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Book of 2 Samuel - Chapter 24 - Verse 24

24:24
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.

Meaning

In this verse from 2 Samuel 24:24, King David is speaking to Araunah about purchasing his threshing floor and oxen for the purpose of offering burnt offerings to the Lord. Araunah offers to give the items to David for free, but David insists on paying a price for them. This action demonstrates David's commitment to offering sacrifices to God that are meaningful and valuable, rather than taking the easy route of offering something that costs him nothing. By purchasing the items at a fair price, David shows his reverence and devotion to the Lord, understanding that true worship requires sacrifice and dedication. This verse teaches us the importance of giving God our best, even if it comes at a cost, as a symbol of our love and gratitude for all that He has done for us.

Theological Overview

David's response to Araunah in this passage highlights an important theological principle found throughout the Bible: the concept of costly worship. When Araunah offers to give David the threshingfloor and oxen for free, David insists on buying it at a price because he understands that true worship requires sacrifice. The idea that worship should cost us something is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing the importance of giving God our best and not holding back in our offerings and sacrifices. By paying fifty shekels of silver for the threshingfloor, David demonstrates his commitment to honoring God with his resources and his refusal to offer God something that had not required any sacrifice on his part. This teaches us the lesson that genuine worship involves giving of ourselves, our time, and our possessions in a way that reflects the value we place on our relationship with God.

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