How Deep Is Your Repentance

2Sa 24:24 Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

How deep is your repentance?

David had sinned against the Lord by taking a census of the people without God's authorization. He did it to satisfy some need to know personally how many fighting men he had at his disposal. Why he needed or wanted to know isn't explained.

For violating the law of the Lord regarding this matter (see Exodus 30:12), David was given a choice of three judgments. He chose to throw himself upon the mercy of the Lord rather than the hand of man. He choice resulted in the death of 70,000 men.

When the destroying angel came to Jerusalem David was instructed to set up an altar to of sacrifice. This he did at the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite.

Araunah offered to give the land to David but the king refused recognizing that he was the one who had sinned and he needed to demonstrate the depth of his repentance to God.

How deep is your repentance?

Are you willing to make restitution where possible? Are you willing to offer up a sacrifice at full price?

Too often we make repentance simply a matter of words like "I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Repentance is a complete turning away from the issue that has caused God to be angry with you, taking steps necessary to insure the sin will not be repeated.

We have told people, "All you have to do is tell God you are sorry for your sin. To do anything else is trying to earn your salvation and God won't accept it. It's all by His grace."

We have implied, if not outright stated, "God is the only one you need to confess to because your sin was against Him." By so doing, we have removed the cost of repentance. Their is a cost.

David said he wouldn't offer up something to God that didn't cost him. Why? Simply because it would be worthless to both he and the Lord.

Don't give God empty words. While it may salve your conscience for a time, it won't satisfy God and it won't solve your dilemma.

Strike at the root of your sin and recognize it for the rebellion that it was. Then offer to the Lord a sacrifice that counts. It will please the Lord as it did in this case and it will produce the fruits of righteousness in you.

Now that is a win - win situation.