Definition and Etymology:
The term "tabernacling" is derived from the concept of dwelling or residing temporarily, akin to the use of a tabernacle. In biblical contexts, it refers to the act of God dwelling among His people, as well as the temporary nature of human life on earth. The word "tabernacle" itself originates from the Latin "tabernaculum," meaning "tent" or "booth."

Biblical Context and Usage:
The concept of tabernacling is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. The Tabernacle was a portable sanctuary where God manifested His presence among His people. Exodus 25:8 states, "Then have them make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them." This dwelling was not permanent but served as a temporary meeting place between God and His people.

The Feast of Tabernacles:
The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is a significant Jewish festival that commemorates the Israelites' 40-year journey in the wilderness. During this time, they lived in temporary shelters, or booths, symbolizing the transient nature of life and God's provision. Leviticus 23:42-43 instructs, "You are to live in booths for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must live in booths, so that your descendants may know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

New Testament Fulfillment:
In the New Testament, the concept of tabernacling takes on a profound theological significance with the incarnation of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 declares, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." The Greek word used for "dwelling" is "σκηνόω" (skenoo), which means "to tabernacle" or "to pitch a tent." This signifies that Jesus, the Word, temporarily dwelt among humanity, embodying God's presence on earth.

Eschatological Significance:
The theme of tabernacling extends into eschatological promises found in the book of Revelation. Revelation 21:3 proclaims, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.'" This future promise reflects the ultimate fulfillment of God's desire to dwell permanently with His people, transforming the temporary nature of tabernacling into an eternal reality.

Theological Implications:
Tabernacling underscores the intimate relationship between God and His people. It highlights God's desire to be present with humanity, both in the temporal and eternal sense. The temporary nature of the Tabernacle and the Feast of Tabernacles serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and the anticipation of a permanent dwelling with God. Through Jesus Christ, believers experience a foretaste of this divine presence, with the hope of its full realization in the new creation.

Practical Application:
For believers, the concept of tabernacling encourages a life of pilgrimage, recognizing the temporary nature of earthly existence and the call to live in anticipation of eternal communion with God. It invites Christians to embody the presence of Christ in their daily lives, serving as living tabernacles through whom God's presence is made known to the world.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Tabernacle.

The True Tabernacle, and Its Glory of Grace and Peace
... truth, His wondrous heavenliness; in a word, we have seen, and do see, His fullness
of grace and truth; and we rejoice in the fact that the tabernacling of God ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/the true tabernacle and its.htm

The General Service to Two or Many Monk Martyrs.
... life and by will having manfully overcome the wisdom of the flesh, and having thus
finished your course in Christ, ye are now worthily tabernacling with angels ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter xix the general service.htm

The Holy Spirit Convincing the World of Sin, Righteousness, and ...
... heaven. Kind, wondrous kind! Had this merciful High-priest been to his disciples,
during the time of his tabernacling amongst them. He ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the holy spirit convincing the.htm

The Gospel Supper
... To prevent or remedy this evil, our Lord, during the time of his tabernacling here
below, spake many parables, but not one more pertinent, not one, in which ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the gospel supper.htm

The Purification of the virgin and the Presentation in the Temple
... the Master to His disciples - the Son of Man to humanity - would have been dissolved;
His teaching as a Man, the Incarnation, and the Tabernacling among men ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii the purification of.htm

We Shall Therefore Say, in the First Place, that if He who ...
... no work has been found equal to those of the latter; whereas the good deeds of Jesus
have not been confined solely to the period of His tabernacling in the ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xliii we shall therefore.htm

Accordingly, if Celsus were to Ask us How we Think we Know God...
... 4632] Therefore He became flesh, and having become flesh, "He tabernacled among
us," [4633] not dwelling without us; and after tabernacling and dwelling within ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxviii accordingly if celsus.htm

It is not Right that those who are Responsible for Reverence to ...
... For God our Saviour teaching us when he was tabernacling in the flesh commanded
not to make his Father's house a house of merchandize. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lxxvi it is not.htm

The General Service to Two or Many Hieromartyrs.
... tortures having thrown off the garment of death, ye have, O glorious martyrs, put
on the raiment of incorruptibility and now are tabernacling in heaven, ever ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter xvii the general service.htm

The Epistle of Cyril to Nestorius with the xii. Anathematisms.
... of the Godhead bodily"; but we understand that he became flesh, not just as he is
said to dwell in the saints, but we define that that tabernacling in him was ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the epistle of cyril to 2.htm

Tabernacling (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Tabernacle. Multi-Version
Concordance Tabernacling (2 Occurrences). Leviticus 16:16 ...
/t/tabernacling.htm - 7k

Tabernacle's (2 Occurrences)

/t/tabernacle's.htm - 7k

Tabernae (1 Occurrence)

/t/tabernae.htm - 6k

Lifteth (69 Occurrences)
... Numbers 24:2 and Balaam lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Israel tabernacling,
by its tribes, and the Spirit of God is upon him, (YLT). ...
/l/lifteth.htm - 27k

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