THE PRICE OF SALVATION


PART II

A. "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" - 2 Sam. 24:24
  1. Historical background to our text:
    1. David was in deep trouble over his sin against the Lord and his people - 2 Sam. 24:1-4
    2. He was given his choice of one of three punishments -
      1. Seven years of famine
      2. Flee three months before his enemies
      3. Three days pestilence in the land
  2. His answer was, "Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man": 2 Sam. 24:14
  3. God smote Israel with pestilence; many died:
B. GOD DIRECTED THE PENITENT KING TO BRING A SACRIFICE
  1. It is at this time that the better and more noble part of David comes into bold review:
    1. Araunah, the Jebusite, offered the place and the sacrifice to David free - 2 Sam. 24:20-23
    2. Araunah did all this because he loved the king; also the Lord.
  2. But David said, "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"
    1. This, truly, reveals the magnanimity of a penitent king. To him his relationship with the King of the universe was nothing to be considered cheap or unimportant.
    2. There is in this attitude by David a wonderful lesson to be learned by all of us who profess to love the Lord.
  3. Personal sacrifice enjoined by the express command of the Lord:
    1. "None shall appear before me empty" - Ex. 34:20
    2. "It shall be perfect to be accepted" - Lev. 22:25
    3. "Every man as he is able" - Deut. 16:16
    4. "Neither from a stranger's hand" - Lev. 22:25
  4. David was cognizant of these divine directives, and he sought to comply with them:
    1. It will be wise on our part to comply with these heavenly instructions - Rom. 15:4
    2. True love and worship are unthinkable without the price attached to them.
    3. Love to God determines the decree of our sacrifice for Him - EXAMPLES -
      1. Abraham offered Isaac to God, and the Lord looked upon that as positive evidence that Abraham loved him - Gen. 22:1-12
      2. The rich young ruler professed to love God, but he was unwilling to pay the price - Matt. 19:16-20
      3. Mary Magdalene loved the Lord and she proved it by her deeds - Matt. 26:12
C. HOW MUCH DOES YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST COST YOU?
  1. Think of the price Heaven paid to save you and me!
    1. Meditate upon the words found in John 3:16, their implication!
    2. Then turn to 2 Cor. 5:18-21 and give some earnest thought to the words of Paul!
    3. Said Paul, when writing about the great sacrifice Heaven made for him, "who loved me, and gave himself for me" - Gal. 2:20
  2. Then think of the price others were willing to pay to seal their love and affections for their Lord and Master:
    1. The poor widow gave her livelihood as an offering to God - Mark 12:44
    2. Think of Stephen who laid down his life out of love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
    3. And think of the untold millions of martyrs of Christ.
    4. When you have done all this, weigh your gifts in the light of what David did; what the Lord Jesus does for you!
    5. I am rather confident that it will never be hard for you to give of the best you have, and do it cheerfully.
    6. "For God loveth a cheerful giver" - 2 Cor. 9:7


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