2 Samuel 24:24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
How do you define sacrifice? Obviously, we all have a much different definition than those who lived during the time of King David, when sacrifices to God were literal burnt offerings, placed on an altar. So then, if sacrifice to God is not the killing and burning of an animal or some grain; then what is it?
It seems that King David had the right meaning of sacrifice in mind when he was on a threshing floor owned by Araunah, a Jebusite. David, as king, could have built an altar wherever he liked. He would have faced little conflict if he just showed up and started building the altar on the threshing floor. But even so, as Araunah approached and inquired as to what the king was doing on his land, he gladly and willingly, even enthusiastically offered the king his land for this sacrifice; no payment was required. Araunah also offered the king all of the animals he would need for his sacrifice. David would have been within his rights to take the gifts.
But he knew the true meaning of sacrifice too well to accept them from Araunah. David understood that to truly make a sacrifice to God, it must cost you something. A burnt offering given using animals that belonged to Araunah on land that belonged to Araunah would not have been a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord at all. David knew that in order for the sacrifice to mean anything, in order for God to be pleased and end the plague on David's people, he must offer up something that was of himself.
Because of his sacrifice, bought and paid for, King David's prayers were answered and the people were no longer plagued. Before you think you have given much for the Kingdom of God, stop and think about what it has cost you.
It seems that King David had the right meaning of sacrifice in mind when he was on a threshing floor owned by Araunah, a Jebusite. David, as king, could have built an altar wherever he liked. He would have faced little conflict if he just showed up and started building the altar on the threshing floor. But even so, as Araunah approached and inquired as to what the king was doing on his land, he gladly and willingly, even enthusiastically offered the king his land for this sacrifice; no payment was required. Araunah also offered the king all of the animals he would need for his sacrifice. David would have been within his rights to take the gifts.
But he knew the true meaning of sacrifice too well to accept them from Araunah. David understood that to truly make a sacrifice to God, it must cost you something. A burnt offering given using animals that belonged to Araunah on land that belonged to Araunah would not have been a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord at all. David knew that in order for the sacrifice to mean anything, in order for God to be pleased and end the plague on David's people, he must offer up something that was of himself.
Because of his sacrifice, bought and paid for, King David's prayers were answered and the people were no longer plagued. Before you think you have given much for the Kingdom of God, stop and think about what it has cost you.
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