"The king answered Araunah, 'No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.' ..."
2 Samuel 24:24a
King David had sinned, and his sin brought a plague upon the land. When he set out to right his wrong, he had a truly repentant heart. He didn't just want to forget the past and move on. He wanted to pay for his wrongdoing, not just quit doing it. This is true repentance - the desire to give of oneself in repayment for one's transgressions.
He did pay, literally. A healthy sum of money was spent on the land and animals for the altar and sacrifice. Some might say that, for a wealthy king, 50 ounces of silver isn't even a drop in the bucket. Whether it was pocket change or all his life's savings, I don't think the quantity is what matters. The important fact is that he was not willing to sacrifice something that wasn't his.
Question of the Day:
Have you wronged somebody and left them pained by it? Even though you can never undo the pain you've caused, are you willing to pay the price for your actions? Whether you're paying money, like David, or something else, like manual labor or devotion to a relationship, it's important that you accept full responsibility for your actions, and make ever sacrifice possible in order to right your wrongs.
Prayer of the Day:
Lord, You know the hurt I've brought to You, myself, and others around me. You know the sacrifices which I must endure in order to right my wrongs. You know that I am incapable of doing so without the guidance of Your Spirit. You know how my heart begs for Your Spirit to thrive within me and guide my every step. Do not let my heart be hardened, but deliver me from evil. Forgive me, and forgive those who have done wrong against me as well. Thank You for Your forgiveness, for Your faithfulness, for Your love. Amen.
