10 But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 11 And when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 13 So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”
Comment: Yesterday’s passage began ‘Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”‘ This passage begins with David being convicted that he had done wrong! Who is the ‘he’ in the sentence above? James tells us that God never tempts people to commit evil. Does the ‘he’ refer to the Devil, or maybe some councillor or maybe basically David gave way to pride at his own achievements? Certainly David blamed himself for his stupid action!
Given three choices by God as to how he might overcome his mistake, David says that he would rather trust himself and his people to God’s punishment than to let some man decide on the ‘cure’.
Prayer: Help me to choose wisely as I walk into the future, I humbly ask You, my God.
As I read it! 