Why did David Design Treasuries into Solomon’s Temple?

Excerpt from Volume III - The Spiritual Architect

Excerpt from Aligning with the Apostolic Volume III - 
"The Spiritual Architect" by Tim Taylor 

As a king, David had responsibility for how all of the spheres of society connected and interacted.  I believe the seven mountain concept is like a modern day parable.  It helps us to understand an aspect or a certain view of the kingdom God wants His people to establish.   

The first decision King David made to begin to expand the kingdom was to set up a tent on Mount Zion and he established an administration of teams to ensure that God’s abiding presence was always welcome in his city.  After this was established we see all through 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles that David’s armies saw victory after victory.  They acquired spoil from these victories. 

It is important to understand that King David was also a skillful general.  He had learned the art of war.  This skill is also an aspect of the apostolic gift.  Here are a couple of excerpts from Developing Apostolic Strategy that will shed some light on this aspect of the apostolic gift.

The word apostle was first a Greek/Phoenician seafaring term that meant leader of a convoy of ships.  Later it came to refer to the commander of an invasion force.  As time went on the Romans used it to refer to former generals who then became ambassadors.  The Jewish culture eventually began to use it when speaking of an envoy who collected tribute.  Finally, Jesus used it speaking of the first 12 disciples.  In summary the history of the word meant:

·         The leader of a convoy of ships

·         The commander of an invasion force

·         An ambassador general sent to represent a government to another nation 

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2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…

The word "war" in the Greek means to serve in a military campaign and to “execute the apostolate.”  Apostolate literally means the office of apostle.  The word warfare in the Greek means "apostolic career" or “strategy.”  Hence, one of the primary functions of the apostolic gift is spiritual warfare.  God made people with this gift to develop strategy. (Tim Taylor, “Developing Apostolic Strategy,” pg. 9, Kingdom League International, ©2010)

King David was a skilled general and he knew the importance of taking the high ground.  It gave him and his troops a military advantage.  As armies win wars and establish justice and righteousness peace follows; with peace comes prosperity for all areas of society.

So why did David include treasuries into the design.  First, he had experience with his tabernacle.  He knew the spiritual, strategic, practical and actual advantage God’s abiding presence gave him and his people.   It set them up to prosper and be successful.  Secondly, he knew how important tithes and offerings were in worship.

David loved God’s presence and understood the power of prayer, praise and worship.  That is why the process to establish a place for God’s abiding presence in the City of David began with offerings before they even arrived on Mount Zion.  They took six steps towards Zion and began to offer offerings then David began dancing (2 Samuel 6:13-14).  This set the Levites up to do their job!  Their job was to steward and ensure that continual prayer, praise and worship went up every day all day.  This was critical to the success of everyone else.  

King David amassed a fortune and so did many others.  His generosity towards the house of the Lord was one of the keys to his success. David says in 1 Chronicles 29:16, "O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. NKJV The abundance he acquired was actually God’s.  God put it in his stewardship and David acknowledges that everything he and his people have acquired all belongs to God.  

Each of us has a call in one of the seven mountains.  If we neglect God’s house then we can expect God to send a drought on our mountains.

Haggai 1:9-11 
"You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the Lord of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.  Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands."  NKJV

The Mountain of the Lord’s House

King David was a wise military commander as well as a spiritual architect.  He knew the advantage of taking the high ground.  David knew that the key to success in the seven mountains was to first occupy the mountain of the Lord’s house whose pattern is found on Mount Zion.

Isaiah 2:2-3
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.  Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. NKJV

What occurred on Mount Zion in the tabernacle of David?  David asked the Levites to steward 24/7 prayer, praise and worship.  One of the functions of a king is to establish systems of administration.  Show me a king or a government without an administration and I’ll show you a government that exists only as a fantasy of the mind.  

David empowered the Levites to fulfill their assigned call.  David understood the truth expressed in Ephesians 4:16 which teaches us that when every part does its share it causes the body to edify itself in love.  David’s success was interconnected with others.  It was to his benefit to see the Levites fulfill what our Lord had called them to do.  This mountain is the location of the Lord’s house of prayer for all nations.

Isaiah 56:7 
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."  NKJV

The tithes and offerings belong to God and are a critical part of worship and important signs of our trust in our Lord’s covenantal promises.  Truly the lesser is blessed by the better (Hebrews 7:4-10).  David the king ensured that our Lord and the Levites received what they needed to ensure God’s abiding presence was continually welcome in the capitol city.  

The emphasis in the tabernacle of David was not the physical structure.  The emphasis was on the administration and management of people to ensure that 24/7 prayer, praise and worship went up continually.  David ensured that an honorable distribution system was in place to ensure the Levites could perform the service he requested of them.  This is what occurred on Mount Zion.  

Every one of the seven mountains has a form of wealth but the business mountain is certainly the most prominent when it comes to the acquisition of financial abundance and resources.  It is a spiritual war that requires divine wisdom and strategy.

Isaiah 14:32 
What will they answer the messengers of the nation?  That the Lord has founded Zion, and the poor of His people shall take refuge in it. NKJV

The Lord “founded” Zion.  The Hebrew word translated founded means to sit down together and consult.  This provides keen insight into the wisdom God gave David.  In 1 Chronicles 11 all the leaders gathered together to make one person king and that was David.  David was responsible for all of society and I don’t think he knew everything.  I believe he formed councils of leaders in every sphere of society just like he taught his son Solomon (Proverbs 24:3-6).  

Personally, I believe that David understood that God was the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel and might (Isaiah 11:1-2).  I believe that he assigned the Levites the task of stewarding the 24/7 in his city because David wanted the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, council and might in the presence of his councils.  

In response to David’s desire God gave David a spiritual architectural plan which he implemented in the tabernacle of David.  This is pattern God gave David and this is how the Lord “founded” Zion.  God wants to sit with us and provide us counsel.   He wants to share with us divine plans to build wealth and apostolic strategies to overcome the schemes of the enemy and set people free.  He wants us to be His steward of kingdom minded solutions on earth.  The continual canopy of prayer, praise and worship opened the windows of heaven such that divine resources, wisdom, miracles and power flowed.  As divine wisdom, plans and strategies were acquired people were sent to practically engage every sphere of society.  Prayer led to strategic action combined with wisdom. 

This expansion of the kingdom resulted in military victory after military victory.  David set his son and the next generation up to live and build in a time of peace such that King Solomon made silver and gold as common as stones (2 Chronicles 1:15).  

The first mountain we must occupy in our quest to reach the summit of each of the seven mountains is the mountain of the Lord’s house of prayer for all nations.  It is the restored tabernacle of David.  It performs the role that the air force provides an army today.  It provides the army of the Lord air (prayer) superiority as they engage the prince of the power of the air.  It is like the beach head or base of operations for any strategic engagement.  It is the key to the harvest, abundance and success on every mountain.

Amos 9:11-13
"On that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, and repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old;  That they may possess the remnant of Edom,  and all the Gentiles who are called by My name," says the Lord who does this thing. "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.  NKJV


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