I didn’t have the context down. Falling behind in reading. I picked back up to today’s passages. I read in 1 Chronicles 21, David did something he shouldn’t have, something about head counts. And there were consequences, because don’t all actions carry some sort of consequence? God tells Gad to give David his pick of punishment and I wince. But it’s David’s response …
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 the hands of men.”1 Chronicles 21:13 (NIV)
His response is like a punch.
For David, the hands of men meant months of being swept away, their swords overtaking him. Perhaps to the point of death. I read this at a table with coffee mug in hand, and I get something with his words. I think to myself, “not into the hands of men.”
Not to grudges. Not to revenge. Not to unforgiveness. Not to spite. Not to cruelty. Not to torment. Not to hatred.
1 Chronicles 21 opens with Satan inciting, and he does it still today. He does it in communities, in homes, at holidays. He incites God lovers to sin, and men to grudges, cruelty, hatred.
Father, how You love so deeply and show mercy. Your hands, Your hands, let me fall into them. I’m sad at the reflection of this condition of man’s soul, grieved at the lack of mercy. Lord, when Your Spirit lives in me–let Your mercy show. Help me to replace grudge with mercy, spite with kindness, hatred with love.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 