Troubling Times Transforms

“For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.” (1Ch 21:29 AV)

The reason David was seeking the altar for sacrifice was it was with the tabernacle while at the great high place of Gibeon.  David had just finished numbering the people and God was judging Israel for it by pestilence.  The angel of the LORD stood at the threshing floor of Onan so David sought to make great sacrifice to the LORD at that place for the purpose of establishing peace between he and the LORD.  He felt rather badly for bringing upon Israel such judgment for his choice.  He was interceding for his people.  David purchased the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite wherein the angel of the LORD ceased his advances, brought the altar of the tabernacle from Gibeon, and offered upon it sacrifices to appease the wrath of God for his disobedience.

Some might think the killing of 70,000 people for the sin of a king was a bit excessive or even unfair.  But there was a larger breach in progress that far and above required God’s judgment.  This breach all of the people of God could be held accountable.  The ark of the covenant was under curtains in Jerusalem while the remainder of the tabernacle was erected in Gibeon.  The tabernacle was incomplete while the ark of the covenant was separate from it.  The people had a bad habit of transporting the ark of the covenant like some good luck charm or relic for success in battle or government.  They separated God’s divine will and guidance from worship and atonement for their sin.  Bringing the altar to Jerusalem was the beginning of the process that would result in Solomon building the temple on the vary sight of Ornan’s threshing floor.

The loss of life of the 70,000 may have been predicated upon David’s sin of numbering the people, but it also resulted in the re-unification of the articles of the tabernacle and the building of the temple.  Perhaps we think God’s hand is too heavy for a particular sin.  Perhaps we thing the LORD is being a bit excessive or unfair.  The truth of the matter is, God is always just.  His ways are more than linear.  His ways accomplish more than one objective.  Perhaps our trouble isn’t all about something that is easily discernable.  Perhaps He has more in mind than we can even comprehend and it will vindicate His hand upon us.