"An Offering That Costs Me Nothing?"

Scripture Passage

2 Samuel 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-6; 2 Samuel 24:10-17; 1 Chronicles 21:7-17; 2 Samuel 24:18-25; 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:19

Scripture Focus

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.” (2 Samuel 24:24 NLT)

Observation

Well, you know the story—and probably the application I’m going to make. David has taken an ill-advised census of Israel (ironic that America is in the middle of its census-taking even as I write). The problem for David probably wasn’t with taking a census per se, but rather that David’s presumed purpose in taking the census was to calculate how many fighting men were available.

What’s the matter with that? Well, God never brought Israel victory because of how many soldiers they had available, or (for that matter) whether they enjoyed some technological advantage over the enemy, or whether they had devised a superior strategy. God brought Israel victory over her enemies because of who He was—because He was gracious towards them and powerful over their enemies, and was the One who went before them into battle!

All of that makes David’s census evidence of an absence of trust in God. Judgment follows. And when God in his graciousness stays the hand of judgment, David wants to offer a sin offering. Araunah offers to give David both the land and the materials for the sacrifice, but David refuses:

“No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24 NLT)

David’s actions do not imply that he thought he could somehow pay the price for his sin, but rather, they testify to David’s recognition that sin is costly—that sin exacts a huge price. Indeed, you’ll never find a more expensive proposition. David’s refusal to let someone else supply the materials for a sacrifice acknowledging his own sin was his way of recognizing how costly sin is, and how gracious God was in stopping the flow of judgment.

Jesus, of course, paid the full and ultimate price for my sin—and there’s no way I ever could…and no reason I need to…try to pay what He’s already paid for me. But I can—by the way in which I bring everything I am and everything I have before the Lord, making it available to Him even if that involves great sacrifice—acknowledge how costly my sin is…and how deep the price He paid for my redemption.

“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

‘till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it someday for a crown.”