Araunah the Jebusite

David erred in numbering the people of Israel and they were visited with three days of severe pestilence that left thousands dead.  2 Samuel 24:16 reads, "And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "It is enough; now restrain your hand." And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite."  God was gracious to spare His people when the angel stood by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.  This is interesting because this means he was a non-Jew, an inhabitant of the city of Jerusalem previously called "Jebus" before David conquered it.  It seems mercy was extended to inhabitants to a city who taunted David it could be defended by the blind and lame, for Araunah the Jebusite lived within Jerusalem who even had a threshing floor of his own.

When God directed king David to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (whom God called by name), he went to purchase the plot of land.  Araunah saw the king coming to him and he bowed before him in respect.  2 Samuel 24:21-23 reads, "Then Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" And David said, "To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people." ²² Now Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up whatever seems good to him. Look, here are oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing implements and the yokes of the oxen for wood. ²³ All these, O king, Araunah has given to the king." And Araunah said to the king, "May the LORD your God accept you."  I like the KJV rendering of verse 23:  "All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king..."  A person need not be a king to give like a king.  Araunah's life and all he had was a testimony of the kindness, mercy and generosity of the God and king he served.

How does a king give?  An earthly king gives generously out of abundance, for the entire kingdom is at his disposal and the people are his subjects.  God is the KING OF KINGS and gives out of the infinite stores of His love, grace and mercy.  Kings were apt to offer "up to half" of the kingdom, but see what God's desire is for those who seek Him in Luke 12:32:  "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."  Imagine, a sheep of the flock being given the kingdom to enjoy the presence and goodness of God forever in glory!  The picture of Araunah the Jebusite being generous to give as a king to his king, having found favour in the sight of God and David, is a picture of how those adopted in the family of God ought to honour Him in giving of ourselves.  Our lives and all we have are gifts from God made suitable for His use by God's grace, and as we have freely received may we freely give.