More Than Usual

And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” 2 Samuel 24:14

It is not a misprint from the Word, Gad was the prophet of God at that time in Israel. David the king was in great distress due to a sin on his conscience and the choice he had to make as a consequence. The story in 2 Samuel 24 is a marvel and something to study for us. That infamous census had numbered the Israelites against God's will, and as David asked forgiveness the prophet Gad came to him with a horrible choice. Now none of the choices say specifically that anyone will die, but a sentence in numbers was given and David had to choose. Hence the great distress until David tells Gad that he will take the three days of plague on the land. Three days may not seem like much. David may have thought that too. 70,000 men of Israel died in those three days until the Lord relented from His punishment. 

Was David's distress more than usual in making this choice? If so it certainly was ratcheted up a bit after the choice was made! After those three days of plague, David repented of his choice and asked that the penalty fall on himself and his father's house. And that, dear friends, is the choice of the man after God's own heart. You will see the similarity in what Jesus chose in giving Himself instead of letting the penalty fall upon all of us for our sin. 

Thank You, dear Lord God, for your mercy on us by the grace of Jesus Your Son. 

Bucky