Week 9 - Day 5

June 29, 2008
Day 5/ Week 9

A Hand Withdrawn

Today's Treasure: 2 Samuel 24: 24

"But the king replied to Araunah, 'No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my burnt offerings that cost me nothing' "

Today's lesson is a very thought provoking one. I would really like for all of us to take the necessary time to appreciate this scripture and the lesson that Beth brings to us today. Honestly, I worked on this lesson for two days, and I could still benefit from more time with it. Please take the time to work on this lesson and read all of the scripture involved. It is full of wonderful sentiment about how amazing our God is. There are parts of this lesson that make God so real that it brings you to tears!!!

There are some very difficult topics to deal with in this lesson. We will see temptation and discipline at its most difficult. You may want to question God and His authority. If you do, please remember that God's ways are higher than our ways. We are incapable of seeing every aspect of any situation. I am sure you experience this in your everyday life. Someone feels the need to share their opinion about a situation with you, and you have no idea how to feel because you don't know if you realize every side to the story. Well, I can assure you….you do not!!! We have to understand that it is the same way with God. Only He sees the puzzle in its completion. One day, we will share in His view of what took place on this earth. Until then, we must trust Him to be in control of His creation. Also, remember what you know about God. He is a just God that loves us as His greatest creation. We expect our children to trust that we make our decisions for their best. We owe God the same respect.

Read 2 Samuel 24: 1 – 17

God's anger was directed to Israel.

What options did God give David?

A: a three-year famine, a three-month pursuit by his enemies or a three-day plague

What happened when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem?

A: the Lord was grieved and said, "Enough, withdraw your hand"

At what exact location did the angel stop the plague?

A: The threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite
 
 

One of our first questions after reading this scripture is why God would have David perform a census when it was contrary to faith in God. The result of this lack in faith would be the death of 70,000 people. Let's take a look at some scripture that gives us insight to this situation, and it will remind us of what we already know about our God.

1 Chronicles 21: 1 sheds a little light on what happened to David. What does this verse add to what you learned in 2 Samuel 24:1?

A: "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census"

I know you are saying the same thing I said at this point….what? I thought scripture said God incited David to take the census. Let's take a look at some more scripture that will help all of this make a little more sense.

James 1: 13 – "When tempted, no one should say 'God is tempting me', for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone"

It is important for us to remember that God cannot sin because He is not capable of sin. God is the sum of all things good and perfect. It is easy for us to see God as "one of us", but He is not. God is pure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – What makes us vulnerable to temptation?

A: things that are common to man

Now, another thing we know from scripture is the fact that God may allow us to be tempted by Satan even though he is not the one tempting us. Job is a perfect example of this point. In Job 1: 9 – 12, 2: 1 – 6, God allowed Satan to bring destruction on Job. Satan was convinced that Job would curse God and turn his back on God when he was brought to his lowest point. God allowed Job to prove his dedication to God, but He did not allow Satan to take Job's life. Rather than looking at this example in a negative way, look at the trust that God placed on Job and the good that eventually came out of it. Job was chosen by God as a beautiful example of commitment. God gave Job an opportunity to prove himself, and he blessed Job tremendously for his dedication. Yes, he did have to walk a road that none of us would be willing to trade places for, but we would trade places for his blessings….wouldn't we? 

Now, let's take a look at the punishment that Israel suffered due to David's lack of resisting temptation. Did this discipline exceed the crime?

Skim Deuteronomy 28: 1 – 24. What would happen to Israel as a direct result of their obedience?

A: The Lord would bless them in all they did and would set Israel high above all nations

In general, what would happen as a direct result of their disobedience?

A: They would be cursed in all they did
 

Based on Deuteronomy 28, what can you conclude about the nature of Israel's sin against God that angered Him in 2 Samuel 24:1?

A: They disobeyed Him

There is a tender side to God that we can appreciate after seeing His discipline. Read Exodus 33: 1- 17, and glance back at Exodus 32. What had Israel been doing that was a sin against God?

A: They turned their back on Moses and God. They were making golden idols to worship

In Exodus 32: 25 – 30, what happened to those who were not for the Lord?

A: They were killed

In Exodus 33: 3- 5, what did God tell Moses and the people of Israel He would not do because they were a stiff-necked people?

A: He would not go with them

Why did God allow His presence to go with them after all?

A: Because Moses interceded for them, and God loved Moses on an intimate level

Look at Exodus 33:11. How would you describe God's relationship with Moses? Keep in mind that this is the type of relationship God desires to have with His people?

A: Close and intimate

We need to look back on the past chapters we have studied in scripture to understand why God was angry with Israel and David for their behavior. Remember that Israel was very quick to turn its back on David when Absalom tried to take over as ruler. David was God's chosen ruler, not Absalom. Think back on how God protected David throughout his life because he was God's anointed one. David also played a role of disobedience that brought about the discipline. Consider the following facts about David:

1. He deserted the throne God had given him and did not trust God to fight his battle for him.
2. He did not stand in the gap and intercede for the sins of his nation as Moses did. God remained with Moses despite the disobedience of his people because Moses remained intimate with God. David struggled in this area, as we can see with the time he waited before he repented of his sins with Bathsheba.
3. David had the wrong motives for taking the census. He only counted his fighting men either out of sin, pride, distrust or both. God had proven himself capable time and time again to David. For David to distrust his provision at this point was unthinkable.
 
Now, this is my favorite part of today's lesson!!!! I love when things like this happen in the Bible. It just proves God's sovereignty in a mighty way!!! Let' s get started..this is so exciting!!!

Read 2 Samuel 24: 15 – 16. Note the exact location of God's grief.

A: The threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite

Read 2 Samuel 24: 18 – 25. What did Gad tell David to do on the threshing floor?

A: "Go up and build an altar to the Lord"

What reason did David give Araunah for building the altar?  

A: "So I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped."

When Araunah offered to give it to David, how did David respond?  

A: "No, I insist upon paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."

According to 1 Chronicles 21: 27 – 22: 1, what else was to happen on this exact location?

A: The house of the Lord God, or the temple, would be built

According to 2 Chronicles 3: 1, the temple, thus the threshing floor, was located on Mount Moriah

Now, read Genesis 22: 1 – 2 and then skim the rest of the chapter. What general even does this pivotal chapter record?

A: Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac…God provided a ram for sacrifice just as Abraham proved his obedience to God. 

Where did this even take place according to Genesis 22: 2?

A: On Mount Moriah….Okay do you have goosebumps?

Now can you believe that any of this is coincidence? Not hardly!!!! Abraham and David were both directed by God to build an altar in this spot. Then, the supreme altar would be built by Solomon. We also need to notice the timing of the intervention of God in both situations. Just as Abraham raised his hand to slay his son, God provided the Lamb in this spot. Then, God grieved and stopped the hand of the angel just as he drew his sword against Jerusalem.

I don't know about you, but wouldn't it be amazing to actually have the opportunity to stand in this spot that means so much to the very God we serve!!! I am just in awe of this scripture!!! I love God, don't you?  

Have an incredible, God-filled day!!!