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And David built there an altar unto Jehovah, etc.

1. An altar was a place of sacrifice (Genesis 4:3, 4; Genesis 8:20; Genesis 22:14); consisting (according to Divine direction, Exodus 20:24, 25) of earth or unhewn stone, and constituting (according to Divine assurance) a point of meeting or reconciliation between God and men; the offerings which it sustained and sanctified (and with which it was identical in purpose) being of divers kinds, symbolic of certain truths, and expressive of various feelings on the part of those who brought them. It was a prime necessity of religious worship in ancient time; the appointed way of access to God; the table at which Divinity and humanity held fellowship with one another.

2. The altar erected by David on the threshing floor of Araunah marks the commencement of a new chapter in the history of the kingdom of God under the old covenant. Heretofore sacrifice was offered in different places (1 Samuel 1:3; 1 Samuel 2:33; 1 Samuel 6:15; 1 Samuel 7:9, 17; 1 Samuel 9:12; 1 Samuel 11:15; 1 Samuel 14:35; 1 Samuel 16:3; 1 Samuel 20:6; 2 Samuel 6:13, 17; 2 Samuel 15:12); and the requirement of the Law (Deuteronomy 12:13, 14) was imperfectly fulfilled, in consequence of the unsettled condition of the nation and the disorganized state of religious worship (1 Kings 3:2). Whilst the ark was at Jerusalem, "the altar of the burnt offering" remained at Gibeon (1 Chronicles 21:29, 30); and although not finally abandoned till some time after (1 Kings 3:4), it henceforth began to be superseded by the new altar, which was divinely appointed and consecrated by fire from heaven (1 Chronicles 21:26), and chosen by Jehovah (Deuteronomy 16:15) as the place of his worship, the central sanctuary for succeeding ages. "Now when King David saw that God had heard his prayer, and had graciously accepted of his sacrifice, he resolved to call that entire place the altar of all the people" (Josephus). "And David said, This is the house of the Lord God," etc. (1 Chronicles 22:1, 2; Genesis 28:17); "And Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David," etc. (2 Chronicles 3:1). Psalm 30., inscription: 'A song at the dedication of the house' (see Hengstenberg). "I wilt extol thee, O Lord," etc.

"And as for me - I had said, in my prosperity,
I shall not be moved forever," etc.

(Psalm 31:6-10.)

3. The chief interest for us of this altar (as of every other) arises from the fact that it was not merely symbolic of spiritual truth, but also typical of its embodiment in Christ - the Altar (as well as the Offering and the Offerer), the new and only true (Hebrews 7:2), perfect, effectual, central, universal, and enduring Altar and Temple (John 2:21), where God records his name, and where we draw nigh to God, offer spiritual sacrifices, and find acceptance with him. It was "a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Colossians 2:17). "We have an altar [his cross and sacrifice], whereof they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle" (Hebrews 13:10). Consider, with this reference -

I. THE ERECTION OF THE ALTAR, as (in connection with the offerings, apart from which it cannot be fully contemplated):

1. Rendered necessary by human sin, through the temptation of Satan; estrangement from God through pride and disobedience to his Law; exposure to condemnation and death (Hebrews 9:22).

2. Ordained by Divine wisdom and love, "before the foundation of the world" (1 Peter 1:20), in order to the remission of sins and the restoration of sinners to the fellowship of God (Hebrews 9:26).

3. Adapted to the fulfilment of that purpose; by the atonement there made (2 Samuel 21:3; Leviticus 1:4; Isaiah 53:6; John 1:29; 1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Galatians 3:13); by the exhibition of the duty, sinfulness, and desert of men, and the sovereignty, righteousness, and mercy of God (Romans 3:21-26). "When sinful souls approached the altar of God, where dwelt his holiness, their sinful nature came between them and God, and atonement served the purpose of covering their sins, of cancelling the charges on which they were arraigned" (Kuper).

4. Designed to do away with every other altar and to afford free access to God for all people in all places and ages (Isaiah 56:7; John 4:23; Ephesians 2:18). The language in which the death of Christ is described in the New Testament is derived from the sacrifices of the former dispensation, and can only be properly understood by some acquaintance with them. It is no longer needful or possible to set up an altar (according to a common mode of expression), except in the sense of recognizing, approaching, and making known "the altar of God" which is set up in Christ Jesus (Psalm 43:4; John 14:6). "Let us draw near," etc. (Hebrews 10:22).

II. THE OFFERINGS PRESENTED THERE. "And offered burnt offerings and peace offerings" (1 Samuel 1:3; 2 Samuel 6:17-19). In becoming himself an Offering (Isaiah 53:12) and Propitiation for our sins (complete and incapable of being repeated or rendered more efficacious), Christ displayed a spirit (Hebrews 10:5-7) in which (coming to him with penitence, ver. 10, and faith) we must participate, and thus "offer up spiritual sacrifices," etc. (1 Peter 2:5).

1. The free, entire, and continual surrender (ver. 14) and dedication of ourselves, spirit, soul, and body, to God (Romans 12:1).

2. Prayers, supplications and intercessions (ver. 17; Judges 20:26; Psalm 51:17; Psalm 141:2). "And the Lord Jehovah was entreated for the land." "Sacrifice is in the main embodied prayer."

3. "The sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15).

4. Holy obedience (ver. 19), generous gifts (ver. 24), and benevolent activities. "To do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16; Philippians 4:18). "The altar is not to stand in its beauty and stateliness a solemn, unapproachable thing, on which we may reverently gaze, but which we may not touch without sacrilege. It is for use; its broad summit is to be laden with oblations and crowded with victims; it stands in the midst of us; it accompanies us wherever we wander, that it may invite our offerings, and be always ready to receive what we should always be ready to give" (Psalm 4:5; Psalm 26:6; Psalm 118:27).

III. THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE OFFERER. "Jehovah thy God accept thee" (ver. 23); "And the plague was stayed from Israel." Christ's offering was well-pleasing to God; and we are accepted in him (Ephesians 5:2; Ephesians 1:6, 7).

1. There is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1; Hebrews 10:16-18). The sword is put up again into the sheath thereof.

2. The presence, favour, and sanctifying power of God are manifested to us (Acts 2:3, 4).

3. Peace with God, and "the communion of the Holy Ghost," are vouchsafed to us.

4. And we "rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1, 2; Ephesians 2:19-22; Revelation 21:3, 4).

"Thou didst turn for me my mourning into dancing;
Thou didst put off my sackcloth, and didst gird me with joy
To the end that my glory should sing praise to thee, and not be silent;
O Jehovah my God, forever will I give thanks unto thee."

(Psalm 30:11, 12.)

CONCLUSION.

1. "Jesus Christ is the Object of the two Testaments: of the Old, its expectancy; of the New, its model; of both, the centre" (Pascal). As in every part of the country there is a way which leads to the metropolis, so in every part of Scripture there is a way which leads to Christ.

2. The method of human salvation has always been the same in the mind of God; but it has been gradually revealed to the mind of man; and wherever faith has been exercised in God, in so far as he has revealed his saving purposes, it has been accounted for righteousness.

3. "To the cross of Christ all eternity looked forward; to the cross of Christ all eternity will look back. With reference to it all other objects were created and are still preserved; and every event that takes place in heaven, earth, and hell is directed and overruled" (Payson).

4. "Wherefore, receiving a kingdom," etc. (Hebrews 12:28). "Now the God of peace," etc. (Hebrews 13:20, 21). - D.

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KJV: And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

WEB: David built an altar to Yahweh there, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Yahweh was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.