David Builds an Altar

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 2 Samuel 24:18-25. Gad came to David and recommended that he build an altar to the LORD in the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite.

David did as Gad suggested and went to Araunah’s to build the altar to the LORD that he commanded.

Araunah saw the king and his servants coming and Araunah bowed down before the king.

Araunah asked why the king came to him. David told him that he came to buy the threshing floor from him, to build an altar to the LORD, so the plague on the people would be stopped.

Araunah told King David to make an offer that seemed fair to him. He also told David that he had oxen for burnt sacrifices, and threshing instruments and other instruments that he could use to cut wood.

Araunah offered all this to the king and told King David, “The LORD thy God accept thee.”

The king told Araunah, “No.” He could take the things that Araunah offered him. But the king offered to buy them from Araunah for a price. The king refused to offer burnt offerings to the LORD that didn’t cost him anything. So King David bought the threshing floor and the oxen from Araunah for fifty shekels of silver.

David built an altar there to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. King David made supplication to the LORD for the land, and the plague on Israel was ceased.

Notice that David wouldn’t make an offering to the LORD that didn’t cost him anything. He wanted to make sure his offering was acceptable to the LORD. Things don’t seem to have the same meaning to us if we don’t have to pay a price for them. David knew that it was his fault that there was a plague on Israel to start with so he wanted to make sure whatever he did was enough for the plague to be stopped.

What sacrifices do you make for the LORD? I know we don’t make burnt sacrifices today like they did in the Old Testament. But we can do things in our lives to let the LORD know of our love and appreciation for what He has done for us.

Daily Bible Reading:

2 Samuel 24:18-25

18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.
20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
21 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.
22 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.
23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.
24 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.
25 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.

Things to think about:

• What did Gad suggest to King David to help stop the plague?
• How did David respond to Gad’s suggestion?
• How did Araunah respond to David’s request?
• Why did David insist on paying Araunah?
• What was the end result of David’s sacrifice?

Prayer of the Day:

As we read this Scripture in 2 Samuel we see that David made retribution to You to stop the plaque that was caused by his decision to take a census. Help us keep our hearts and life in right standing with you and not to wait until things are in a mess to make things right. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Christian Music Video: “Living Sacrifice” – Chris Christian

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Today is our last lesson in 2 Samuel. Come back again tomorrow. We will start the study of the book of Proverbs. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

Featured Book:

The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD
By Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:
The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. Malachi was considered to be a “Messenger of the LORD.” God delivered His message to the people of Israel through Malachi. Malachi was one of the twelve prophets from the Old Testament. The book of Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament of the Bible.

The Book of Malachi: A Message from the LORD includes eight Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary from the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for discussion or contemplation, and a prayer for the day to go along with the lesson. This book is great for a personal daily devotional or for a group Bible study.

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