2 Samuel 24:25 And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was entreated for the land… These sacrifices of David illustrate the nature and purpose of such offerings under the Law. David acted in obedience to a message from God (ver. 18). He did not offer sacrifices in order to render God merciful; it was the mercy of God which originated them. It was because he would stay the destroying pestilence that he directed David to offer them. Still, the sacrifices were a condition of the exercise of his mercy. It was when they had been offered that "the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel." Hence the question arises - Why should the Merciful One have required the death of innocent victims in order that his mercy might be displayed in the cessation of the pestilence? If it be said that this method of entreating him was a solemn and expressive acknowledgment that the sins which occasioned the pestilence were deserving of death, the answer may be accepted as a partial explanation. But the question recurs - Why should not the confession of sin, with sincere penitence, be accepted without the infliction of death on the innocent? The only satisfying answer is that which takes into account the justice as well as the mercy of God, and recognizes in the death of the innocent an atonement for the guilt of those to whom mercy is shown. In exercising his mercy, God would also "declare his righteousness...that he might be just" while justifying the sinner (Romans 3:25, 26), and that men, while seeking and obtaining forgiveness, might discern more clearly, feel more deeply, and acknowledge more heartily, the righteousness of the sentence which condemned them to death. These remarks apply more especially to the "burnt offerings." The "peace offerings" (thank offerings)were added apparently as an expression of joyful gratitude for the deliverance which was confidently expected through the sacrifice of the burnt offerings. The text reminds us of another sacrifice which was offered ten centuries later near the site of David's altar, and which has rendered all other offerings for sin superfluous and unlawful. It may tend to the better understanding of both to view them together, noting their resemblances and contrasts. I. THEIR RESEMBLANCES. 1. In their origin. Both were of Divine origin and appointment. They originated in the love and righteousness and wisdom of God - his perception of what "became him" (Hebrews 2:10). 2. In their nature. As making atonement for sin, by which God was "entreated," and the exercise of his forgiving mercy rendered consistent with a due regard for justice. 3. In their significance for men. Displaying the evil of sin and the Divine displeasure against it, and at the same time the loving kindness of God - his readiness to pardon; and thus tending to produce at once abhorrence of sin and penitential grief, and the assured hope of pardon. 4. In their results. Reconciliation between God and sinners; forgiveness of sin and deliverance from its penalties; renewed enjoyment of the favour of God; renewed confidence in and obedience to him; added strength to resist temptation. II. THE INCALCULABLE SUPERIORITY OF THE SACRIFICE OF OUR LORD. 1. David offered the lives of animals; our blessed Lord offered himself. They were of little value; but who shall calculate the worth of him who was not only the perfect Man, but the Word Incarnate, the only begotten Son of God? They could not understand the transaction in which they were made to participate, and could gale no voluntary part in the sacrifice. But Jesus entered fully into the mind of God, shared to the utmost his love to sinners and hatred of their sins, made the Divine purpose his own, and in devoted obedience to the will of the Father surrendered himself willingly to suffering and death for our salvation. The virtue of his sacrifice arose from his Divine dignity, his perfect oneness with the Father in mind and heart, and his perfect obedience unto death (John 10:17, 18; Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:5-10). 2. David provided his own sacrifices; Jesus was the Gift of God. (l John 4:9, 10.) No man, no creature, could provide a sacrifice of sufficient worth to really and effectually atone for the sins of men. 3. The moral significance of the sacrifice of Christ is immeasurably greater than of the offering of any number of animal sacrifices. As a revelation of God and man, of holiness and sin, of the Divine hatred to sin and love to sinners, of the beauty and glory of self-sacrifice, etc., it is altogether unique. 4. The efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ transcends incalculably that of the sacrifices offered by David. (1) The value of the latter for atonement depended wholly on the will and appointment of God; the worth of the former was essential and intrinsic. (2) The one atonement was of limited, the other of boundless, efficacy. The former removed limited guilt - of a single nation, and for the time; the other was for the sins of all men, everywhere, and in all ages of the world (John 1:29; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:2; Hebrews 10:14). (3) The sacrifices of David arrested a pestilence, and thus lengthened the lives of many; that of Christ saves from eternal punishment, and secures eternal life (1 Thessalonians 1:10; John 6:51-54). (4) The former had doubtless some influence on some of the Israelites, favourable to repentance, faith, and obedience; the latter has produced and will yet produce a complete revolution in the position and character of vast multitudes belonging to many nations. Those who believe are by the death of Christ brought to God (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 10:19, 20), made partakers of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:13, 14), pardoned and justified (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:9), sanctified (Romans 8:3, 4; Ephesians 5:25-27), led to thorough consecration of life to him who died for them (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15), and to assured hope and unspeakable happiness (Romans 5:5-11; Romans 8:32-39), issuing in the perfection, glory, and bliss of heaven (Revelation 7:9, 10, 13-17). 5. The animals offered by David ceased to exist; the great Redeemer obtained for himself by his self-sacrifice exaltation to universal dominion and immortal glory, including the honour of leading and saving those for whom he died, and of receiving their loving and devoted homage (Romans 14:8, 9; Ephesians 1:19-23; Philippians 2:8-11; Hebrews 13:20; Revelation 1:17, 18). 6. The benefits of David's offerings came to the people through his faith, penitence, and obedience; those of the sacrifice of Christ come to each Christian as the result of his own. Its moral and spiritual power is thus enhanced. 7. The burnt offerings of David laid the foundation for his thank offerings; much more does the death of Christ call for, induce, and render acceptable, thank offerings of a nobler kind, and these innumerable, unceasing, and throughout eternity. Such are the presenting of ourselves to God, and the offerings of praise, prayer, and beneficence (Romans 12:1; Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:15, 16; Revelation 8:3, 4). Let us not fail to present such thank offerings. Let us take up the song of the banished apostle (Revelation 1:5, 6), "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood...to him be glory and dominion forever and ever." Let us now join angels and the Church and all creation, and purpose and hope to join them forever, in the sublime anthem (Revelation 5:12, 13), "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing... Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever. Amen." - G.W. Parallel Verses 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. |
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