“Gad came to David that day and said to him, ‘Go, set up an altar to Adonai on the threshing-floor of Aravnah the Y’vusi.'”-2 Samuel 24:18
Today, we’re gonna finish up 2nd Samuel 24.
This also means we’re gonna finally complete our study of the books of Samuel!
YAY!
As we say here in Japan for occasions like this, お疲れ様です！
That’s written as OTSUKARESAMA-DESU and means something to the effect of “Good job!”
This phrase is used after a particularly tough and grueling task is completed.
For my fluent Hebrew-speaking readers out there, please tell me what the equivalent phrase in Hebrew would be.
Anyway, enough of the Japanese lessons.
Let’s dive into things!
So the closing paragraphs of this chapter are an explanation of how God chose the place where His Temple would be built.
The Lord, via a death angel, sent a plague that killed 70,000 people.
However, just before the plague reached Jerusalem, the Lord ordered the destroying angel to stop.
The spot where the angel stopped was at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
This is key.
Since judgment ended there, that location became holy.
This spot already held great significance in Israel’s history.
Why?
Because it was the same spot where Abraham was about to offer his son, Isaac.
Yet God stopped him at the last moment.
See the pattern?
In both stories, death was about to happen.
And in both stories, God stepped in.
The message is clear:
This is the place where God stops judgment and accepts sacrifice instead.
There is another important detail.
The land did not belong to an Israelite.
It belonged to Araunah, a Jebusite, a Gentile.
God chose land owned by a non-Israelite to be the center of Israel’s worship.
When the prophet Gad told David to build an altar there, David went to Araunah himself.
He did not take the land by force.
Araunah offered to give David the animals and tools for the sacrifice, but David refused to take the land for free.
He paid full price and said he would not offer God something that cost him nothing.
Then David built the altar and offered sacrifices.
As soon as he did, the plague stopped completely.
This moment matters.
A Gentile provided the land.
Israel’s king offered the sacrifice.
And God showed mercy.
From the very beginning, the Temple was built on obedience, sacrifice, and cooperation.
Not power or violence.
The prophet Zechariah said:
“Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.”-Zechariah 6:15
Aren’t you amazed that the first Temple on Mount Moriah was built through a collaboration between Jews and Gentiles?
And the last Temple will be too?
That pattern started here, folks!
The place where judgment stopped became the very spot where the people could come near to God and have their sins atoned for.
So what’s the takeaway for today?
Well, here’s where nice, tidy Christian theology runs into a brick wall called Scripture.
If you’re a gentile Christian (and I say this as a gentile myself), you’ve probably been told that Yeshua’s sacrifice ended the Temple, ended sacrifices, and made all of that “old covenant stuff” obsolete.
And now, instead of the temple, you, as a believer, are now the new temple, or something like that, right?
Except we’ve got one little problem.
The Hebrew Bible never says that homie.
Not once.
In fact, the Torah repeatedly calls the sacrificial system an “everlasting statute.”
The prophets never announce the end of sacrifices.
What they condemn is corrupt worship.
They attack empty ritual, false devotion, and hypocrisy.
But when they speak about restoration, over and over again, they describe renewed offerings, not their removal.
So what does Scripture abolish?
Fake worship.
Going through the motions.
Religious theater without obedience.
What does it not abolish?
The Temple.
Sacrifice.
God’s chosen place for atonement.
And here’s where things get really uncomfortable for modern churchy theology.
The prophets don’t just speak of a future Temple.
They speak of a Messianic age centered around it.
A restored sanctuary.
A ruler from David’s line.
And sacrifices taking place again
With the Messiah presiding over this restored order.
Not abolishing it.
2 Samuel 24 sets the pattern.
God chooses a place.
God accepts sacrifice there.
God stops judgment there.
That place becomes the center of atonement
Not because sacrifice failed,
But because God ordained it.
Are ya feeeeeeeeling me here?
So the takeaway is simple.
If you’re a gentile Christian, don’t assume your clean, modern Christian framework explains everything.
Because it doesn’t, man.
The Bible is bigger than your system.
The Lord is clearly not done with His Temple
Or with sacrifice
No matter how inconvenient that may be for your churchy theology.
The bottom line is that’s not being controversial.
That’s just letting Scripture say what it actually says.
Done.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
-2 Timothy 3:16
“Do not think that I have
come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them
but to fulfill them.”
-Matthew 5:17
NEXT TIME (which is gonna be a while) WE BEGIN 1 KINGS.
P.S. Quick announcement.
When I started this blog over a decade ago, I promised myself that once I finished the Books of Samuel, I’d take a break. Well… that day has arrived.
Before jumping into the Book of Kings, I’m planning to step away for about a month. I might come back sooner (because I love Scripture too much), but no promises.
I’ve been blogging daily for over ten years, and when I say daily, I’m not exaggerating. Even when I was hospitalized for a mini-stroke last year, I woke up with tubes attached and still kept writing. At this point, I know I need to pause and catch my breath.
To everyone who’s been following along all these years, thank you.
Truly. I pray that something I’ve shared has been a blessing to you.
And if you think of it, please keep me in your prayers.
Shalom.
God bless you sir with health, provision, and joy, May your sabbatical bring you much spiritual and physical renewal.
Hi William,
Thanks for your warm words.
I’ll be back.
In the meantime, please keep me in your prayers that I will stay in the Lord’s Will.
Wishing you many blessings!
Shalom.