“And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it ... . Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew the sword; and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew the sword” (1 Chron. 21:1-5).
Earlier the Lord had said, “I appoint unto you a kingdom ... ” God’s purpose is one thing, and His government is another. Just as sure as God has purposed, He will fulfill it, cost what it may. His government goes on until it is completed. Now God must deal with David.
“And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He smote Israel. And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech Thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.”
Three Choices
“And the Lord spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying, Go and tell David, saying, thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Choose thee either three year’s famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the Lord” (1 Chron. 21:7-12).
“And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me now fall into the hand of the Lord; for very great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man” (vs. 13). It is a wonderful thing to be able to sit in the presence of the Lord and learn something of the heart of Christ Jesus, who will never let one tear fall unnecessarily. Are we willing to place ourselves in the hands of the Lord, under His government?
Why did David take the sword of the Lord? He said, “Oh, I do not want to be in the hands of man.” Also, “I know the Lord is merciful.” He knew the heart of Christ, as he expressed it in the third Psalm.
“So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord ... . said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand ... . And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded ... . let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on Thy people, that they should be plagued” (vss. 14-17).
The Government of God
David was under the government of God. Remember that even though we bring it upon ourselves, in every experience, through grace, we are richer, if faith is in evidence. So we have something richer here—something deeper. David and the elders of Israel had clothed themselves in sackcloth, which indicates not only mourning, but owning the hand of God. David owned God’s hand upon him, as all were clothed in sackcloth and fell upon their faces. God is not satisfied with dealing with evil, but He is satisfied and happy with restoration.
The beginning of blessing is found in the words, “Is it not I?” (vs. 17). It is beautiful when those who take the lead own it, showing the spirit of Christ. I am sure that David is a type of Christ, although in this case he is the offender instead. Even though the trouble was because of the state of Israel, all of God’s people, David takes the whole blame in grace, marvelous grace. What a challenge for the heart when there is trouble, if we can manifest the spirit of Christ!
The Altar and Offerings
“Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite” (vs. 18).
There must be confession of sin and failure; everything in the past had to be judged. Now David is going through the prescribed order —the altar, at Ornan’s threshingfloor.
“And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord; and He answered him by fire upon the altar of burnt offering” (vs. 26).
Ornan had suggested that David offer a burnt offering and a meat offering. But instead he offers a burnt offering and a peace offering. It is precious how much light the Spirit of God gives when He begins to restore the soul. Was David afraid of the Lord? He certainly was, but he benefits by this experience, and begins to rise in his soul back to his original place. The peace offering is precious. Now he has come to the place of liberty, alongside the burnt offering.
The burnt offering speaks of the excellencies of Christ, known to the Father. The peace offering brings us into the blessings and enjoyment of it. Peace and rest of heart give us liberty, and that is the end of the path of restoration — liberty and peace.
Blessing was restored! In the next chapter David began to prepare for the building of the house of the Lord where the altar had been set up, on the threshingfloor as God had commanded, and where He had sent the blessing.
Adapted from C. E. Lunden