WHAT'S ON YOUR ALTAR? PART 4

Threshing floor in Santori, Greece by Stan Zurek

    The more I write on this topic the more I find that I want to share new insights. I started out thinking that within three articles I would have exhausted the theme, but I am discovering so much I feel I have to share it with you. My faith is growing and I would like yours to be too. Today I look at the sacrifice on the altar and give a little more on the historical background that led to Jesus being the ultimate sacrifice to point you back to the question of how to apply this in your life. 

Like myself, many people think they understand the meaning of sacrifice, but it is very misunderstood. What is a sacrifice? As Christians, we are taught Jesus paid a price for us, and we should give ourselves in sacrifice to The Lord. But we stop there and do not carry the concept forward. I want to start by explaining a second stage of development of what sacrificing meant to God.

The first stage of altars and sacrifices can be found in part 1. It was a practise used by many people groups. I compare the sacrifice to a transaction in part 2. You can find out more about the kind of sacrifice that God is looking for, in part 3, but here in part 4 I want to go into a little more detail on the second phase or turning point for Israel. I apologise that this blog is bit longer than usual as it is needed to look at the final stage of sacrifice which is in how we apply it (to be found in part 5). 

Let us take a look at the account of David. But this event shows how God is a master planner and has a forgiving heart to the point where He repents of the very punishment that is deserving for the people of Israel. In 2 Samuel 24:18-25, God using Gad, the prophet, told David to go to Araunah's threshing floor and build an altar for Him.  Instead of receiving the gift of the property from the man, David insisted on paying something. This principle is still practised. To secure the purchase of an asset today, lawyers usually advise that it is to be bought by money or fiat, even if it is for just one dollar. The purchase seals the deal.

Now the backstory to this is that God was angry with Israel. David was tempted to number the people as a test. King and people caused God to pass judgement. Matthew 6:31 says, Bring us not into temptation, so it is possible for God to allow a temptation as a test. He moved David against them 2 Samuel 24:1. David failed the test, which meant that there was a high probability that the sin that angered God would continue, or become institutionalised or go without correction. It was evident at all levels of society. 

When faced with punishment, David chose to be at the mercy of God. But when David saw many people were dying, he was repentant and understood as king he should take responsibility. God too was repentant vs 16, 'the LORD repented Him of the evil'.  This is why God says David had a heart after His own (Acts 13:22, 1 Samuel 13:14).

And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. 2 Samuel 24:16.

At this point the angel was at Jerusalem. 

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. 2 Samuel 24:24-25

I find it especially noteworthy that David conquered this land. He did not have to pay for it. At this point, David had not built a temple for the LORD nor did he know where it should be. It was to be located at Jerusalem or Yireh-salem or Jireh-salem. This was the same place where God put a stop to the angel. 

Charles Spurgeon said;

Meet God in a barn!” one says. Why not? Does that astonish you? God met Adam in a garden, Abraham under a tree, and Noah in an ark. There is less of man in the open field than in the cathedral, and where there is least of man there is at least an opportunity to find most of God.

The threshing floor of Ornan was to become the permanent meeting place of God and the site for all of Israel to be one with one sacrifice made on one altar. As a Jebusite, Araunah was from the cursed lineage of Canaan. It was a statement against the pride of the Jews. Since God punishes where the sin lies, I can safely say that the sin He responded to was one of pride although it is not stated.

The threshing floor is curious for several reasons. In Latin, threshing means tribulation. The threshing floor is where we ought to be in prayer. It is where David confessed sin, see verse 17;

And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

On the threshing floor, sin is put down, and death is overcome. The wheat is separated from the chaff. It is where God's provision is evident. As with Cain and Abel, the sacrifice determines the state of the heart for God. God reserves the right as Sovereign God to sift and to judge. He is perfect and without sin or blame. Jesus intercedes for us continuously setting an example for us. Each of us has to have a threshing floor. At this point let me ask you, What's on your altar? The effort and pains that God goes through for us, lends importance to our altars and our sacrifices.

As a people, Adonai wants us to have one altar and one sacrifice. Having one location builds on His oneness. It taught the people to meet with God, to be in prayer and supplication, and to repent. God set the example of repentance. As a people He wants to be the one and only God. Where is our meeting place with God? He is in Christ and the in-dwelling of The Holy Spirit. God is a dwelling place for even Jesus says this; 

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever The Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

The final stage of sacrifice is in multiplication through us. Soon I will publish part 5 on why Christians do not see the evidence of God's prosperity in their lives or why we find that we give so much and have nothing to show for it. 

 

I pray you have revelation of the sacrifice of your heart for God. I pray your sacrifice is as a sweet smelling savour for Him who is Sovereign, in Jesus name. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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