruction. But God opened up the seas so that Israel could cross over to safety! He also destroyed the enemy behind them. The very first thing that happens then is that Moses writes a song of praise and proclamation and teaches it to the people. (Exodus 15:1-20). Then Miriam takes a hand drum and all the women join her in dancing and rejoicing before the Lord. In the culmination of time and on into eternity the saints of God will also sing a song (Rev 15) and it is called the Song of Moses!
Thousands of years later a song of praise and proclamation so lives in the heart of God that it is sung by all of the redeemed! As a people, as a generation who stand at the edge of its fulfillment, where is its song that will transcend time? Where is its proclamation that will sing to the heavens and open up the sky so that the light of His countenance will be seen by a humanity that is growing darker by the hour? We can restore the ground that has been lost and stolen through a House of Intercessory Song for all nations. Let our song so live! Let us arise to the call! Let us restore the Tabernacle of David for our generation, our culture and our world.
