King David Series: Building an Altar

Message 10 July 2016 King David Series # Building an Altar

“Then the Angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Oman the Jebusite” (I Chronicle 21:18)  

When David got himself into trouble with God and needed mercy he cried out for mercy. In the passage at hand, God required him to build an altar on the threshing floor in order to stay off judgement. What had happened was that at a time when David was not at his best spiritually he was prompted by Saran to count men eligible to be soldiers (1 Chronicle  21:1). Unlike when he lived in insecure caves he had become comfortable in a palace. He had major achievements to his name, lots of wealth, had several wives, a big army and was feared by nations. The temptation was strong to depend on the strength of what he had instead of on God. Counting to acknowledge God's blessing would not have been a problem. Placing confidence in number of fighters instead of in God's presence was the mistake David made. All he needed to measure was God's presence. God does not need anything. He is all in all.  Pray that we realize its not about us or our  strategies but it's trust in God alone.

When David pleaded with God for mercy he was presented with three options. Three years of famine under the vagaries of nature, three months of wrath at the hands of his enemies, or three days pestilence and sword at the hand of God. He chose to be under God's hand for he is merciful. However before the three days ended he cried for God to stop the judgment. 

 When David pleaded for mercy again God provided a way out - build an altar on the threshing floor of Oman. Some reflection:  Did David have to wait until people had died? Also what could have happened if he had appealed for mercy at the point the three options were presented to him? Would God have instructed him to build the altar before loss of life?

“Then the Angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite”  (1 Chronicles 21:18).

Why an altar?

God wanted to intervene but needed an altar.  The altar was God's method to preserve life. An altar was the basis on which sinful humanity could meet with a holy God. On which inadequate humanity could access divine resources. God therefore requires an altar where what man has is presented to him so he can exchange it with what he has. An altar is a place to meet with the grace of God. A place to meet with God. There need meets with provision. Weakness meets with strength and sin  meets with mercy. The vertical and horizontal beams of the cross meet there. Love and justice meet there. It is a place of divine supply. 

An altar is something upon which offerings such as sacrifices are presented before God. Offerings to God imply an altar. A structure where people presented their hearts to God for threshing as explained in the next section. A point of seeking and worshiping nothing but God.  Churches make altar calls for people to come to a place where they concentrate themselves to God. A point where one gives up or surrenders something as a form of worship or for the sake of something one considers important. In the old testament altars included as in the tabernacle of Moses, alters for burnt offering to benefit people and altars of incense for the Lord's pleasure (Exodus 27:1–8). Burnt offerings included sacrifices of bulls, sheep, and goats. For the temple that Solomon built, the altar was made of pure gold (1 Kings 7:48). In Moses' case it was made of brass.

Altars were also built to commemorate a unique encounter with God (Genesis 12:7; 26:24–25; 35:3; Judges 6:24).  Generally altars always represented a place of consecration of oneself to God (or a god).

An altar is not only built but must be active and maintained. To tell the spiritual condition of the children of Israel one simply looked at the state of its altars. When they were abandoned and in disrepair the nation had forsaken God, weak and vulnerable. The prophet Elijah, confronting the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, first repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down (1 Kings 18:30). God rained down fire as a result. If you lose sight of the altar you lose sight of God because you meet God at the altar. Maintain the awareness and consciousness of his presence by a heart consecrated to him in prayer.

Why on threshing floor?

A threshing floor was an interesting place on which to build an altar. The reason being that an altar achieved to the human heart, in the spirit what the threshing floor did to the grain in the natural. Without a heart ready for divine threshing and winnowing, an altar is hollow. When harvest is brought in, it must be processed at the threshing floor before use. At the floor what came from the field is beaten to separate the seed from the husks and stems then the chaff is winnowed from the seed. Come to the threshing floor. You need the same - processing before use. David had to be reminded that some things happen on the threshing floor  not the dance floor. Embrace a threshing floor for your altar to open heavens. The only asset you need at the altar is humility to yield to God. At the altar God separates the “wheat’ from the “chaff” in human hearts and  lives. The chaff of being self-seeking, fake and proud. Don’t just come to God to receive but to be refined so the jewel in you can come out. You need to be refined in order to experience the raw power. To be broken so You  can be dedicated. You need breaking of the outward earthenware for the glory and treasure inside to manifest. Jesus is inside with his glory the challenge is no longer to get him in but to let him out for the world to see. As with silver in a furnace, he is ready to refine you till he sees himself in you. He wants to mould and make you as a master potter on his wheel  into a vessel of honour.

You need a threshing floor on which to build an altar. Non is vacant. Threshing floors are occupied. A heart ripe to meet God will do whatever it takes. Will overcome all obstacles to building an altar. Looking for the easiest and most convenient way is a part of the obstacles. David was committed to pay all that it took to build an altar. Even though Oman offered everything to David for free. Your giving builds an altar. No wonder Malachi related giving to keeping the devourer away. Without an altar the devourer is lose and on rampage. 

The main lesson in David paying in full is a heart attitude yielded for thrashing to produce a miracle. Without the right attitude sacrifices and offerings became an abomination before God. David would  not give to God what cost  him nothing. So David gave to Oman for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.  The option was tight. Give and live or eat and die. No other way. The angel with a drawn sword was watching. Already 70000 people had died. He paid the full price also as a type of Christ the son of David who would pay the full price for our sins. He left nothing owing. Decide to do whatever it takes. If all you have is inadequacy and ashes lay them on the cash counter. At her altar Hannah arrived at a place where she was willing to give it all away including the son she wanted desperately. 

David discovered the God he thought he already knew. He was made anew. Previously he took advantage of his power to inflict injustice on Uriah  He had stripped the poor man if all.  Now he paid the relatively poor Jebusite all. He experienced what others also went through. Jacob discovered God afresh when he wrestled with the Angel. Isaiah when King Uzziah died. Paul when he was ambushed by divine light on his way to Damascus. Ruth at the threshing floor of her kinsman redeemer - type of Christ (Ruth 3:6-14).    

Abraham discovered him as Jehovah Jireh who provides a sacrifice when one obeys Him. Abraham was obeying God to offer his only son as a sacrifice. He lost nothing but gained innumerable number of sons. By the way Oman's threshing floor was on Mount Moriah where Abraham had set up Isaac for a sacrifice (2 Chronicles 3:2, Genesis 22:2,9). In 1 Chronicles 21:1 David identified the same place for the temple Solomon later built.  

Amazing Results

And David built there an altar unto the Lord , and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord ; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. 1 Chronicles 21:26

And David built there an altar unto the Lord , and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord ; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

Build your altar. He will come but it is your responsibility to build the altar to him in your heart. No one can do it for you. At the altar God answers from Heaven by fire. Fire must come down. Something of God must happen at your altars. God answered David with fire and the angel put the sword in its sheath. The nation received mercy. Build your altar. Fire will come down. Something supernatural will happen. Something evident of God must appear at your altar.  God's presence will come down and you will be aware of it. God will speak life into your dry and dead situations. Your strength will be invigorated. Faith will rise up and you will see the opportunity and passage out of your situation. The sword that keeps your benefits away will be withdrawn. 

God specified that an altar made of stones must be made with natural, uncut stones, “for you will defile it if you use a tool on it” (Exodus 20:25).  Come rough as you are. No pretence. No need to try to impress. No need to polish the altar. Instead God will polish you at the altar. Come as you are to the old rugged cross. Make the heart conviction to identify and yield to what Christ has done. Build an altar where the war between the flesh and the spirit rages in your heart. Build the altar of prayer where you surrender all areas of your life to the control of the Holy Spirit. 

Personal time with God is your altar --- establish it and maintain it. Consecrate yourself. Do you need personal revival whatever it takes?  Find and fight for quality time to pray. Give your heart to God. Absence or neglect of your altar has serious consequences. In David's case it cost lives. 

Today as you build and maintain your altar may you be prepared for God's use at his threshing floor. And may his fire fall. May his glory come. May his power manifest.  May his presence be real. May his mercy embrace. May his grace abound. And may his voice be heard.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

First Floor Dhando House,

66 Eloff Street Extension,

Village Deep,

 Johannesburg,

South Africa