Why Did David Design Treasuries into the Temple Solomon Built?

The Ark in Solomon's Temple & Tabernacle of David

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.

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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  (Tim Taylor, “Developing Apostolic Strategy,” pg. 8, Kingdom League International, ©2010)

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

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