Looking over Castle Lake, Hans is enjoying its extreme beauty! When we encounter the Lord, as David did at the threshing floor, we can be moved by a reverent fear that stops us in our tracks. This awestruck wonder caused David to buy the land where he saw the angel of the Lord, build an altar and experience God’s fire purifying the sin from his life. This was the same sin that caused a plague to break out against the people. Although David chose  punishment from God’s hand, knowing He is merciful- it was a terrifying experience.  Whenever we change our heart toward sin, God is involved at some level putting  a healthy dose of reverent awe back into our behavior. Father, thank you for your mercy and for your justice in dealing with all who come before you with an authentic change of heart. Stop us in our tracks so we may worship You- right here, right now. -Teresa

1 Chronicles 21: 18-25 (NASB)
18 “Then the angel of the Lord told Gad to instruct David to go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 19 So David went up to do what the Lord had commanded him through Gad. 20 Araunah, who was busy threshing wheat at the time, turned and saw the angel there. His four sons, who were with him, ran away and hid. 21 When Araunah saw David approaching, he left his threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground.

22 David said to Araunah, “Let me buy this threshing floor from you at its full price. Then I will build an altar to the Lord there, so that he will stop the plague.”

23 “Take it, my lord the king, and use it as you wish,” Araunah said to David. “I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, and the threshing boards for wood to build a fire on the altar, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give it all to you.”
24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!” 25 So David gave Araunah 600 pieces of gold[l] in payment for the threshing floor.
26 David built an altar there to the Lord and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And when David prayed, the Lord answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn up the offering on the altar. 27 Then the Lord spoke to the angel, who put the sword back into its sheath.

28 When David saw that the Lord had answered his prayer, he offered sacrifices there at Araunah’s threshing floor. 29 At that time the Tabernacle of the Lord and the altar of burnt offering that Moses had made in the wilderness were located at the place of worship in Gibeon. 30 But David was not able to go there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of the Lord.”