articlesforchristians

Beside Araunah’s threshing-placeThe awful angel took his stand,When from high heaven came words of grace—”It is enough; stay now thine hand.”

For David’s penitential prayerHad enter’d God’s compassionate ear;And where the angel stood, even thereGod bade the King and altar rear.

Araunah offered ground, and wood,And oxen for the sacrifice:David stood noble wish withstood,And bought them all at full price.

His answer has a royal ring;Its lesson high shall not be lost:”Burnt offerings I will never bringUnto Jehovah without cost.”

The altar rose, the victims died,The plague was stayed, and lo, there fell—Token that Heaven was satisfied—A fire from God, and all was well.

‘Twas like a finger from the skies—That falling fire—to show God’s will,That here the Temple should ariseAnd crown Moriah’s sacred hill.

And still God marks the faithful prayer,The careful work, the costly pains;The Spirit’s fire descendeth there,And there, as in a shrine, remains.

Richard Wilton, M.A.