Mercy

 2 Samuel 24:14 ESV

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.”


David had messed up. He'd called a census to number his fighting men. Whereas Numbers catalogues God's grace to His people in censuses, David called a census trusting in his fighting men.


God gave David a choice of punishment. David demonstrated his trust in God and His character. He knew God to be infinitely more merciful than the kind of enemies he could have faced.


Instead of facing military opponents, David faced a plague in his land. Thankfully, God stayed His hand of judgment and proved David right. God is merciful.


When we're in distress, when we're at our wits' end, God forbid that we would look to human solutions. May we entrust ourselves to God. He is merciful and that's what we need.


'Merciful God, have mercy upon us for trusting in ourselves rather than You. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen'

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