2 Samuel 24:10-16 NLT

10 But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.” 

11 The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: 

12 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” 

13 So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.” 

14 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”

15 So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.

16 But as the angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Read/Meditate the Scripture: 2 Samuel 24:10-16 NLT

• King David, a man after God’s own heart, was troubled by his own heart (conscience).  This seemingly innocuous action of taking the census actually reflected David’s desire to trust his own military power rather than to trust God’s protection and guidance. Putting self or others above God is sin. “David’s conscience began to bother him.” Is there anything in your life causing your conscience to be bothered?

• Reflect on your own reactions when you hear the three options God gave David as punishment. Then, reflect on your reactions when you hear God say to the angel of death, “Stop! That is enough!” Compare and contrast your two sets of reactions.

Pray

• Try to fully grasp in your mind and heart how much God loves you. He did not destroy you even though your sinfulness deserves His just wrath.  Instead, He sent Jesus into the world so that everyone who believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Thank God for His mercy and grace toward you.

• Ask God to forgive your guilt for doing foolish/sinful things, such as putting yourself and others (people or things) above God. He said in Exodus 20 “I am the LORD (Yahweh) your God … You must not have any other god but me.”

• Pray that ACC remembers God’s requirements “to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).  Ask Yahweh – our Father in Heaven – to give us mercy and grace to rely on Him and trust Him in making daily choices and decisions.