The Killing Floor

Near the end of David’s reign as king, he commits a great sin. He decides to number his people. The census isn’t wrong but the prideful act of the King is.

As punishment, David is given a choice by God, “either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even pestilence in the land” (1st Chronicles 21:12-13). David chooses the pestilence, figuring it would be better to be in God’s hands rather than men. As the destroying angel reaches the threshing floor of Oran, David cries out to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father's household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued”.

This story literally emphasizes the Biblical point that the “wages of sin is death”. The stark reminder here is that sin isn’t always just your undoing. Our sin has a corrupting influence on all others around us. Your negative actions bring ruin to others whether you meant it to or wanted them to.

I think you see this in David’s response. As the command of God, he builds an altar to offer sacrifices at the threshing floor. Yet he refuses the offer of Ornan to give him the floor and the material for the sacrifice. His response, “I will not take what is yours for the LORD, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing”, shows he realizes his sin and his redemption must cost something.

Never forget that sin always has a terrible cost. And it might not just be you who pays for it.

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