The Altar of Araunah

1 Chronicles 21

Have you completed your taxes yet? Some of us will be able to deduct charitable giving to churches or humanitarian organizations. How wonderful it is to know that you can contribute to something larger than yourself. But, what has your gift cost you?

Jesus famously commented to his disciples that a widow who gave two coins surpassed the man with the bag of money because she gave all while he gave out of his surplus. The same thing goes on today, though checkbooks make it harder to detect. Many wait to give to God till the end of the month when everything else they've had to or wanted to spend is gone. If there's some left over then they will give. This attitude goes something like this, "I'll give, as long as giving doesn't keep me from affording anything I've had my eye on."

I believe giving to God is a gift he has given to us. There is a subtle human understanding that a mere "thank you" is an insufficient response to a generous giver. And who has been more generous than God?  Compounding the problem is the fact that God needs nothing from us. All this makes me grateful to know a God who accepts gifts from those he has saved. When I give it becomes an act of worship insofar as it costs me something. Without giving I would feel like the man who has words to say but cannot say them.

In 1 Chronicles a poignant account is given of a great sin on the part of King David. God told him through the prophet that he must choose between three punishments. All affected more than just him. What a horrible choice! David chose what he thought was the least of the three evils and had to throw himself at the mercy of the death angel. David was ordered to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah (vs18) which was privately owned. When the owner heard David's request to buy his property for a sacrifice to end the plague he begged David to take it for free and to allow him to provide all the supplies to make a sacrifice. David's reply is relevant,

No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.

The Triumphal Entry

Matthew 21 


Of all the events of Jesus' life the "Triumphal Entry" has been one of the most perplexing to me. I wonder how it is that a very large crowd (Jn. 21:8) could hail him with great fanfare as he came into the city and then--we can only assume--it was those same people transformed into rabble, shouting "crucify him!" before the end of that same week. What was the matter with those people?!?

It occurs to me that here is a vivid example of a burning truth. In keeping with the human disease of sin we are quite capable of saying very religious things without having a clue. If these people had known Jesus at all they would not have been surprised at his driving out the money changers and teaching in parables. They would have seen the miracles and believed and not doubted. Despite their warm welcome they ultimately decided that he was only welcome if he fit into their preconceived notions. Are we not like that as well?

How many welcome Jesus with palms and hosannas because they have heard he can save them and make their lives wonderful, yet turn on him when soon thereafter they find him too meek, or too forgiving or too willing to allow suffering. They then "crucify" him out of their lives like the rocky soil in Jesus parable in Luke 8. Our fickleness should give us pause.

Have you cut a palm branch for him? Beware the cry of crucifixion!

Note To Readers

Hello Everyone,
I won't be able to post any DBT's for the next week. I'll be back at it next Thursday (hopefully).
God bless!

Jason

Final Justice

Psalm 73
How do you feel when you see the wicked prosper? Does it anger you to see oppression go unpunished, or the evil get away with murder? In Fyodor Dostoevsky's book The Brothers Karamazov there are three brothers. The eldest of the three is Ivan, an intellectual socialist who views God as a monster (if he exists at all). The lines that caught my attention last night were from a dinner conversation he had alone with his younger brother Alyosha. In a passionate monologue he says,

I must have justice, or I will destroy myself. And not justice in some remote infinite time and space, but here on earth and that I could see myself. I have believed in it. I want to see it, and if I am dead by then, let me rise again, for if it all happens without me, it will be too unfair.

In Psalm 73 Asaph contemplated the same thing. In verse two he indicates that it was this very consideration--the idea of unmet justice--that almost ended his faith. He laments his own purity (vs 13) as a waste of time since prosperity seems to have nothing to do with righteousness. But then there is a shift in his understanding.

When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. (vs 16-17)

It takes faith and patience to be satisfied with final justice. There are many people who will pass through this life without receiving the retribution they so rightfully deserve. But we must be cautious. It is easy for us to seek justice with great self-righteousness.When we ask God to dish out justice in this life we sometimes forget that if we want justice for others we must have it for ourselves too.

Ultimately, the perfect justice of a perfect God will be satisfied. Let us remember the final destiny of the wicked and persevere in faith. All wrongs will be made right in the end!