David responds in worship and obedient sacrifice when he sees God’s merciful answer at the exact spot that would become a crucial location for Israel’s future Temple.
King David had prayed for mercy on Israel to halt a plague, and that prayer was answered at a specific place where the LORD’s presence was keenly felt. In this verse, the writer tells us, “At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifice there” (1 Chronicles 21:28). David, who reigned from approximately 1010 BC to 970 BC, responds to the divine intervention by seizing the opportunity for worship at the exact spot where he saw a tangible answer to his plea. Significantly, this threshing floor belongs to Ornan, also known as Araunah, a Jebusite—the original inhabitants of Jerusalem before King David conquered it. This location rests in Jerusalem, traditionally identified with Mount Moriah, the site which later became the focal point of the Temple built by David’s son, Solomon.
When David “saw that the LORD had answered him” (1 Chronicles 21:28), he recognized God’s mercy and faithfulness in halting the calamity that had beset Israel. Instead of returning to his palace to celebrate privately, David constructs an altar right there on Ornan’s threshing floor. This act of obedience recalls other moments in scripture when altars were built to commemorate divine encounters (Genesis 12:7), reinforcing that encountering God’s redemptive power prompts a response of worship. Moreover, it foreshadows a greater sacrifice yet to come—that of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself for the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:11-14), culminating the need for continual sacrifices that once took place in the Temple.
David’s offering on Ornan’s threshing floor also points to the transformative nature of genuine repentance. Rather than merely seeking relief from judgment, David willingly lays down sacrifices of thanksgiving and devotion, trusting God’s steadfast love. This site later became a setting in which Israel would consistently meet with the LORD through worship and sacrifices, symbolizing reconciliation between God and His people. David’s example of prompt, reverent worship serves as a timeless reminder for believers to respond to God’s intervention with devoted hearts and obedient action.
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1 Chronicles 21:28 meaning
King David had prayed for mercy on Israel to halt a plague, and that prayer was answered at a specific place where the LORD’s presence was keenly felt. In this verse, the writer tells us, “At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifice there” (1 Chronicles 21:28). David, who reigned from approximately 1010 BC to 970 BC, responds to the divine intervention by seizing the opportunity for worship at the exact spot where he saw a tangible answer to his plea. Significantly, this threshing floor belongs to Ornan, also known as Araunah, a Jebusite—the original inhabitants of Jerusalem before King David conquered it. This location rests in Jerusalem, traditionally identified with Mount Moriah, the site which later became the focal point of the Temple built by David’s son, Solomon.
When David “saw that the LORD had answered him” (1 Chronicles 21:28), he recognized God’s mercy and faithfulness in halting the calamity that had beset Israel. Instead of returning to his palace to celebrate privately, David constructs an altar right there on Ornan’s threshing floor. This act of obedience recalls other moments in scripture when altars were built to commemorate divine encounters (Genesis 12:7), reinforcing that encountering God’s redemptive power prompts a response of worship. Moreover, it foreshadows a greater sacrifice yet to come—that of Jesus Christ, who offered Himself for the sins of the world (Hebrews 9:11-14), culminating the need for continual sacrifices that once took place in the Temple.
David’s offering on Ornan’s threshing floor also points to the transformative nature of genuine repentance. Rather than merely seeking relief from judgment, David willingly lays down sacrifices of thanksgiving and devotion, trusting God’s steadfast love. This site later became a setting in which Israel would consistently meet with the LORD through worship and sacrifices, symbolizing reconciliation between God and His people. David’s example of prompt, reverent worship serves as a timeless reminder for believers to respond to God’s intervention with devoted hearts and obedient action.