1 Chronicles 21:24

floor; where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favour by fire, and stays the plague.

Overview - 1 Chronicles 21
1	David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people.
5	The number of the people being brought, David repents of it.
9	David having three plagues propounded by God, chooses the pestilence.
14	After the death of seventy thousand, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem.
18	David, by Gad's direction, purchases Ornan's threshing-
28	David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Chronicles 21:24  (King James Version)
And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
 

---

Nay

Genesis 14:23 ; 23:13 Deuteronomy 16:16 Deuteronomy 16:17 ; Malachi 1:12-14 ; Romans 12:17

for I will not

It is a maxim from heaven, "Honour the Lord with thy substance." He who has a religion that costs him nothing, has a religion that is worth nothing; nor will any man esteem the ordinances of God, if those ordinances cost him nothing. Had Araunah's noble offer been accepted, it would have been Araunah's sacrifice, not David's; nor would it have answered the end of turning away the displeasure of the Most High. It was David that sinned, not Araunah; therefore David must offer sacrifice.