“That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him. 20 When Araunah saw the king and his men coming toward him, he came and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. 21 “Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked. David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.” 22 “Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and you can use the threshing boards and ox yokes for wood to build a fire on the altar. 23 I will give it all to you, Your Majesty, and may the Lord your God accept your sacrifice.” 24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. 25 David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the Lord answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.” 2 Samuel 24:18-25 NLT
“ But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!” 25 So David gave Araunah 600 pieces of gold (shekels) in payment for the threshing floor.”” 1 Chronicles 21:24-25 NLT
Lord and God,
The writers here differ in what payment was made for the threshing floor land. We may never know which it was and I am not sure that matters but what both say is that David demanded to make full payment. He could not give to You, God what was another’s free offering, that cost him nothing. And it was not a token offering the Chronicler wants us to know it was the full price.
Jesus when he sat beside the collection box in the Temple pointed out the widow, who gave the least, but at greater cost to herself than any others did. You gave the greatest cost, you’re only Son for us and then grace and mercy unlimited – and a future. Help us to be generous with all You have given us.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 12th May 2025
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands.
For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
For it’s only in Your will that I am free,
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.
Lyrics: Robin Marks