How does this verse connect to Christ's ultimate sacrifice for our sins? Setting the scene 1 Chronicles 21 records David’s sin of numbering Israel, God’s ensuing judgment by plague, and David’s plea for mercy. Verse 22 captures the turning point: “David said to Ornan, ‘Grant me the site of the threshing floor, so that I may build an altar to the LORD on it, that the plague upon the people may be halted. Sell it to me for the full price.’ ” David’s costly altar ends judgment • David refuses a gift; he insists on “the full price” (v. 24). • The altar and sacrifice offered there stop the plague (v. 26). • Judgment is turned aside only when a true, costly offering is made. From threshing floor to Temple Mount • 2 Chronicles 3:1 identifies this threshing floor as Mount Moriah, the future site of Solomon’s temple. • Genesis 22:2 places Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac on that same ridge. • The pattern: God provides a place where substitutionary sacrifice averts death, prefiguring the ultimate offering to come. Foreshadowing the perfect sacrifice • The plague represents divine wrath on sin; David’s sacrifice points ahead to Christ bearing that wrath (Isaiah 53:5). • David’s insistence on full payment pictures Christ’s declaration, “It is finished” (John 19:30)—He paid in full with His own blood. • Hebrews 10:12: “But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.” The single, sufficient offering replaces repeated animal sacrifices. Christ, our full payment • 1 Peter 1:18-19—We are redeemed “not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” • Romans 5:9—“Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” • As David’s altar halted a temporal plague, Christ’s cross halts eternal condemnation for all who believe. Threshing imagery fulfilled • A threshing floor separates wheat from chaff. John 3:17 tells us the Son came to save, not condemn, yet Matthew 3:12 pictures Him clearing His threshing floor at the final judgment. • Those covered by His sacrifice are gathered as wheat; those rejecting Him face the fire. The site itself underscores this separating work. Responding to the price paid • Like David, we bring God nothing cheap or casual—our worship, obedience, and lives are offered in gratitude (Romans 12:1). • Confidence flows from knowing the price is already paid in full; we serve from acceptance, not for it (Ephesians 2:8-10). |
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