BEAUTY FROM ASHES

“Go up, raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” ~2 Samuel 24:18 (ESV)

In this chapter, we see David call for a census. Joab, commander of David’s army, went out and did as the king commanded. But in his heart he knew, something did not feel right. If a census was ever called for, God had to ask of it first. But David did not pray about it. And the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel for disobeying Him. David wanted so badly to see how much his kingdom had expanded over the years of his reign. He wanted to hear the number of the population his kingdom had acquired. His heart had swelled with pride; he didn’t care that God had not approved of calling this census. This census lasted over nine months.

Throughout this whole time, not once do we see David humble himself and realize the mistake he had committed. He was dead set on having this census. Well, God gave him three choices:

• 3 years of famine

• 3 months of running away from his enemies

• 3 days of pestilence over his kingdom

What would you have chosen? Oh, c’mon. That’s easy, right? Out of all of the choices, the quickest one was the 3 days of pestilence. That’s exactly what David chose. And from one end of his kingdom to the other, over 70,000 of his men died. This census didn’t exactly achieve what David wanted. I can only imagine what David must have felt as he saw his people pay the price for his sin. He was ashamed of himself. He was so humbled. He cried out to God saying: “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father’s house.” 2 Samuel 24: 17 (ESV)

Then God asked him to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. In this verse, threshing floor signifies God working in our lives. It was here that the chaff was separated from the grain. Yet, God asked David to build an altar here. God is slowly separating our hearts from the world. And He also asks of us to build an altar during this life-changing process and to seek His presence.

In the midst of this pandemic, have we really tried to seek His presence? Have we built an altar before God and prayed for our nation? So many things are constantly evolving around us. We need to make sure that our faith is built upon the Rock. Are we fully trusting in Him?? The only way that God will heal our land is if we get on our knees and start asking for His mercy. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV). We MUST build an altar, seek His face, turn from our wicked ways, and ask God to start healing our land. God wants to heal us, but He wants to first hear our voice. “Oh, dear Lord, please hear our humble cry. Our nation has turned her heart away from you. She has sinned greatly. But You are a merciful Savior. And we ask, please…heal our land.”

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#prayer #joinedinprayer #seekhispresence #askforhealing #buildyouraltar #storyofdavid #zerotohero