What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 24:21? “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” • Araunah’s respectful inquiry highlights the cultural norm of honoring authority (cf. Romans 13:7, “Render to all their due”). • His title for David—“my lord the king”—recognizes God’s anointed ruler (2 Samuel 7:8–16). • Araunah calls himself “servant,” mirroring attitudes seen in Mephibosheth before David (2 Samuel 9:6). • The scene reminds us that even in crisis, courtesy and humility matter; relationships flourish when honor is shown (1 Peter 2:17). “To buy your threshing floor,” • David refuses to seize property; he insists on paying full price (1 Chronicles 21:24, “I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the LORD”). • Threshing floors were elevated, windy places—ideal for worship gatherings (Judges 6:37–40 on Gideon’s use of a threshing area). • By purchasing, David safeguards justice and avoids repeating Saul’s sin of presumption (1 Samuel 13:11-14). • The purchase foreshadows God’s future use of this very spot: Solomon’s temple will rise here (2 Chronicles 3:1). “that I may build an altar to the LORD,” • Altars mark repentance and renewed fellowship with God (Genesis 8:20; Exodus 20:24). • David’s choice of an altar—rather than political maneuvering—shows reliance on divine mercy, not human power (Psalm 20:7). • Public worship signals national solidarity under God’s covenant (Deuteronomy 27:5-7). • The act models obedient sacrifice over mere emotion, echoing “to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22) yet showing that true obedience includes prescribed sacrifice when God commands. “so that the plague upon the people may be halted.” • The plague was divine judgment for David’s ill-advised census (2 Samuel 24:10-15). • Sacrificial atonement stands between wrath and mercy, prefiguring Christ’s ultimate sacrifice that “rescued us from the coming wrath” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). • God ties national healing to humble repentance and costly worship (2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 51:17). • The halted plague demonstrates God’s readiness to forgive when His appointed means are honored (Numbers 16:46-48, Aaron’s censer stopping the plague). summary Araunah’s respectful question opens the door for David’s faith-driven response. By purchasing the threshing floor, building an altar, and offering sacrifice, David embraces accountability, honors rightful ownership, and seeks God’s mercy for his nation. The verse showcases a ruler’s humility, a servant’s reverence, and the Lord’s provision of atonement—pointing ahead to the ultimate sacrifice that forever halts the plague of sin. |
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