1 Chronicles 21:9-13
New International Version (NIV)
9 The Lord said to Gad, David’s seer, 10 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”
11 So Gad went to David and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice: 12 three years of famine, three months of being swept away[a] before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord—days of plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”
13 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”
Footnotes:
- 1 Chronicles 21:12 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate (see also 2 Samuel 24:13) of fleeing
Replies
WOW!!! YES DAVID FALL IN THE HANDS OF GOD AND NOT MAN.
Going back as far as Adam. In the (1 Chron.11th chapter) We see David Israel's greatest king, with special emphasis on his leadership of national worship. King David knew the power of repentance, and he had and anointed prayer life and spirit of praise and worship. David knew how to get back into God's grace and favor. God promised that David would have an eternal kingly line through his descents Jesus Christ our Lord. He said "I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore". Which I believe was designed to remind the Jews that despite their punishment for sin, they were still God's special people. When God makes a promise, He keeps it. God's punishment isn't intended to hurt people, but to bring them back unto Himself. Oh Lord God of Israel, There is no God like thee in heaven, nor in the earth. which keepeth covenant and showeth mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all there hearts. (2 Chron. 6:14).David's plan to take a census was not evil in itself. The Lord had them take census often, to count the people. What was wrong with David's census was David's attitude-his pride. He did the census so he could boast and glory in the extent of his reign. ( How many people he had under his leadership) Let the church say Amen!!! That spirit is still in the church today. Joab was concerned because David's arrogant command for a census would bring punishment, not only on him but the innocent citizens as well, David's servants. I too would rather fall into the Lord's merciful hands than men's deceitful, unjust hands. David knew how to repent. He said I Have sinned." To his credit, David blamed no one but himself for the judgement of God that fell on the nation of Israel. He believed that if God would forgive him, the affliction of the nation would also cease. Look at God. He is such a just God, David knew that our Lord is merciful, a God who forgives, He completed trusted in the grace of God rather than any leniency man might offer. God sent an Angel to destroy Jerusalem, but when he saw David's repentance and heard his intercessory prayer for his sheep that he shepherd as the King of Israel. God relented. What a mighty God we serve. Gad had the Prophetic gift as a seer who saw the revelations from God and understood the importance of obeying God by carrying out God's message of destruction to King David. We can't get caught up in pride, we must stay humble. the higher God elevate us the lower we must decrease. That God may get all the Glory, remembering we are only His vessel. We are doing nothing on our own. But by His Anointed Power, Strength, Might, Wisdom, Knowledge, Gifts and understanding. Everything we have comes from God. we can do nothing without him. Lord thank you for your love and kindness and tender mercy toward us.Thank you for being a forgiving God when we fall short and allow the enemy to cause us to stray from Your Word, Your will and Your Way. Help us to not get caught up in pride but to always let the world see You through us,in everything we say and do. In the name of Jesus. Amen "and it is so"
We serve a merciful God,a mighty God, he said seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened......
I agree wholeheartedly with Sis Shaloria here. Too many people are surely trying to give the perception that they are more or other than what they are. There is a serious spirit of competition between ministries, but also within ministries.
If everyone was only concerned with the things that God has called them too, none of that nonsense would exist.
I've seen situations where churches within the same organization, stole members from other churches to sit in offices at their church. Its madness. I thought the entire point was to uplift God so that He many draw all men to Him. Not about how many tricks and tactics we can use to get numbers on the roles of the local church body.
I don't know... many ministries have lost their way because they took the focus off of God and the redemption thru Christ.. and have become self focused, church building focused and competition focused.
Pastor, Teyshana Wiley... said:
This is yet another reason why I respect David so much. In every instance where He feel short, he owned up to his mistakes and sought God.
And I definitely agree that is much better to fall into the hands of the Lord, rather than people. God is just, but He is also quite merciful.
I love both of your comments to this post. Why do you think that men and women of God have lost their way in ministry? Why they don't have a repentant heart like David?
This is when you ask God to do something in his name it shall be granted. He says to just ask him out of your mouth and be sincere in your heart he will do it.
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