How does 2 Samuel 24:21 illustrate sacrificial giving in our own lives? Setting the Scene 2 Samuel 24 records a devastating plague brought on Israel after David’s census. Seeking mercy, David is directed to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Verse 21 captures the pivotal moment: “Araunah said, ‘Why has my lord the king come to his servant?’ David replied, ‘To buy your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague on the people may be halted.’” Key Observations From the Passage • David, though king, approaches Araunah as a purchaser, not a taker. • His purpose is explicit: an altar to the LORD to stop the plague—restoration hinges on sacrifice. • The request is costly: a prime piece of property, livestock, and implements. • The surrounding verses (22–24) show Araunah offering everything free of charge, yet David insists on paying the full price: “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” Principles of Sacrificial Giving Illustrated • Giving that costs something reflects genuine devotion. • Sacrifice acknowledges God’s sovereignty; it renounces entitlement. • True worship values obedience over convenience (1 Samuel 15:22). • A heart willing to lose earthly assets for heavenly purposes finds God’s favor (Philippians 3:8). • Sacrificial giving serves others—here, a nation plagued by judgment. Other Scriptural Echoes of Costly Worship • Genesis 22: Abraham readies Isaac, demonstrating that nothing is withheld from God. • 1 Chronicles 21:24 (parallel account) repeats David’s refusal to offer cost-free sacrifices. • Mark 12:43–44: Jesus commends the widow who “out of her poverty put in all she had.” • 2 Corinthians 8:2–4: Macedonian believers give “beyond their ability” with joy. • Romans 12:1: Believers urged to present bodies as “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Applying It in Everyday Life • Budget time, talent, and treasure so that God’s purposes receive priority rather than leftovers. • Resist the lure of cost-free discipleship; choose generosity that affects lifestyle. • Treat every resource—property, money, skills—as material for an altar of worship. • Step into needs that stretch faith: missions, benevolence, local church ministries. • Remember that costly giving often becomes the channel through which God brings blessing to others. Encouragement to Act Today David’s resolve in 2 Samuel 24:21 calls believers to tangible, sacrificial generosity. Costs paid for the sake of honoring the Lord never return void; they become the very means God uses to halt plagues, heal breaches, and draw hearts closer to Himself. |
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