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The Tent of Meeting


For us, a tent is something that you put up when you go camping.  For those in the ancient Middle East, a tent was often their home.  But even then, it was much more, it was a place of:

Hospitality – Abraham welcomed three strangers to his tent (Genesis 18:1-8).  Abraham, as the host, was culturally obligated to provide food, water and shelter.

Protection – if you welcomed a stranger under the roof of your house (or under the shelter of your tent), you were also obligated to provide protection (Genesis 19:8, Judges 19:23).
                
Meeting – you welcomed people at the entrance to you tent and you often met with them inside.  In fact, there is a “Tent of Meeting” mentioned in the Bible where people could go to seek the Lord (Exodus 33:7-11).

When we move beyond our camping perspective, we can begin to appreciate the significance behind a question that David asked in Psalm 15 (v1).

“O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?”

His question holds two rather compelling assumptions:

The first is that the Lord’s tent is a most desirable place to be.  That assumption is absolutely correct since it was the place where people could seek the Lord.

The second assumption is that the entrance into the tent might not be accessible to all.  That assumption is also absolutely correct in that those who had access were those whose walk was blameless and who did what was righteous (v2).

While this “Tent of Meeting” that David refers to is no longer an actual tent in a specific geographical location, it is for us a picture of being in the Lord’s presence, the most desirable place to be!

As for accessibility, it is for those who trust Christ because it is in Him that we become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21).  Furthermore, those who are in Christ are seen by the Lord as blameless (Eph 1:4).

To those who trust Christ and abide in the Lord’s tent, God Himself, the most consummate host ever, always welcomes them.  In His tent, He protects us and meets all of our needs!


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