684. 2SA 24:20-25. THE ALTAR BUILT, AND THE PLAGUE STAYED

2Sa_24:20-25. The Altar Built, and the Plague Stayed

"And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on towards him: and Araunah went out and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people," &c. 2Sa_24:20-25.

We are often prone to wonder at the astounding effects which little causes produce. Hence, unbelief asks, Why so fearful the result of our first parents eating of the forbidden fruit? Now, that act was disobedience’97direct, wilful and daring transgression against the authority of heaven.

In the case before us, we have a national calamity traceable to the sin of David; and that sin, apparently of minor magnitude. He had just numbered the people’97taken the statistics of the nation. It may be well here to show the necessity of comparing 2Sa_24:1, and 1Ch_21:1. This was a temptation of the evil one, and David was ensnared. But what evil was there in it?

It was the result of pride and vain-glory.

It was to see the army he could raise, and to which he was induced to trust, instead of God.

It was ingratitude for past deliverances, &c.; and hence the wrath of God was kindled.

David soon became conscious of his guilt; 2Sa_24:10. Jehovah sent him a prophet, to announce his will; 2Sa_24:11, &c. David’s choice, &c.; 2Sa_24:14.

Observe then, in the subject of the text,

I. A fearful evil.

II. A divine remedy.

III. A generous proposal. And,

IV. A noble and self-sacrificing spirit. I. A fearful evil.

The evil,

1. Was the plague.

Some fearful disease, swiftly mortal; for in nine hours at most, some think 70,000 died. How awful! and beyond the power of human skill to deliver. Sudden, terrible, fatal!

2. An angel was the messenger employed. 2Sa_24:16.

He was now ready to fulfil his commission in Jerusalem, but God stayed him; 2Sa_24:16.

3. David beheld the angel, and interceded for the people.

A beautiful instance of lofty and conscientious feeling, &c. How generous and magnanimous, &c.; 2Sa_24:17.

Notice,

II. The divine remedy. 2Sa_24:18.

An altar must be built’97sacrifice offered, &c.

Now in this,

1. Human guilt was acknowledged.

2. God was glorified.

Both his justice and wrath in punishing, and his great mercy, &c. in staying his judgments.

3. No doubt the typical end of sacrifices would be realized.

Looking onward to the coming of the Lamb of God, &c. For both the sin, and the evil, and the remedy, may direct us to the great subject of the atonement, for a perishing world, &c. Besides, this altar finely symbolizes the erection of houses for the worship of God. For through the divine agency of gospel truth, by these the plague of the world is to be removed. By these,

Ignorance is to be displaced by knowledge.

Profligacy, by moral order.

Irreligion, by godliness.

Unbelief and death, by the bestowment of salvation and eternal life.

I presume, not one place of worship for God was ever raised in vain. And in some, hundreds have been converted to God.

Notice,

III. A generous proposal.

The altar was to be erected at a given spot. Nothing in religion left to fancy, &c.; 2Sa_24:18. To Araunah, David states the case clearly and fully; 2Sa_24:19, &c.

Then came the proposal of Araunah; 2Sa_24:22.

(1.) Now this offer was beyond what David had stated; "Oxen," &c.

(2.) It was prompt, and the result of generous and pious resolution.

(3.) It was pressed on David; 2Sa_24:23.

(4.) It was followed with prayer; 2Sa_24:23. How pious and noble! A finer specimen of godly liberality never was exhibited. The act’97the manner’97the spirit’97the prayer! But observe, we are called to see, IV. A noble and self-sacrificing spirit. Araunah did well, yet David did even better; 2Sa_24:24. Selfishness or formality would have accepted it. David desired the offering,

1. To be his own.

The guilt had been his, &c.; so the repentance’97so the fruit.

2. He valued his religion more than his wealth.

So he paid the full worth for the place, &c. Now this act of David’s is the opposite of two classes of persons in our day.

(1.) Those who wish others to pay for their religion.

(2.) Those who wish to have religion without cost. But I will not enlarge.

Learn,’97

1. The frailty even of good men. As David in this case, when he numbered the people.

2. The necessary results of sin,’97misery and ruin.

3. The only way of averting it. By repentance, and coming to the one sacrifice, on the only perpetual altar, reared for our world’s guilt.

4. The fruit of a sanctified heart. Holy zeal, and liberality in the cause of God.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS