Recap of Part One

If you have read Part One of this study, let me recap; it is about how Abraham met with the King of Salem in the “Valley of the Kings” just south and east of the place where Melchizedek, the Priest of the Most High God, lived and worshipped. We do not know the exact spot where he actually worshipped, but by all accounts, it was in the very vicinity of Jerusalem. 

There has always been a claim on this place, for it was here that Abraham, in allegiance to the Most High God, gave his tithe. Such a tithe signified that Abraham had given everything he possessed to the true God and “Possessor of heaven and earth”. By giving his tithe, he renounced his own possessions. It was like an exchange and sealed as a supreme covenant when Melchizedek offered him bread and wine, the emblems of the Everlasting Covenant.

Abraham’s Test of Faith on Mount Moriah

Something happened soon after this, which gives further meaning to this Covenant. The same God Abraham acknowledged as possessor of everything made a demand upon Abraham of such proportions that it was to alter the course of all humanity. In keeping with Covenant, He asked Abraham to offer up his prized possession, his beloved son Isaac, who was born as a miraculous gift from none other than that God. This was a supreme test of Abraham’s faith, for the true nature of Covenant allows either party to ask anything of the other. Could Abraham really be true to such a demand?

Abraham’s faith stood the test (Hebrews 11:17-19), and we are told that he took his son to a place shown to him and was about to offer him up when he was stopped, and a substitute lamb, held by thorns was provided in his place. There was something very special about this place which was called “The-LORD-Will-Provide, in the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided”. (Genesis 17, 21:1-7,  22:1-18). What is it that will be provided?

King David and the Purchase of Mount Moriah

This place was Mount Moriah. King David of Israel, after a great struggle, conquered this region and united the twelve tribes and then made Jerusalem his royal city, the “City of David”. (2 Samuel 5:6-10.) It was built on the lower slopes of Mount Moriah and was where David made his capital and prepared everything needed for Solomon to build the Temple. (2 Chronicles 3:1) 

David lived a turbulent life and made many mistakes one of which was to number the people.  (1 Chronicles 21, 2 Samuel 24.) This action was the result of a direct attack upon him from Satan who was intent on destroying his whole kingdom. There is some mystery as to how this came to pass but it seems it was because of several things. There had been great violence in the nation through rebellion under Absalom, followed by civil war as well as the past injustice of Saul and his unrepentant children. (2 Samuel 15, 21:1).

The nation had experienced conflict with divided loyalties and, without cleansing and repentance, could not stand united. Sin always brings judgment, and sadly, the devil is very clever to deceive those who are not reliant upon the Lord.  David turned to the arm of flesh instead of God and, by taking a census, aroused disfavour but notice it was the nation that had aroused the Lord’s anger, not David as such. (2 Samuel 24:1, 10, 17) God is a God of justice, and when a nation turns from God, Satan takes advantage of the consequences to bring destruction upon that nation.

There are costs and consequences to sin and whenever sin rules there is a price to be paid. So it was that a terrible plague destroyed seventy thousand people, but as the angel of the Lord stood over the city of Jerusalem, God cried out, “It is enough”. ( 1 Chronicles 21:14.)  King David lifted his eyes and saw the angel with his sword stretched over the city and he and the elders of Israel fell in repentance.

The place where the angel stood was on the Threshing Floor of Ornan the Jebusite, also called Araunah. David pleaded with God to show mercy to the people and was even willing to take the consequences of the nation’s sin upon himself. (1 Chronicles 21:17.)  He was instructed by the prophet Gad to go to Ornan and purchase that very place to build an altar to the Lord. Ornan wanted to give it to David free of charge but notice David’s words, “You shall grant it to me at the full price that the plague may be withdrawn from the people”. (1 Chronicles 21:22-27) So David paid 600 shekels of gold and built an altar to the LORD, made offerings and called on the LORD. The angel then sheathed his sword and God answered with fire from heaven upon the altar. Where was the “Threshing Floor of Ornan” where David built his altar to God?

The Threshing Floor of Ornan and its Significance

It was on Mount Moriah the very place where Abraham had taken Isaac and the very place where the Most High Possessor of Heaven and Earth gave the substitute lamb caught in the thorns. It was there that Solomon later built the Temple just north of his royal city. It was there that the priests conducted the daily sacrifices and celebrated the Biblical Feasts until the Temple was destroyed.

King David, was a representative of Jesus, and 3000 years ago he purchased the Temple Mount and paid the full price for it. He still holds the Title Deeds.

Spiritual Conflict and the Battle for Jerusalem

Things that happen in the visible realm are the direct result of spiritual conflict. Right now there is a spiritual war raging in the invisible realms of this planet and its nations. It is especially around Israel and the city of Jerusalem.  Satan has always desired to “sit on the mount of the congregation, on the sides of the north” (Isaiah 14:13) and “exalt himself above all that is worshipped so that he sits as God in the temple of God showing that he is God”. 

This is why there has always been a battle for Jerusalem, the one place on earth more than any other that belongs to God and which Satan wants for himself. The result has been and still is much suffering.

Looking Ahead to Part Three

In the next part of this study, we will see how God fulfilled his promise to provide a substitute lamb and how Jesus died in this very place. When Abraham offered Isaac he believed that God would raise him up (Hebrews 11:17-19) and this was a figurative preview of what happened to Jesus when he was raised from death. 

We will consider how the great King Jesus stood in the gap, prayed for us, offered himself upon the altar and paid the full cost for our salvation. We will consider what currently stands at this very place and why there is such turmoil in the Middle East and the world at large and the future of the City of Jerusalem. Bible prophecy is being fulfilled very rapidly but it seems most of the church is asleep. There is urgent need for us to be prepared.