the cross is so unfair (2 samuel 21:1–14 and 24:1–25 march ...€¦ · jake meets sarah jake...

The Cross Is So Unfair (2 Samuel 21:1–14 and 24:1–25 March 23, 2014)

This month we saw a sick, depraved killer – Brett Peter Cowan – jailed for the horrible murder of Daniel Morecombe – and the nation cheered. But what if Cowan was murdered in prison this week and then the Morecombe family demanded that Cowan’s young son be imprisoned to pay for his sentence? Would that be fair? No it wouldn’t. This month we saw Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 disappear. What if we found that one of the pilots plunged the jet into the ocean as a political statement and then the family of one of the passengers sets off a nuclear bomb in Kuala Lumpur killing 200,000 people in retaliation. Would that be fair? No it wouldn’t. But when you and I read our passages this morning – at first glance, the scenarios seem somewhat similar to what I have just described. 7 sons of a dead man have to die to pay for their father’s sin. 70,000 people have to die to pay for the sins of one man – who does not die. And yet – God seems to declare these scenarios are not only fair but necessary. So what is going on? Here is the message from the passage we will look at this morning.

The cross is so unfair 2 Samuel 21:1–14 and 24:1–25

The only hope for sinners is that God has graciously and unfairly chosen to accept a sacrifice to atone for our sin and satisfy His wrath.

What we will see this morning is that while these passages might seem unfair and of little relevance to us today – in fact they point to really great news for messed up people. People who have failed. People who need the grace of God. Guilty people. Struggling people. People like you and me. These passages tell us where the hope is for those who have messed up. However, before we get to this morning’s text – I need to talk about the ending of the book of 2 Samuel. When you read 2 Samuel 21-24 – many of us just scratch our heads. It looks as if someone has plucked six very different, seemingly unrelated snippets from random places in the life of David – and strung them together. They have different styles – story, history, poetry. You move from a story about a famine, to a history of someone fighting a giant to a poem. These events come from very different periods of David’s life. For example, chapter 22 opens with a song David wrote when he was delivered from the hand of Saul. Hang on – from the hand of Saul!! Saul has been dead since before verse 1 of this book! This song is clearly from very early in his life. Then the very next chapter, chapter 23 begins with a song that records the last words of David. The very end of his life. Then it gets even more confusing – because if these are David’s last words – why didn’t the book end? After these last words, we have more war stories, a plague story and David buying the land for the Temple. To most of us the end of this book seems a random mishmash – a couple of stories that seem unfair, some strange fights with giants and couple of hard to grasp poems. What I have decided to do is to spend a few minutes to talk a little bit about this section as a whole.

The only hope for sinners is that God has graciously and unfairly chosen to accept a sacrifice to atone for our sin

and satisfy His wrath

I have tried hard to make what I am about to say as clear as I can – but it is somewhat complex. However, here is why you should try hard to stay with me. I want to show you how to approach a difficult section of Scripture – one you have read many times – and probably not really understood or got much out of.

Jonathan Edwards put it really well:

Those parts of the Old Testament which are commonly looked upon as containing the least divine instruction, are mines and treasures of gospel-knowledge; and the reason why they are thought to contain so little is, because persons do but superficially read them. … But they never dig into the mine; if they did, they would find it richly stored with what is more valuable than silver and gold, and would be abundantly requited for their pains.

I want to show you how sections like this do take some thought and digging – but when we understand them – man is it worth it – our hearts just sing. So what is going on here? Here is one reason why a section of Scripture like this is such a difficulty for us. Modern Western culture is one of the least creative, least imaginative cultures in regard to how we convey a message. By far the predominant way we tell stories is from beginning to end – in the order of what happened.

Jonathan Edwards: !

Those parts of the Old Testament which are commonly looked upon as containing the least divine instruction, are mines and treasures of gospel-knowledge; and the reason why they are thought to contain so little is, because persons do but superficially read them. … But they never dig into the mine; if they did, they would find it richly stored with what is more valuable than silver and gold, and would be abundantly requited for their pains.

Jake meets Sarah Jake asks Sarah out Jake meets Sarah’s family Jake and Sarah talk about their future Jake asks Sarah to marry him

The story builds with events listed in order with the climax of the story at the end. Most other cultures have this as but one of many ways to convey truth and make a point. Christians should know this. For example, in his gospel, Matthew, does not tell the story of Jesus in strict order of events. He picks events – true events – from the life of Jesus – and groups them together to make a point. Unfortunately, this often drives Westerners insane when they read his Gospel because our cultural arrogance – our chronological snobbery – assumes everyone should tell stories in strict order of events. So when different writers put the same story in what is clearly a different place in their Gospel – some Westerners lose it and some just about reject the faith because they think the Bible is inaccurate. Then of course there are other writers like the Apostle John who tend to pick themes and cluster events – around those themes – or he writes a book like Revelation with types, strange imagery, obtuse inferences. Again – we struggle with this. And finally, Western culture is used to the climax of a story – the main point – coming at the end. If we want to spoil a novel – we read the last chapter. One of the main techniques Biblical writers use is arranging stories – which are carefully chosen – or even rewritten – to make a point and the arrangement itself shows us what the climax is.

Jake meets Sarah !

Jake asks Sarah out !

Jake meets Sarah’s family !

Jake and Sarah talk about their future !

Jake asks Sarah to marry him

Jake looks into Sarah’s eyes Jake can think of nothing but Sarah Jake asks Sarah to marry him Jake can think of nothing but Sarah Jake looks into Sarah’s eyes

This is not how we normally tell our stories. The order seems wrong. The main point is not at the end – it is in the middle of the section. It can seem repetitive – similar stories are used – to highlight the important bit – which is the bit in the middle. Again, this can drive us insane because we read the section and it isn’t structured the way we are used to and it doesn’t end the way we expect – and frankly we just don’t like our stories told this way. But the Bible uses this a lot. One of the best examples of this is the end of 2 Samuel. If you have been diligent this week and read the end of the book – chapters 21-24 – I suspect it left you scratching your head. Westerners struggle – really struggle – with a book that ends like this. However, Hebrew readers are fine with it. Some of you from other cultures may well be fine with it. The reason we struggle is because the author picked six events and structured them in such a way that together they make his point.

Jake looks into Sarah’s eyes !

Jake can think of nothing but Sarah !

Jake asks Sarah to marry him !

Jake can think of nothing but Sarah !

Jake looks into Sarah’s eyes

The structure of these last four chapters is actually fairly obvious when it is pointed out.

Yahweh’s wrath against sin (21:1–14) David’s heroes are victorious (21:15–22)

David’s song of salvation (22:1–51) David’s song of salvation (23:1–7)

David’s heroes are victorious (23:8–39) Yahweh’s wrath against sin (24:1–25)

It is near impossible to miss the fact these stories are very purposefully arranged. So why are they arranged like this? They are arranged like this to end the book with a very clear message. This slide is a nice academic structure of chapters 21-24. It tells us this section is a unit. But, it doesn’t tell us what the message of the unit is. Let me put up this same slide – but now in a different way. A way that I believe helps us see the real message in this section.

Our King satisfies His wrath (21:1–14) Our King calls His army (21:15–22)

Our King keeps His covenant (22:1–51) Our King keeps His covenant (23:1–7)

Our King calls His army (23:8–39)

Yahweh’s wrath against sin (21:1–14) David’s heroes are victorious (21:15–22)

David’s song of salvation (22:1–51) David’s song of salvation (23:1–7)

David’s heroes are victorious (23:8–39) Yahweh’s wrath against sin (24:1–25)


Our King keeps His covenant (22:1–51) Our King s keeps His covenant (23:1–7)

Our King calls His army (23:8–39) Our King satisfies His wrath (24:1–25)

Our King satisfies His wrath (24:1–25) The end of 2 Samuel looks at specific events from David’s life – that point to the greater King to come – the One who can and does save His people. To see why an ending like this is necessary and so refreshing – let me remind you of what we have seen so far in 2 Samuel: 1-10 Sin can seem far off In the first 10 chapters we saw a David who was a confident, godly King. Sin seemed far off. But although a good man, he was just a man. 11-12 Sin comes even to the best In chapters 11 and 12 we saw sin burst out into his life. Sin came even to the best. 13-20 Sin has devastating consequences Then chapters 13-20 describe how the sword continues to wreak havoc on the house of David. Sin has devastating consequences. Just step back for a minute. When I read 2 Samuel – the David of the first 10 chapters might as well be Superman – he is not someone I can relate to at all. He is a King. He is anointed by God. He is perfect, blessed, he can do no wrong. But, then I get to chapter 11 and read what follows. Wow! David is human after all. In fact he is just as sinful as me. I find someone I can relate to. But if the book ended after chapter 20 – the story would be – good man messes up – everyone in his life gets hurt and but now he is stuck under the wrath of God. What does that say to us? David messed up – as a child of God – and is under judgment – I have messed up – as a child of God – am I under judgment too? Is that it for David and for me? Mess up and God’s judgment descends without hope. Where is forgiveness, reconciliation, salvation, grace? This is what the end of this book is for. Our God is a God of grace, hope, second chances … two thousandth chances.

21-24 Sin need not be the end Have you messed up? Yeah you have. What is your relationship with sin? You hate it – and yet you love it. That is the bad news. But here is the good news – grace. And man do we need grace. This week I was talking to a couple and we were joking about how the culture of churches seems to be to hide how messed up we are. On Sundays – the ‘carpark miracle’ regularly occurs. Couples that have been fighting, yelling at their kids – step out of the car on Sunday and bang – ‘Lord bless you Matthew – Mary, isn’t it great to be here to worship God.’ I am not saying it is a bad thing to act godly on Sundays. But what can happen is that Matthew and Mary – who have had their own struggles – think – wow are we the only ones struggling to get our lives together? Far from it! We are all messed up and struggling. Everyone who stands in this pulpit is messed up and struggling – every bit as much as those who sit in the pews. I need this message of hope – I really do. At times we have joked about having a Sunday where there is no sermon – instead – everyone comes up to share honestly about their struggles – anger, greed, lust, marriage problems, kid problems, dissatisfaction. A sort of sinners anonymous. It would be a very long service – I think you would be shocked to find everyone has their secrets and struggles – but how good would it be to know – man – we are all in this together.

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. If David – a man after God’s own heart – is this messed up – it should never surprise us that those sitting around you are struggling just as much as you. But here is the great news – God loves us – messed up fallen sinners and He came down to help messed up sinners deal with their messy lives. Romans 5:8:

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners – messed up – struggling, Christ died for us.

David messed up – he certainly did – but there is hope. You messed up – you certainly have – but there is hope. Our hope is in the Lord. These are great chapters – because they bring hope to messed up sinners – like David – like me – like you. Chapters 21-24 chose events from David’s life that tell us something about God’s plan. They point past King David – to the great King to come. The One who brings hope to a lost world. These chapters should make your heart sing.

I also want you to understand this, as we come to these last four chapters, if I preach this section starting at 21:1 and move through to 24:25 – I can tell you now, it will seem somewhat disjointed – the last three sermons would be almost identical to the first three – just in reverse order. If I did that we would miss the structure and might miss the message we are meant to get. So I am going to preach it the way a Hebrew would preach it. I am going to preach the yellow sections together, then the blue sections and then the white sections.


Our King keeps His covenant (22:1–51) Our King s keeps His covenant (23:1–7)


Doing it this way helps us see why 23:1-7 – the last words of David – are not at the end. They are the highlight – the climax of this section. So this morning – and I am going to preach the first and last part of this section. 21:1-14 and 24:1-25. As we look at this – notice how these two sections are obviously meant to go together. One deals with famine brought on by sin. One deals with plague brought on by sin. In both – God’s wrath because of sin – is only stopped by a blood sacrifice made by the King – who makes atonement for his people – and that sacrifice seems unfair – but the Lord considers it acceptable. What I hope you will see this morning is that these two sections both use words and phrases that deal with subjects that are usually associated with atonement. I will show you this as we go. But of course that just begs the question – what does this big word atonement mean?

Atonement is what needs to happen to make man right with God. Atonement – actually comes from the phrase – At-one-ment. Atonement is what needs to happen to make man at-one with God. God created man, put him in the Garden and was at-one with him – in a good relation with him. Man sinned – the relationship was shattered. Man was cast out of the Garden. A cherub with a flaming sword was positioned to stop man coming back. Now man is no longer at-one with God. We have made ourselves enemies of God. We are now the targets of God’s wrath.

Atonement!!

!

At - one - ment

In 2 Samuel 24:1 – it says – the anger – or as many translations have it – the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel. To be under God’s wrath is to have all His holy fire and power fall on us to wipe sin from the world. Isaiah 9:19:

Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire.

Fortunately, God graciously gracious withholds much of His wrath for a time – but the time of restraint will end – and then the wrath of God will fall on every sinner. Romans 3:23:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 6:23:

For the wages of sin is death. The great question of the Bible is what can possibly atone – what can possibly make man at–one with God again? How can there ever be peace between man and God? What I want to suggest is that our passages this morning clearly deal with this question – how can the wrath of God be satisfied so that man can be restored to at-one-ment – with God. As I said earlier, here is the message of these two passages – a message I will explain as we go:


With this in mind, turn with me to 2 Samuel 21.

The only hope for sinners is that God has graciously and unfairly chosen to accept a sacrifice to atone for our sin

and satisfy His wrath

Let me give you the basic story. A famine comes on the land. It turns out this is because Saul sinned. He broke a covenant with a group called the Gibeonites. To get rid of the famine David must offer up in sacrifice seven sons of Saul. Look with me at verse 1.

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, “There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

In the days of David is a pretty vague reference. We don’t really know when this happened but a few things make us think it probably occurred earlier than Absalom’s revolt. There is a severe famine. Droughts are a fact of life – one year, two years – but by year three David knows there is a problem. Famines were a common form of divine judgment on sin (Deut 28:15, 24). David seeks God – and the Lord says – There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death. OK. Here is another big word. What is this bloodguilt? Simply put – bloodguilt occurs when someone is unjustly killed. Remember when Cain killed Abel – God said – Your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. This blood must be avenged. This blood calls down the wrath of God. Numbers 35:33 says this:

Blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

To understand this particular bloodguilt, we need to go back to what happened way back in Joshua 9. Joshua and Israel have crossed the Jordan and they are conquering city after city. Some cities chose to stand and fight the Israelites. But Gibeon – sometimes called Gabaon – did something else. They deceived them. The Gibeonites dressed up in old clothes and worn out sandals – they packed old stale food. They came to Joshua and lied. We aren’t from the Promised Land – we aren’t anyone you need to wipe out. We come from a long way to find you because we want to make a covenant with you.

We have heard about your God and when you get powerful we don’t want you as an enemy – so how about a covenant? The Israelites were suspicious – how do we know you aren’t from around here? They said – look at us. Old clothes, cracked wineskins, mouldy bread – we have obviously come from a long way away. We are told – the men of Israel believed them – and did not ask counsel of the Lord – so Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live. Three days later the Israelites found that they actually lived in the land. The ordinary people in Israel were none too happy that the leaders had made a covenant. But, Joshua 9:19–20:

But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.”

Look, we were stupid – but we made a covenant with them. As representatives of God we promised to let them live. If we break that – then the wrath of God will fall on us. So the Gibeonites stayed in Israel – doing menial chores. But what we find in 2 Samuel 21 is that Saul violated this covenant and attacked the Gibeonites. We don’t know why he did this. It might be because Gibeon was in the land of Saul’s tribe Benjamin – near Saul’s home city of Gibeah or because Gibeon was close to Jerusalem and so might pose a danger having foreigners so close. The point is – he unjustly violated the covenant and attacked them. There was bloodguilt on Saul and on his house. A couple of questions. Why did God wait till after Saul was dead for this famine to descend? We can’t be sure – but I believe God waited so that David – the one who points to Christ – could be the one to make atonement. Another question. If the bloodguilt is on Saul and on his house – why is the whole land suffering? Because Saul was King of Israel – so all Israel must suffer.

It is similar to Adam sinning – so as head of all mankind – all in Adam sin. So there is judgment on the land because of Saul’s sin. David calls the Gibeonites in. In the Law – there must be an atonement to wash away a bloodguilt. But the passage I read in Numbers 35 says only the blood of the one who caused the bloodguilt is an acceptable sacrifice – but Saul is dead. So what is acceptable? Verse 3:

David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And how shall I make atonement, that you may bless the heritage of the Lord?”

What will it take to make things at-one between Israel and Gibeon – and even more importantly between Israel and God? How can we atone? They say – King David – it is not a matter of silver of gold – no amount of money can pay the blood debt. Verse 5 and 6:

They said to the king, “The man who consumed us and planned to destroy us, so that we should have no place in all the territory of Israel, let seven of his sons be given to us, so that we may hang them before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord.” And the king said, “I will give them.”

Wow! We want to hang seven sons of Saul in Saul’s hometown. Let me put this in perspective. God’s wrath has come upon Israel because of Saul’s sin. Saul is dead. So now to atone – to restore things between Gibeon and Israel – seven sons of Saul have to die. As far as we know – none of Saul’s sons or grandsons were directly involved in the crime – so why do they have to die? This seems profoundly unfair. Is this just overblown vengeance? Why did David agree to this? Not only does this seem unfair – but this is human life. It seems like human sacrifice? It can’t be right.

David agreed to this because it is just, it is right, it is what the Law demands. Blood for blood. Life for life. It was the only thing that would atone for the bloodguilt and stop the famine. What we need to realise is that this passage is but one of many in the Old Testament that indicates that blood must be shed to atone for the sin of man. Leviticus 17:11:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

Blood atones for sin. David understood this. He understood that the blood of these seven sons would atone for the sin of Saul and stop the famine. The bloodguilt was earned by the household of Saul. Therefore those of the household of Saul must pay the debt. Understand that the term son means descendant – it can be son, grandson, great grandson. He hands over two sons and five grandsons of Saul – and they are hanged – at the beginning of the barley harvest – which is the time of Passover. The bodies of the men are left for the animals to desecrate. This was shameful for an Israelite. Note in verse 10 – they were to be left until it rained – until the famine was broken – until God indicated He had accepted this sacrifice. But, the mother of two of the men – Rizpah protects the bodies day and night from the birds and beasts. David heard of this and something clicked. There was bloodguilt on the house of Saul for what he did to the Gibeonites. But Israel also had guilt for how they dealt with Saul and now his sons after their deaths. These seven men were killed for the blood debt – they need not be shamed in this way. That does not honour God. And David remembered that the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were treated shamefully. They were beheaded and their bodies placed on the wall of Beth-shan.

But the valiant men of Jabesh-gilead took their bodies down and buried them in Jabesh. But that was not their home city. That was not their tomb. Despite Saul’s sin – this was a shameful way to treat a King of Israel. David took the bodies of Saul, Jonathan and these seven sons and buried them in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. And verse 14:

And after that God responded to the plea for the land. The blood sacrifice and the burial were now an acceptable sacrifice and the wrath of God was satisfied. The famine ended. Turn with me now to the corresponding passage – 2 Samuel 24. Let me give you this basic story. Another King – this time it is David – sins. This brings a plague on the land. To get rid of the famine requires 70,000 people to die and David must offer up an acceptable sacrifice. We begin in verse 1.

Again the anger of the Lord – or wrath of the Lord – was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

This verse leaves us with many questions – only some of which can we answer with surety. What has Israel done this time that God is angry – wrathful? We don’t know for sure. However as the passage unfolds it seems David is the problem. He has become proud – he seems to be self-reliant rather than relying on the Lord. As King – His sin means God’s wrath is against all Israel. In the parallel passage 1 Chronicles 21:1 – we are told that it is Satan who incites David to number the people. There are some long theological answers to how God and Satan are both involved. It seems that it was the plan of God for David to number the people – to reveal his sin – but it is Satan who is the agent who actually stirs this sin in David’s heart. If that is not enough for you – talk to me later. The more urgent question is why is numbering the people – taking a census – sinful? When people in Australia think of census – we think of what happens every five years when the government asks us our age, occupation, income, religion, etc.

Don’t think that kind of census. In the Bible – a census refers to a specific action. The people are surveyed to determine how many men aged 20 and up are able to go to war and fight for Israel. But there are a couple of things about this census that are crucial. Only God is to initiate a census because the army of God is to be a holy instrument not a source of personal pride. There is a crucial passage we need to look at – Exodus 30. Exodus 30 is a fascinating chapter. It talks about the furniture in the Tabernacle. It talks about the altar of incense where the High Priest makes atonement one time each year. And then right in the middle of this comes some verses that at first seem totally out of place in a section dealing with Temple furniture. Exodus 30:11–15:

The Lord said to Moses, “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary … when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives.

At first glance this passage seems really out of place in Exodus 30. But what we need to remember is that one activity that leads to a need for atonement is numbering the men for service in the army. God owns the nation, God leads the army – it is only gathered and numbered at His order and for His purposes. The very act of gathering the army of Israel is a dangerous thing. Kings can rely on armies rather than the Lord – there are so many warnings about this. Isaiah 31:1:

Woe to those who … trust in chariots … and in horsemen … but do not look to the Holy One of Israel!

The very act of a census – numbering the men – puts the men under the wrath of God – but if God orders the census – the wrath can be turned away by an atonement – in this case a monetary offering. If it is not paid – a plague will follow. David initiated this census – not God – so Israel was under the wrath of God. Joab knew this would happen. He tried to talk David out of it. David insisted. It took nine months to carry out the census – and it seems no atonement price was paid.

As soon as it was done – David was convicted. He knew it was wrong. How often have you sinned and known immediately – that was wrong? I am an idiot – how could I do that? You knew it – but you pressed on with the sin – and then regretted it. When David sinned with Bathsheba – he knew it was wrong but tried to cover it up. Here he confesses it. He begs God not to let wrath fall on the nation because of his sin and foolish pride. But even when you repent – there are still consequences for sin. The prophet Gad came and gave him a choice of punishments. 2 Samuel 24:13:

“Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land?

I believe this is a test for David. In the first two choices – David’s life is not on the line in the same way as the third choice. David is King – he won’t die of famine – it will just affect the poor people – he won’t die in a war – his men have already told him he will no longer go into battle – just ordinary soldiers will die – but plague affects all – royal and poor – as Pharaoh found out. As well plague was the penalty in Exodus 30 where no atonement is made – so that was the right decision – and in doing so he trusted the mercy of God not the vengeance of man. But, 70,000 men, women and children died. That is an incredible number. 70,000. I was at the Broncos game on Friday night. There were 33,381 people in attendance. I can tell you that was a lot of people – so we are talking more than 2 Suncorp Stadiums of people died because David sinned. David’s sin brought the wrath of God on the nation requiring atonement. Remember, this happens regularly in Scripture. For example, in Numbers 25 the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel for joining itself to Baal-peor and its gods, and Moses was told to execute the chiefs of the people to pay for this sin. When an Israelite flaunted his sin by parading his Midianite woman before Israel, Aaron’s grandson, Phinehas, thrust them both through with a spear, thereby halting the plague – which had already killed 24,000 people. In Numbers 25:13 we read that Phinehas, in so doing, “made atonement for the children of Israel.”

The Old Testament is filled with sin leading to wrath – which can only be stopped by a sacrifice acceptable to the Lord. The plague was heading to Jerusalem – where David was – when the Lord relented. The punishment was sufficient – but the hand of God is merely stayed – God requires one more thing. The plague stopped at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 2 Samuel 24:18:

And Gad came that day to David and said to him, “Go up, raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

Remember back in 2 Samuel 5, the Jebusites controlled Jerusalem, David captured the city. Now it seems David wishes to buy legal title to it so his descendants can build the house of the Lord – the Temple. Araunah – means Lord – so this is probably a title not a name. In fact in 2 Chronicles 3:1 we are told his name is Ornan. He is the lord of the Jebusties – in fact verse 16 literally reads – the Araunah – the lord of the Jebusites – the King of the Jebusites. Many translations have verse 23 as:

Everything king Araunah gives to the king. Araunah paid homage to David – he recognized his authority. Araunah offers to give the title to the land and to supply the oxen and the wood. Then he says in verse 23 – May the Lord your God accept you. Again this is atonement language. May you be reconciled to your God. David says, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” To be reconciled it has to cost. Whatever we offer to the Lord has to cost us. Don’t give the Lord what costs you nothing. David pays a fair price – fifty shekels of silver. He builds an altar and offers burnt offerings – to atone for sin – and peace offerings – for reconciliation with God.

Verse 25:

So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.

So how is all of this relevant to us? David messed up – badly. But if you read Hebrews 11 – David is recognized as a great man of the faith. He is in heaven. He is washed clean. How do you commit adultery, murder, call a census – and still get to heaven? Humanly speaking it is impossible. Some here this morning will have committed adultery or other terrible sins. But here is the reality – even if you have not actually killed anyone – you have a blood debt. God is so awesome that any sin – big ones – murder, adultery, rape – or what we think of as smaller ones – greed, anger, lust, dissatisfaction, gossip – all are treated as the highest offence – a blood debt. And Scripture also says our seemingly little sins were what sent Jesus to the cross – we killed the Son of God. In this way we shed innocent blood. The result is that every one of us has blood debt against God. This means we are in serious trouble. We are the targets of His wrath. But, like David – we can be forgiven and get to heaven. How can we pay our bloodguilt and be forgiven? Our passage tells us. Firstly, atonement is necessary for sin. Can God just overlook your sin? No he can’t. God’s Law means it must be dealt with. For God to forgive me from my many sins, requires something beyond my imagining. The Bible tells us that God is so awesome, so holy, so perfect – that any sin against Him is immense. So immense that it warrants His wrath for all eternity and there is nothing I can do to make things right. I am lost and without hope. Don’t be confused by our passage. The death of seven men or 70,000 men or every, man woman and child on earth could never atone for one of your flashes of anger or looks of lust. The debt of your sin must be paid – either by you – dying and suffering God’s wrath eternally – or by a sacrifice God deems acceptable.

Saul, King of Israel sinned. The whole land suffers – until acceptable atonement is made by the King. David, King of Israel sinned. The whole land suffers – until acceptable atonement is made by the King. But what sacrifice could possibly atone for our sin? Second, Atonement is only in Christ’s cross. Hebrews 9:22 tells us:

The law requires that … without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. The wages of sin is death. Our sin means our life is forfeit – blood must be shed. But not any blood. The blood of bulls and goats could not deal with sin – they just pointed to the blood that can deal with sin. Here is what we need to understand. Don’t think that our passages this morning teach that the death of seven sons and the death of 70,000 people was sufficient to deal with sin. No – like the death of bulls and goats – they just pointed to the blood that can deal with sin. In 2 Samuel 24:17:

David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “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.”

That seems fair. David sinned – as Saul sinned. In our first passage 1 Samuel 21:1-14 – judgment fell on Saul’s house. So why didn’t God accept David’s offer on this occasion? What we need to understand is that the 7 dead sons of Saul did not ultimately pay for sin any more than the millions of dead bulls and goats. The 7 dead sons only pointed forward to another Son who will die. God wants us to know – David cannot pay for his sin or the sins of the nation – but David can point to the one who can. David is dead in his sins and trespasses and so are you. But there is hope. Hope for messed up people like us.

When a child was born to Mary – He was called Jesus – because He will save His people from their sins. The angels declared He had come to bring peace. How will Jesus atone for sin and bring peace? Hebrews 9:28:

Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people. Jesus’ death – His blood – can make an acceptable atonement. Because He was both God and a man without sin – His death was acceptable. He is the Prince of Peace who brings healing and restores the relationship between God and man. In 2 Samuel 7 – we saw hints that a King will come – in the line of David – to save His people. Our passages this morning point more clearly to the King who will come. David becomes a type of the King to come. One who offers a sacrifice – a blood sacrifice – for His people. Notice these links that show us it is Jesus who is the One these passages speak of.

Links in 2 Samuel 21:1-14 that point to Jesus

Seven sons killed at time of Passover Jesus killed at time of Passover Seven sons buried in tomb of wealthy man Jesus buried in tomb of wealthy man

Links in 2 Samuel 24:1-25 that point to Jesus

Threshing floor was on Mount Moriah (2 Chron 3:1) where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen 22:2) which points to Jesus

Links in 2 Samuel 21:1-14 that point to Jesus !Seven sons killed at Jesus killed at time of Passover time of Passover !Seven sons buried in Jesus buried in tomb of wealthy man tomb of wealthy man !Links in 2 Samuel 24:1-25 that point to Jesus !Threshing floor was on Mount Moriah (2 Chron 3:1) where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice (Gen 22:2) which points to Jesus !Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac and the plague on third day. Jesus was raised on the third day. !Temple built on threshing floor. Temple was the place of sacrifice and atonement. Jesus was the new Temple (Jn 2:19).

Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac and the plague on third day. Jesus was raised on the third day. Temple built on threshing floor. Temple was the place of sacrifice and atonement. Jesus was the new Temple (John 2:19).

Jesus is God’s King who makes an acceptable sacrifice – His own life – to save His people. Right now there is enmity between God and man – we are not at-one. But we are told – through the cross of Jesus – our sin is washed away and we bear it no more. There will be no more tears, no more death, no more separation. Revelation 5:9:

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

He is our hope.

Third, Atonement is so unfair. Does it seem fair that 7 sons of Saul had to die to stop the famine? No. Does it seem fair that 70,000 Israelites had to die to stop the plague? No. But let me remind you of this. Despite what it seems to us – the Law said this was fair. Blood for blood. Life for life. And what is more – those 7 sons of Saul were sinners. They deserved death. Not for their father’s sins – but for their own.

Atonement is necessary for sin !

Atonement is only in Christ’s cross !

Atonement is so unfair

Those 70,000 Israelites were sinners. They deserved death. Not for David’s sins – but for their own. Whether it seems right to us or not – the Law says – their death was just. But – the Law also says – you deserve death – eternal death. But grace says – God will make an atonement to save us. He will make an acceptable sacrifice. It is at the cross that grace and Law meet. Jesus’ blood satisfies the Law. Grace is what motivates God to make this sacrifice. And this death is unfair – it is so unfair I can barely wrap my mind around it. For God to atone for your sin – here is what it means. God Himself – sinless, perfect – no wrong in Him – becomes a man – sinless, perfect – and dies in place of the one who committed the sin – that the guilty one – you – the one who richly deserved hell – the One who earned the blood debt – that you should have your sin paid for. That is massively unfair. The atonement is so unfair – to God! But this makes it even more glorious. If you sense some unfairness at the death of the 7 or the 70,000 who are sinners – how much greater is the unfairness that the innocent Son of God must die for the guilty – for you? That is grace. Grace stopped the famine. Grace stopped the plague. Grace atones for your sin. How amazing is that? God knows your sin – how absolutely messed up you are, how often you messed up, the times you failed. And He did something to save you from that mess and failure. And to do so cost Him everything. John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The result is that Jesus shed His blood to pay for my sins. His life for my life. 1 Peter 2:24:

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.

God’s wrath is satisfied – blood is shed – life for life – and since we are in Christ – His blood pays for our sins. That is unfair. But that is glorious. The atonement is profoundly unfair – but it is unfair to God. Christians are the beneficiaries of the most incredible act of unfairness possible. Grace is not unfair to the 7 sons or the 70,000 or to infants who die or to non-Christians – it is unfair to God. If you do not know Christ, the wages of sin is death. On your own – it will be your blood – your life who will pay the penalty for your sins. You are under wrath – please talk to the person you came with or me. Don’t stay under His wrath. But if you are in Christ – His blood – His life – His death on the cross – atones for your sin. Murderers, adulterers, lusters, greedy, angry, failures. Jesus paid for us all. Jesus cries. Trust Him. Join Him. This day – follow Jesus and let His blood wash you clean and atone for you.

The Cross Is So Unfair (2 Samuel 21:1–14 and 24:1–25 March 23, 2014)

Main Point:


(More important questions/applications in bold) Main Themes You Should Have Considered By The End Of The Study � What is the point of 2 Samuel 21-24? � What is wrath? � What is atonement? � What can possibly atone for our sin? Consider 2 Samuel 21-24 � Why does this ending seem so strange and disjointed?

� What do you normally do in your reading of hard passages like this? � What might encourage you to mine these hard passages and strive to understand

them? � 1 and 2 Samuel are books that many struggle to find application for today in.

Passages like 2 Samuel 21:1–14 and 24:1–25 are hard to apply. Discuss whether this sermon series has helped you understand these books and passages like this.

� What are the different types of writing used in the Bible – eg. Story, poetry,

history, parables, end-times, etc. Why would the writers use these different types of writing?

� Do you agree that chapters 21-24 are designed as a whole? If so what is the point

of them? � Discuss this chiasm (structure with the main point in the middle)


Our King keeps His covenant (22:1–51) Our King keeps His covenant (23:1–7)


Why is it so important for this book to end with chapters like this? What do these chapters teach us about our hope in this life?

Application: Where do you find hope when you have sinned? � What is atonement? � What is wrath? � What is bloodguilt? 2 Samuel 21:1–14 � What did Saul do wrong to bring the wrath of God on the land? � Was it fair that the Gibeonites asked for the death of seven sons of Saul? � Why did David agree? What things about this whole event seem wrong to

us? Is this human sacrifice and if so how could the Law condone it? � Discuss the principle of blood for blood – eg Lev. 17:11. 2 Samuel 24:1–25 � What is a census in the Bible?

� Why was this so offensive to God it demanded an atonement? � What things about this passage with 70,000 people dying just don’t sit right

with you? � Why were there still consequences for sin after David repented? Application: We often know what we are doing is wrong. How can we stop before the consequences become too great? � Why did David have to buy the land from Araunah? Application: How can we apply the principle of not offering what costs us nothing? � Discuss whether the death of the 7 and the 70,000 actually atoned for sin or

like the blood of bulls and goats pointed to the coming blood of Christ.

� Why is atonement necessary for sin? Why can’t God just forgive us? � Why is the death of Christ the only acceptable atonement? � What type of sacrifice does it take to deal with sin? � How does Jesus’ death actually pay for the sins we committed? � What happens if we are not covered by His death?

� Discuss the statement that: the atonement is so unfair – to God. Is that true or not?

Application: How can a proper understanding of the atonement affect the way we live … share the gospel … worship and repent? Application: Why does a proper understanding of the atonement make us strive for holiness rather than rely on grace?

the cross is so unfair (2 samuel 21:1–14 and 24:1–25 march ...€¦ · jake meets sarah jake...

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