What Does it Cost?



Araunah the Jebusite offers King
David the free use of his threshing
floor, oxen and wood to sacrifice to
the Lord.

 Turn with me to 2 Samuel Chapter 24.

David angered the Lord. David numbered the population of Israel. This was something God has forbidden David to do. David did it anyway.  After it was complete, David realized what he had done and his “…heart condemned him…” (2 Samuel 24:10).

I like this phrasing, self-convicted. His conscience got the better of him. David prayed and asked for the iniquity (sin) to be taken away from him.

The next morning, God spoke to Gad (David’s seer). David was presented with three choices from which to pick for punishment:

• Seven years of famine in the land,
• Three months fleeing from his enemies while they pursue, or
• Three days plague in the land.

David was grieved and does not appear to make a choice, other than not wanting to be placed in the hands of man, he allows God to choose. The Lord sends the three days of plague. An angel slaughtered 70,000 people from Dan to Beersheba. As the angel prepared to strike in Jerusalem, the Lord restrains him. David saw the angel “by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite,” and cries out to God, taking responsibility for his sins. (2 Samuel 24:17)

Gad returns to David and instructs him how to appease God; David is to build an altar at the threshing floor. So David and his servants approach the location. The owner, Araunah sees them coming and hasn’t a clue as to why. He presents himself to King David bowed in reverence and asking why David has come.

David explains he wants to buy the threshing floor to build the altar to make a sacrifice to end the plague. Araunah, offers to give it to David for free, as well as oxen to sacrifice and wood for the altar and fires.

David realizes something very important. He must take responsibility for his action. David, in 2 Samuel 24:24 makes the most profound statement:

“No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price: nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which cost me nothing.”

Do you see it? If not, read it again!!

SACRIFICE CAN NOT BE CHEAP!! If it does not “cost” you, it is NOT sacrifice!!! WOW!

I do not mean to say that we are to give money or property or other items.  But there must be a price we pay when we sacrifice.  Doing something we would rather not do (and not complaining about it).  Being inconvenienced.  Dealing with something that is NOT within our norm, that stretches our character.  There must be a cost.

What are you sacrificing? Does it cost you something, or are you trying to get by cheaply?

Heavenly Father, help me take responsibility for my iniquity.  Teach me to sacrifice to get closer to you. Help me count the cost knowing that no matter what the cost is, You are worth it!