Last Lessons

Follow Along with the Message

"Then he died in a ripe old age, full of days, riches and honor; and his son Solomon reigned in his place. (20) Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Samuel the seer" (1 Chronicles 29:28-29). 

 "So Gad came to David that day and said to him, 'Go up, erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.' (19) David went up according to the word of Gad, just as the Lord commanded. (20) Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him; and Araunah went out an bowed his face to the ground before the king. (21) Then Arauhan said, 'Why has my lord the king come to his servant?'  And David said, 'To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be held back from the people.' (22) Araunah said to David, 'Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight.  Look, the oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. (23) Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.'  And Araunah said to the king, 'May the Lord your God accept you.' (24) However, the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offering to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. (25) David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel" (2 Samuel 24:18-25). 

At the end of David's life, prosperity and peace.  Chronicles tells the story.  Samuel decides to tell it from a different perspective.  David's last lesson.  

Home Economics. 

     Oikos--house or family; Nom--law.  "House rules".  More than money. 

     God's house has rules that govern it. 

"To serve God costs!  Those who love Him are happy to pay the cost!" 

--To The Very Last, We Will Struggle With SIN 

     David calls for a census--24:1. 

     Joab knows it is a mistake--24:3.  Why it is wrong, we don't exactly know. 

"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). 

"But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14). 

     We do not outgrow this struggle, nor the need to stay vigilant. 

--To The Very Last, CONFESSION Will Be Necessary. 

     Consequences come.  Plague--24:15 

"I have sinned greatly in what I have done.  But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly."--24:10 

He owns it.  Prays for the people who are hurt by his actions. "Behold, it is I who have done wrong. . .Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house."--24:17.  

--To The Very Last, The COST Of Serving God Is a Privilege 

     Build an altar where you saw the Angel stop.  Araunah's threshing floor.  

     Arauhah offers to donate everything.  David says no. 

"I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing."--24:24 

     "God loves a cheerful (hilarious) giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). 

The Old me doesn't like it.  More than money.  People and duties and opportunities to witness.  Costs! 

The message of Christmission.  The message of Thanksgiving.   The price of doing business with God is to get past the pain and still be glad for the privilege to serve Him. 

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"When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  He opened His mouth and began to teach them saying, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. . . " (Matthew 5:1-4). 

On this spot, the Temple built.  Mt Moriah.  The great story of God's love for us.