NOVEMBER 28: THE COSTLY ALTAR (I)

In a sudden twist of fate, we read of David in this chapter, after yesterday’s devotion; being prompted by Satan to number the people of Israel in a census, despite his military commander, Joab’s warning against this process. David had insisted, perhaps wanting “to know” the strength and number of the Israelite Army (vs 4-6).

Our God is a God of judgement; however, some responses here cause every Bible student to ask questions. For instance, why punish the entire Israel for David’s sin? (V7; Ezekiel 18:4 &20). We are also to consider if God “tested” David (MSG- 2Sam 24:1) or “caused David to harm them” (NLT – 2Sam 24:1) in the entire census saga. Whatever the situation, we must assume that David’s action here was perhaps the first of many records of scripture where he took action without first consulting God. We would therefore assume that he “broke the hedge” and expectedly Satan struck! (Eccl.10:8). Dear Christian, be careful never to allow impulsive actions without first consulting God (Proverbs 3:5-7a).

Leadership errors of this type expectedly have divine consequences: as many as 70,000 people died from the plague and more deaths were to come with the “Angel of death”, sent to destroy Jerusalem – the capital city (v14-15). Upon David, as leader taking responsibility for his action saying “I have sinned, … please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing” (v8 &17).

God’s mercy upon the king and leader’s contrite actions (v16b), instructed the Angel to “stop”. This angel was also the one who told Prophet Gad what David should do – “Go and build an altar”. This was at the point where the Lord instructed a cessation of hostility, a point where the destruction of Jerusalem was caused to be stopped, a point where the wrath of God was pacified – at the threshing floor of Araunah, a gentile!

The altar must be at a cost – David said (v 24), despite Araunah’s assessment of the situation and readiness to part with his property at no cost! David will eventually build the altar and make sin/trespass offering upon that altar, and the wrath of God was pacified.

Jesus is that costly altar as well as the sacrifice (Hebrew13:10-12; Rom 3:25). God’s instruction to the angel of death which brings about the salvation of the people is a typology and foretaste of what God was going to do through Jesus as propitiation through His death and sacrifice upon the cross.

That altar was indeed costly to Him, who gave His only begotten Son, so that He can freely give us “all things”! (Rom 8:31-32). Dear readers, if He lived and died for you; you are expected to be a living sacrifice and never to conform to the standards of this world (Rom 12:1-2).

Prayer: As I go this day, I ask that the fire of Your altar upon my heart will not go out. Help me to appreciate the high cost You paid for my salvation and ransom, and so be a living sacrifice in all my endeavors.