Obeying the words of the prophet Gad, King David purchases thethreshing floor and oxen from Araunah the Jebusite to build an altar.
- P162
After David presents his offerings to God, God responds by removingthe plague. - P162
2 Samuel concludes with an unexpected story that high-lights a familiar theme found across both this book and the previousone: God‘s close relationship with David. - P162
Throughout 1 and 2 Samu-el, we see God continually save His people through that relationship.
- P162
Christians today are saved through another special relationship thatbetween God and His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. - P162
Jesus sacrificed Him-self as an offering before God, paying the full price of our punishment,
and God responded to His sacrifice by removing our condemnation. - P162
God sends a plague over Israel that kills many. David is told by Gad to build analtar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah. Araunah offers it for free,
but David insists on paying because he does not want to sacrifice offeringsthat did not cost him anything. - P161
David builds an altar and sacrifices offerings.
The Lord answers David‘s prayers and stops the plague. - P161
After David chooses to be punished directly by God and not by fam-ine or war, God sends a three-day plague that kills seventy thousandIsraelites. - P162
The author emphasizes both David‘s repentance and God‘scompassion. - P162
David asks God to let the punishment fall on him and hisfamily, while God has mercy on His people and commands the angelwho is afflicting them to withdraw his hand. - P162
Once again, we see Davidacting as a precursor to Christ. - P162
Unlike David, Jesus was sinless andHe took upon Himself the punishment for the sins of all people. - P162
Outof God‘s great compassion, He forgave our sins and spared us from thepenalty we deserved. - P162
Let us confess our sins readily to God and humblyreceive His mercy. - P162
Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your justice and Your compassion. - P163
I confessand repent of my sins by completely abandoning them and worshiping You.
- P163
I thank you for Your close
and loving relationship with me. May You be glorified!
In Jesus‘ name, amen. - P163
What is repentance? It is not a mere apology or acknowledgmentof wrongdoing. It is not simply feeling guilty and ashamed. In theOld Testament, the word "repent" in its basic understanding simplymeans to turn (e.g., Ps. 7:12; Ezek. 18:30). - P163
The idea is that repentanceinvolves a person turning away from his or her sin. One illustrationcould be that of an addict who enrolls into a rehabilitation center toseek help in turning away from their addiction. - P163
Turning away from your sins, however, is only one half of repentance.
The other half is to turn toward God. - P163
If a person trusts in their ownrighteous deeds more than in what Christ has done for them, thentheir works will be in vain, and their soul ultimately lost. - P163
The essenceof the good news is that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.
- P163
Jesus calls us to repent and believe in this good news (Mark 1:15). Aschildren of God, we must always turn to our Father for forgivenessand restoration. - P163
And as we walk in a lifestyle of repentance, God‘sHoly Spirit within us will make us more and more like Jesus. - P163
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