A Costly Altar and Sacrifice

Sustaining Hope
Visions of Grandeur

The Alter, a Sign of Hope

2 Samuel 24:17-25  The Message

¹⁷ When David saw the angel about to destroy the people, he prayed, “Please! I’m the one who sinned; I, the shepherd, did the wrong. But these sheep, what did they do wrong? Punish me and my family, not them.”
^18-19 That same day Gad came to David and said, “Go and build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” David did what Gad told him, what God commanded.
^20-21 Araunah looked up and saw David and his men coming his way; he met them, bowing deeply, honoring the king and saying, “Why has my master the king come to see me?”
“To buy your threshing floor,” said David, “so I can build an altar to God here and put an end to this disaster.”
^22-23 “Oh,” said Araunah, “let my master the king take and sacrifice whatever he wants. Look, here’s an ox for the burnt offering and threshing paddles and ox-yokes for fuel—Araunah gives it all to the king! And may God, your God, act in your favor.”
^24-25 But the king said to Araunah, “No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.”
So David bought the threshing floor and the ox, paying out fifty shekels of silver. He built an altar to God there and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. God was moved by the prayers and that was the end of the disaster.

 
For Reflection
Araunuh was eager to serve David, his God chosen king.  Araunuh was willing to give up his means of livelihood and reduce himself to destitution. Araunuh was willing to give all.

David's sacrifice or Araunuh's gift was not David's sacrifice.  The sacrifices we make as Christians are personal and selfless in thanksgiving for God's blessings.

Pray
Pray that the sacrifices you make in the name of your faith are a worthy gift to God.