2 Samuel Chapter 24: Verses 20-21 (NIV)
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.
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?”
“To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”
2 Chronicles Chapter 3: Verse 1 (NIV)
Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.
Solomon’s father David had bought Araunah’s threshing floor so that he could make an offering to God to atone for the sin he had committed in taking a census for his men. That same site became the place where the Temple was built, and where God’s presence dwelt in the Holy of Holies.
When we feel we have really mucked things up when we have sinned and done things that we know we shouldn’t, we might think that there is no way back in our relationship with God. How could He possibly use us again after that.
But this record shows me that from a place of true repentance, God can use that experience, and by His grace and mercy, turn it into something that can be used for His glory. The most important thing is that our repentance is true and sincere, and our attitude is right before God. If they are, then out of the darkest of places we can see God turn things around.
Dear Lord,
I am grateful that all of the bible heroes’ experiences, even their failings, are recorded to show us how You can turn their situations around for Your glory. In this way You show us that we can pick ourselves up and start again with You. Thank You for Your grace and forgiveness. Amen.