At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there. Sermons
I. HOW GOD CAN CONSTRAIN AN EVIL TO FURNISH INCIDENTAL GOOD. The sin of David led to the pestilence; the pestilence spread to Jerusalem. At Jerusalem David and the elders came forth to intercede with God; and, so doing, they sacrificed on the threshing-floor of Ornan. The fear of the angel of destruction impelled David to begin and (probably) to continue to sacrifice there (ver. 30). At any rate, the offering on this one occasion led naturally, if not necessarily, to the continuance of the act in the same place. This led to the determination to choose the spot as the site for the future temple; and this to the king's energetic and successful preparation for the erection of that noble edifice. Thus from evil came incidental good; and thus, continually, human error, faultiness, and transgression are made, under the far-reaching and overruling hand of the Supreme, to contribute in some way to good. Thus he "maketh the wrath of man to praise him" (see Acts 8:3, 4; Philippians 1:12). II. HOW SUITABLE WAS THE SITE FOR THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD. 1. Taken from a Canaanite, it suggested and predicted the ultimate triumph of the truth of God over all human error. The kingdom of God would rise and stand in every heathen land, as the temple of Jehovah rose and stood on Gentile soil. 2. It was suitable that a threshing-floor should become the base of a temple. Where God gives to us all nourishment for our necessities, there we, in glad response, may well give back to him all worship of the soul, all thanksgiving of heart and tongue, all offerings of the treasury. III. How GODLY ZEAL WILL FIND A REASON AND A SPHERE FOR ITS ACTIVITY. David's desire to build the temple had been positively disallowed. Any man in his position who had not that work very much at heart would have abandoned all further concern on the subject, and left the matter to his successor. But David's heart was so full of holy zeal for the "house of the Lord," that he caught with eagerness at the idea of making preparation for it, though he was not permitted to erect it. "This is the house of the Lord God," etc. (ver. 1), and forthwith he pressed into the service masons to hew stones (ver. 2), and prepared abundance of iron and brass, and of cedar (vers. 2-4). Thus his zeal discovered a sphere of activity; nor was he wanting in the discernment of a reason for action. He might have argued that while his advancing age would excuse inaction on his part, the youth of Solomon would ensure and demand the utmost activity. That is the light in which lukewarmness would have viewed it. Not so the king. He argued that, as Solomon his son was young and tender, and the house was to be magnificent, etc. (see ver. 5), he had better bring his experience to the work, that it might be as complete as possible. If we are really in earnest in the work of the Lord, we shall not see the reasons which might be found for our abstention or delay; we shall readily observe strong grounds for immediate and strenuous exertion. What is seen, in this as well as in other spheres, depends far more upon the eye than upon the object. IV. HOW MUCH ROOM THERE IS IN THE FIELD OF HOLY USEFULNESS FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF LATER YEARS. There is good reason why all the work of the Lord should not be left to those who are "young and feeder." By all means let maturity bring its solid strength; and let age, also, bring its varied experience, its gathered and garnered wisdom to the chamber of consultation and the field of labour. "Old age hath yet its honour and its toil," its witness to bear, its counsel to give, its work to finish. - C.
Then David said to Ornan. Contemplate this subject —I. IN REFERENCE TO THE SPIRITUAL EXPANSION OF THE INTELLECTUAL POWERS. We may be Christians without much knowledge, but our honour, glory, and felicity to abound in knowledge — 1. Of God. 2. Of Christ. 3. Of theology generally. The cost must be paid in the attainment. II. APPLY THE SUBJECT TO THE SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION OF THE MORAL NATURE. The soul before conversion like a barren heath or desert. It must be cultivated. Much labour needful. Evil habits to be abandoned. Holy habits to be formed. III. TO THE INFLUENCE OF SELF-DENIAL IN ADORNING THE CHRISTIAN PROFESSION. Self-denial not merely the abandonment of sin. It involves the surrendering even of what might be lawfully retained. Our will must be sacrificed, that God's may be done. IV. TO THE IMPORTANCE OF USEFULNESS IN THE CAUSE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. 1. The heart must be given to Christ. 2. Then life, talents, influence, time, wealth. (1) (2) 3. To pay this cost grace is both necessary and provided. (J. Burns, D. D.) Homilist. This incident teaches us —I. THAT TRUE RELIGION IS SPIRITUALITY IN CONTRADISTINCTION TO FORMALISM. The spirit of love which now inspired David was something distinct from all outward service, something that could not be expressed by the most valuable of offerings that cost him nothing. Personal sacrifice was required. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit." "Circumcision or uncircumcision availeth nothing." II. THAT TRUE RELIGION IS ENTHUSIASM IN CONTRADISTINCTION TO PRUDENCE. David rejected the offer of Ornan. He repudiated the securing of the higher interests of the soul without any detraction from secular resources. It is ever so where love reigns — all personal interests are in the background; God is the one all-commanding, all-absorbing object of thought. III. THAT TRUE RELIGION IS NOBILITY IN CONTRADISTINCTION TO MEANNESS. IV. THAT TRUE RELIGION IS PROGRESS IN CONTRADISTINCTION TO STATIONARINESS. The man inspired with this spirit would never rest with present attainments. 1. There will be a delight in studying truth. The creed of a true religious man has cost him something. 2. There will be a delight in doing all that is commanded. V. THAT TRUE RELIGION IS REALITY IN CONTRADISTINCTION TO FALSENESS. That the spirit of David is the only true spirit of religion will appear if you consider — 1. What God is. 2. What He has done for us. 3. That all we have and are are His. (Homilist.) I. ORNAN'S CONDUCT. Ornan, a Jebusite, and so by birth a heathen, but by choice a proselyte (see his prayer, 2 Samuel 24:23). A pledge of the Gentiles coming in: the very site of the temple belonged to one. Thankful for his privileges, and therefore liberal in his gifts. II. DAVID'S CONDUCT. 1. His sense of sin (1 Timothy 1:12-15). 2. His sense of mercy. God's direction about the altar was an indication of forgiveness. David looked beyond this to the Redeemer. All he had was too little to express his gratitude. "Much forgiven, loving much." If religion be real it will be self-denying. Does your religion cost you anything? Has it led you to give up your own will; to sacrifice your own inclinations? to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts? What do you give to God of your time, your influence, your means? (W. Pakenham Welsh, D. D.) , J. Burns, D. D. I. THAT EXTERNALLY THERE IS NOTHING IN ANY PLACE WHY GOD SHOULD THERE MEET WITH MEN. Why was the threshing-floor of Ornan to be the meeting-place of David with his God, and the spot where prayer was to be heard?1. Certainly it was a very simple, unadorned place. Yet when the temple, with all its glory, crowned the spot, God was never more conspicuously present than on that bare, ungarnished threshing-floor. A tasteful building may be a way of showing your pious regard for the Lord, but take care that you do not regard it as essential, or even important, or you will make an idol of it. 2. It was a place of ordinary toil. 3. It was, also, in possession of a Jebusite. The Jebusites were among the nations doomed for their iniquities. Herein the Lord showeth that He is no respecter of persons. The Jews wrapped themselves up within themselves, and said, "The temple of the Lord; the temple of the Lord are we"; but the Lord seemed to rebuke their national pride by saying, "And your temple is built upon the threshing-floor of a Jebusite." If you happen to have been born of parents who did not train you in the fear of the Lord, yet do not despond; but say to thy soul, "The Lord shall have a dwelling within my heart, Jebusite though I be." 4. Before it could be used it had to be bought with money. In connection with all true worship of God in the olden time there was always the offertory. II. SPIRITUALLY THIS THRESHING-FLOOR OF ORNAN WAS AN ADMIRABLE TYPE OF HOW GOD MEETS WITH MEN. 1. Its extreme simplicity enters into the essence of the type. 2. The threshing-floor is the exact type of affliction. The temple of glory is built on the threshing-floor of affliction. 3. This was the place where justice was most clearly manifest. Above this place, in mid-air, stood a dreadful apparition. Conviction of sin, wrought by the Spirit or God, is more powerful than argument. It some men had more fully felt that they were sinners, they would have made better saints. 4. It was the place where sin was confessed. 5. It was the place where sacrifice was offered and accepted. 6. It was where David beheld the sign of peace. III. I CLOSE BY HEARTILY EXHORTING YOU TO USE THIS PLACE. ( C. H. Spurgeon.)The altar built and the plague stayed: — Observe — I. A FEARFUL EVIL. II. THE DIVINE REMEDY. III. A GENEROUS PROPOSAL. IV. A NOBLE AND SELF-SACRIFICING SPIRIT. (J. Burns, D. D.) The altar and sacrifice as means of propitiation illustrates the atonement of Christ.I. THE MORAL CONDITION WHICH IT IS DESIGNED TO MEET. II. THE PROVISION MADE FOR THIS CONDITION. III. THE RESULTS WHICH IT ACCOMPLISHED. (J. Wolfendale.)23 People Araunah, Benjamin, Dan, David, Gad, Gibeon, Israelites, Joab, Levi, OrnanPlaces Beersheba, Dan, Gath, Gibeon, JerusalemTopics Araunah, David, Floor, Grain-floor, Jebusite, Jeb'usite, Offered, Offering, Ornan, Sacrifice, Sacrificed, Sacrifices, Sacrificeth, Threshing, Threshingfloor, Threshing-floorOutline 1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people5. The number of the people being brought, David repents of it 9. David having three plagues proposed by God, chooses the pestilence 14. After the death of 70,000, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem 18. David, by Gad's direction, purchases Ornan's threshing floor; 26. where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favor by fire. 28. David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel Dictionary of Bible Themes 1 Chronicles 21:18-28Library "For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh,Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." For what purpose do we meet thus together? I would we knew it,--then it might be to some better purpose. In all other things we are rational, and do nothing of moment without some end and purpose. But, alas! in this matter of greatest moment, our going about divine ordinances, we have scarce any distinct or deliberate … Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate, The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture. 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