Preached · November 4, 2012
Text · 2 Samuel 24
Introduction and Context
If you have your Bibles, I'd invite you to turn to the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 24. It's 11:22 on a Sunday morning — do you know where your Bible is? We're going to be exploring one of the less well-known stories about David this morning. Over the past couple of months, we've talked about what the gospel is. We've talked about what faith is. Pastor John is actually preaching this morning — he's just not preaching here. He's doing some pulpit supply for another church, and so you get me. My name's Anthony. I'm typically the worship director here, if you're visiting and didn't know that. So good morning.
Let me give you some context on what's going on in 2 Samuel chapter 24, and then we'll dive into our scripture for the day. The context is that we're talking about King David, like I said. This is about 1000 BC, 3000 years ago. He is the second king of the kingdom of Israel. And we don't know exactly where this story happens in David's life. This is at the end of 2 Samuel, so things aren't as chronological as we'd like them to be. But at some point, we know that God offered this opportunity — or allowed this opportunity — to pass across David's desk, so to speak, to have a census of the land.
A census is the same today as it was 3000 years ago: it was to count who all was in the land. What was different, though, is that in an ancient Near Eastern census, you would typically just count the men — for the reason of wanting to know how many men could be in your army, how many soldiers you could have, so you could make an accurate guess as to who you could attack, who you could defend against, all of that.
The thing about censuses, though, is that it was typically understood they were not necessarily always the best thing, and that you only had a census when God specifically asked you to have one. We have a whole book dedicated to it — Numbers, everybody's favorite — as well as part of First Chronicles. But for the most part, if God didn't ask you to have a census, then you didn't do it. Because what it usually signified was a lack of trust, a lack of believing that God would protect you and your country and your people. A census meant, "I want to know how many men are in my army, so I can take care of myself."
So God, for some reason, allows this opportunity to come across David's desk, and David does it. David kind of rejects trusting the Lord and has a census. Well, God is understandably upset about David's lack of trust and puts this plague on the nation of Israel. David's census had counted 1,300 military units — we're not really sure how many people were in a unit, but at least 1,300 military units. God's plague kills 70 of them. And so David, understandably, asks for forgiveness.
So God says, "Here's what I'd like you to do, David. I'd like you to go up to Jerusalem, to a certain man's house, and build an altar there, and sacrifice to me, to the Lord, and then I will stop this plague." And so we pick up our story in verse 19, 2 Samuel chapter 24, verse 19.
The Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:19-25
So David went up, as the Lord had commanded through the prophet Gad.
Our second main character is a man by the name of Araunah.
When Araunah looked and saw the king and his officials coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. And Araunah said...
A threshing floor would be a circular piece of land, maybe the size of this platform, maybe a little bit smaller. It'd be flat, covered with stone, and it was where you would beat wheat into smaller pieces. You would thresh it, so it'd be usable in agriculture.
So David responds to Araunah and says:
I want to buy your threshing floor, so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped.
So Araunah said to David:
Let the Lord king take whatever he wishes, and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are the threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. Your majesty, Araunah gives all this to the king.
And he also said to David, "May the Lord your God accept you."
Here's our key verse, verse 24. But the king replied to Araunah:
No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.
So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen, and paid fifty shekels of silver for them. David built an altar to the Lord there, and sacrificed offerings to the Lord. And the Lord answered his prayer on behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped. The word of the Lord.
Observation One
The original cause of the plague is David's desire to know how much stuff he had, how much his kingdom had. David had this census in order to know, "How many people do I have? I'm taking account of all the things in the land." This, in short, is materialism. And this is not a sermon about materialism, so I'll stop there, and you can figure out the rest. (Hint: God sends a plague.)
Observation Two
David is offered the opportunity to take the easy way out. He goes to Araunah and says, "I'd like to buy your threshing floor." Araunah says, "Here's my threshing floor. Here are some oxen. Here's some wood. Have it. Just take it." David's given the opportunity to take the easy way out, but he doesn't.
What this reminds us of is that what we do is, of course, important. But how we do what we do is just as important, if not more. And anybody who's ever cooked a steak in a microwave knows what I mean, right? When I was a freshman in college, we did these skits for orientation, and our block of students won. And for some reason, we won a steak. I'm pretty sure it wasn't actually supposed to be the real prize — I just happened to receive a steak for winning this skit. And we're freshmen in college, living in a dorm. We don't have access to ovens and grills and anything like that. And so we thought, "Well, let's try to microwave it." And our room then stunk terribly for the next month. Don't microwave steaks, people. Don't do it. But this reminds us that what we do is important, but how we do what we do is sometimes just as important, if not more. Again, this is not a sermon about that, so pack that away for some later day.
Observation Three
The key phrase is in verse 24. "I will not sacrifice," David says, "that which costs me nothing." Which makes sense. A sacrifice is actually supposed to cost something. A sacrifice implies, "I have this, I'm giving it up, and it hurts." It doesn't feel good. It's a sacrifice. It's kind of inherent in the term.
Another story: when I was a freshman — this time in high school — I had a crush on a girl named Megan Ramundo, who I hope is listening to this podcast. I had this crush on her, and my brother also had a crush on another girl; he was a couple years older than me. It was Valentine's Day, and we wanted to do something nice for these girls, but we didn't have jobs, we didn't have money. And so my sister, who is a couple years older than us yet, decided it would be really nice for her to buy the flowers and the teddy bear that we were going to send to the school where our respective crushes went. Well, my parents did not like this idea one bit. We kind of did it behind their backs, and Megan left a message on the phone machine saying, "Thanks for the flowers and the teddy bear," to which my mom found out and was just really angry. Because, one, we did it behind her back. Two, we really weren't supposed to be fraternizing with those cootie people, the opposite gender. And three, the whole concept of the idea — "I'm giving you a gift, girl that I have a crush on, but I haven't paid a dime for it." And so, embarrassingly enough, my mom made us call these girls and apologize, "Sorry that those flowers — I didn't actually buy them, but I still like you." Horribly embarrassing.
But it's truth, right? Anybody who's a parent, or husbands and wives — if you try to give a gift and then explain, "But I didn't pay a dime," it just seems to be worth a little bit less, if anything at all.
And this is what David is saying. "I have been commanded by God to offer up this sacrifice. I've done something terrible. I've rejected my trust in God. God sent this plague upon the land. I'm sorry, I'm asking for forgiveness." God says, "Build this altar." David goes to the place where the altar is. He offers to buy it. The guy says, "I'll give it to you for free." And David says, "I'm not going to sacrifice that which costs me nothing."
And so, even though earlier David had kind of accepted materialism — counting his stuff — by the end of the story, David has rejected consumerism.
Consumerism and the Gospel
Consumerism, in my humble opinion, is one of the largest threats to the gospel in the American church. So, a definition: consumerism is the social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services in ever greater amounts. Does this sound familiar? Does this sound like a culture that we may be living in right now?
We all know what consumerism is because we're all victims and participants in it. Every purchase, every shopping spree, and most of our decisions have in mind what's best for us, what suits our needs, what's most convenient. However, I'd like to put forward to you that consumerism is, in just about every way, the opposite of the gospel, the opposite of what Jesus has called us to. So let me prove it to you.
The Words of Jesus
The words of Jesus, in Matthew chapter 13 — this is a chapter of parables that Jesus is offering up to a crowd. In verse 44, Jesus says this:
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid the treasure again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field.
In verse 45, Jesus continues:
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who's looking for fine pearls. When he finds one of great value, he goes away, sells everything he has, and buys it.
And so immediately we're confronted with the idea. Consumerism is this "give me, give me, give me" kind of attitude. But Jesus puts forth that the kingdom of heaven is like somebody who gives up everything they have for the sake of the kingdom.
In Matthew chapter 16, Jesus is talking to his disciples about what discipleship really is, and he says:
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good would it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
And so again we're confronted with the words of Jesus. The kingdom of heaven — it's like someone who finds it and gives up everything they have for it. Or, to be my disciple, Jesus says, "Here's what I want you to do. I want you to deny yourself. Take up your cross, and then follow me."
Consumerism has this idea that says, "Find your life. Make your life better. Consume. Indulge." And Jesus is saying, "No, that's not how it works. Lose your life, and then you will find it."
We have lots of people who want to be part of the church — this church or any church. And we have lots of people who want to be able to apply to themselves the word, the label, "Christian." But when it comes right down to it, how many of us actually and actively desire and pursue to be disciples of Jesus — disciples in the way that Jesus defines it? Because if we did, then we would be giving up our lives for his sake.
The Words of Paul
The writer Paul, in the book of Romans, continues on the same thread. Romans chapter 12:
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true and proper worship. Don't conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Or in Philippians, Paul writes this:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
What mindset is this?
He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in the appearance of a human. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross.
Paul writes, "This is the kind of mindset I want you to have. Don't think about your own interests, but humble yourselves like Jesus humbled himself." And so Jesus, who is God, becomes human. Jesus, who is life and resurrection, becomes obedient to the point of death. This is what Paul says we are called to.
A couple of pastors wrote a book called Renovation of the Church, in which they're proposing: what if the church was not so consumer-based? And they write this:
Attracting people to church based on their consumer demands is in direct and irredeemable conflict with inviting people, in Jesus' words, to lose their lives in order to find them.
In other words, most of the churches that we know, including this one, offer options: times of services, lengths of services, styles of worship, types of Sunday school curriculum, length of Sunday school curriculum. And most of the people that go to these churches base their decision on whether or not to be part of that church on whether or not those options please them.
So even though Jesus says take up our cross, even though Paul says do nothing out of ambition or conceit, the church has produced a system that by its very nature defeats all of this. It actually causes us to become more selfish, more self-centered, more consumeristic. Pastors become as helpful as bartenders at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. We have to face up to the fact that most of our problems in life, and in character, and in the church, are primarily because we all are living in an attempt to get what we want.
There Is a Better Way
But there's a better way. The book of Isaiah chapter 55, the prophet puts it like this:
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me — this is God speaking — and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.
How many of us are sick and tired and exhausted and just pooped because we have been striving and working and trying so hard to get more things, and to get more things our way? It's exhausting. It's tiring. And God says there's a better way. Jesus says in Matthew chapter 11:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Consumerism is the lie that we can try harder and do better to get things our will, our way, at the time we want them. And even though it sounds good, and even though the idea of rejecting such an idea sounds offensive to our ears, even though the idea of doing something against our own wishes is 100% countercultural, Jesus says there's actually a better way — a way that's better for you, a way that's more fulfilling for your life, a way that will make you more complete. And it's a way of rest. It's a yoke that is easy. It's a burden that is light.
So What Do We Do?
So what do we do? How do we respond to this? How do we live like David, who is able to say, "I'm not going to sacrifice something that doesn't cost me anything"? If sacrifice is meant to hurt, then it has to cost something.
A couple of ideas. One, we have to let go of judging the value of a good or service or idea based off of four things. Number one, convenience — the idea that if it fits in my schedule and my time the way I like it, then it must be a good thing. Two, attractiveness — the idea that if it looks good, it probably is good. We have to let go of that. Number three, personal preference — "Well, if I like it, then it has to be good, and if I don't like it, then it has to be bad." I have this debate with people about country music all the time. I have to broaden my worldview. Maybe there are actually people out there who like country music for good reasons. Maybe. Let's not get carried away. Number four, the appearance of outward success — we judge things based off the idea that "this looks successful," or "this appears to be the most successful thing you could do in this community, in this culture, in this country."
Let go of judging things based off of that, and instead judge based off these four things. Instead of convenience, helpfulness. Instead of attractiveness, does it reflect God's image? Instead of personal preference, think about the interest of others. And instead of the appearance of outward success, think about faithfulness to God's will.
Now, I'm not saying you're not allowed to have opinions or preferences. But perhaps we should give up the idea that our particular tastes and preferences are the only ones that should be catered to. After all, Jesus taught us to live well and be content even when we don't get what we want.
And so the question I feel like we have to be left with is: are we disciples of Jesus, or are we merely avid consumers of religious goods and services? Are we disciples of Jesus? Are we living up to this expectation that Jesus has put to us, to deny ourselves, to take up our cross? Or have we become merely part of the culture, part of the wallpaper of our culture, that just sees a religious good and service and consumes it like everybody else does every other good and service? Are we disciples who have decided, "I will be countercultural, and I will sacrifice things that cost me something"? Or will we merely be consumers looking for the next best thing, looking for the most convenient, attractive, personal-preference thing? That is our question.
But the good news is that Jesus says, "I'm offering you a better way. I'm offering you a yoke that is lighter. I'm offering you a burden that is lighter. I'm offering you bread and milk and food and rest and a rejection of weariness. I'm offering you good news."
Closing Prayer
So let's stand together. Let's pray as the worship team comes forward.
Our good and wonderful God, you have offered us a better way — a way that is far less exhausting, a way that is far less hurtful to others, a way that actually restores us and renews us. And we will admit, God, that it seems hurtful. It seems like the whole idea of sacrifice — sacrificing something that costs us something — by its very nature is going to hurt us. But, Father, we want to proclaim our trust in you, our trust in the idea that you know what's best for us. And that when you say that we have to lose our lives to gain them, you mean it. And so, Father, I pray for myself, I pray for these, my brothers and sisters in this building right now and throughout the community, God, that we would be a people willing to give up our will, our way, our preferences, our consumeristic tendencies, and instead, God, be willing to lose our lives to gain them. So give us new life, we pray in your name. Amen.
This is a transcript of the sermon as preached, lightly edited for readability.
