0828. David

David

"And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man" (1Ch_21:13).

1. David's pride. David was a man after the heart of God and yet he sinned in pride. "Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel." Mark you that it was satan who did this. He who himself had fallen through or because of pride knew if he could get David to lean upon Israel's strength, and to glory in Israel's might, that God would cast David down.

God plainly commanded Israel not to trust in horses or in chariots or in the arm of flesh.

Joab, the captain general of Israel, besought David thus, "Why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?"

Nevertheless the king's word prevailed, and Joab departed to number Israel.

The numbering of Israel was a step away from perfect trust in God. It was a matter of pride and of human glory.

How plaintive is the Scripture: "Oh that My people had hearkened unto Me, * * I should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat."

2. David's humiliation. After Joab returned and the numbers of Israel were fully compiled, God expressed His displeasure with the thing; and He smote Israel. David, therefore, humbled himself and cried, "I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing."

The story of the Lord's message to David, through the prophet Gad, is found in 1Ch_21:13. David was allowed to choose three years of famine; three months of destruction before his foes; or three days of the sword of the Lord, even of pestilence in the land.

David cast himself down before God, and chose to fall into the hand of the Lord. Later, David saw the Angel of the Lord stand between the heaven and the earth with a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel were clothed in sackcloth fell upon their faces.

3. David's exaltation. When God saw the humiliation of David, the Lord commanded him to set up an altar unto the Lord. David followed the Lord fully, and as his offerings ascended, the Lord answered him from Heaven. The Lord commanded the Angel to put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. Then did the Lord greatly honor David and greatly honor his son Solomon. The description of the first step of the building of the Temple is recorded in the succeeding chapter.

Once more we see that it is true:

He that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR