And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. (2 Sam. 24:18-25)
David was moved by his pride and the influence of the enemy of our souls to number his troops and glory, not in the LORD, but in his own might and the size of his army, despite the warning of Joab. When David had counted his army and then repented before the Lord for his sin of pride, the Lord brought pestilence upon Israel in judgment. David was given the choice of punishment upon Israel and after three days of pestilence, the LORD commanded the angel to stop at the threshingfloor of Araunah. David bought the place and all he needed to sacrifice unto the LORD. The Lord received the offering and the plague was ended.
Though stirred by the devil and by his own thoughts of pride, the LORD also used this occasion to bring judgment upon Israel for their rebellion against David through Absalom and through the division amongst the tribes. David cried out to the LORD when he recognized his sin and the LORD allowed him to choose the judgment which the Lord brought upon Israel. Three days of pestilence brought by an angel and then the Lord stayed his hand and called for a sacrifice by David. Araunah offered all that David needed, but David refused to take it as it would not have been his offering but Araunah’s. David purchased the place and all that was needed for the sacrifice in order to give it unto God.
We are told to give cheerfully unto the Lord of all that He has given us, and whether He leads us to give a little or a lot, it ought to be offered freely and willingly. The principle of giving a portion and as stated here, not giving that which costs us nothing, means we give of ourselves so that we may invest ourselves in the work of the Lord. We go where He sends us in obedience, though it cost time and money, so that others may come to know Jesus Christ and His great Salvation through faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. We teach God’s Word, though it means time in study and purchasing books and materials, so that others may grow in the knowledge of our Lord and all that He has commanded. We preach His Word, offering ourselves as a willing vessel of God’s Words put forth to the people that they may hear and believe our Lord who gave Himself that others may live. We are not to give lightly or the castoffs we no longer want, nor are we to give that which has little or no value to us, for God wants our best and the first fruits of our labor given joyfully unto Him that He might bless us in our labor unto the Lord. Our ministry, missions, and discipleship of His people will grow as we offer unto God our time, our money, our talents, and anything else which the Lord asks of us and continue in His service, not in our power or strength, but through the Spirit of God taking the Word of Christ to whosoever will receive it and leaving the results to God, our Creator, Redeemer, and King.
While we are here, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Though stirred by the devil and by his own thoughts of pride, the LORD also used this occasion to bring judgment upon Israel for their rebellion against David through Absalom and through the division amongst the tribes. David cried out to the LORD when he recognized his sin and the LORD allowed him to choose the judgment which the Lord brought upon Israel. Three days of pestilence brought by an angel and then the Lord stayed his hand and called for a sacrifice by David. Araunah offered all that David needed, but David refused to take it as it would not have been his offering but Araunah’s. David purchased the place and all that was needed for the sacrifice in order to give it unto God.
We are told to give cheerfully unto the Lord of all that He has given us, and whether He leads us to give a little or a lot, it ought to be offered freely and willingly. The principle of giving a portion and as stated here, not giving that which costs us nothing, means we give of ourselves so that we may invest ourselves in the work of the Lord. We go where He sends us in obedience, though it cost time and money, so that others may come to know Jesus Christ and His great Salvation through faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. We teach God’s Word, though it means time in study and purchasing books and materials, so that others may grow in the knowledge of our Lord and all that He has commanded. We preach His Word, offering ourselves as a willing vessel of God’s Words put forth to the people that they may hear and believe our Lord who gave Himself that others may live. We are not to give lightly or the castoffs we no longer want, nor are we to give that which has little or no value to us, for God wants our best and the first fruits of our labor given joyfully unto Him that He might bless us in our labor unto the Lord. Our ministry, missions, and discipleship of His people will grow as we offer unto God our time, our money, our talents, and anything else which the Lord asks of us and continue in His service, not in our power or strength, but through the Spirit of God taking the Word of Christ to whosoever will receive it and leaving the results to God, our Creator, Redeemer, and King.
While we are here, God has sent those of us who are His saints and know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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