2 Samuel 24:10-14: a reflection

10David’s heart struck him after he had counted the people. David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in that which I have done. But now, the LORD, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.” 11When David rose up in the morning, the LORD’s word came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12“Go and speak to David, ‘The LORD says, “I offer you three things. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.”’” 13So Gad came to David, and told him, saying, “Shall seven 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 answer, and consider what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 14David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let us fall now into the LORD’s hand, for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.”

David has sinned in numbering the people, and now, convicted, he confesses and must face the consequence. God, through the prophet, offers him a choice of three judgments: famine, fleeing before his enemies, or plague. And David's response reveals his heart: I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercies are great; but let me not fall into the hand of man. Given a choice, David would rather be dealt with by God than by people, trusting God's great mercy even in judgment.

Notice David's reasoning: let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercies are great. Even facing God's judgment, David preferred to be in God's hands rather than in human hands, because he trusted God's mercy. He knew that even God's discipline is tempered by great mercy, whereas human hands can be merciless. So he chose to fall into the hand of the LORD, trusting that God, even in judging, would be merciful, more merciful than people would be.

That trust in God's mercy, even in judgment, is worth learning. We can dread God's dealings with us, especially his discipline, as though they were merciless; but David knew that God's mercies are great, that even his discipline is tempered by mercy, and he would rather be in God's hands than in human hands. When you must face God's discipline or dealing with you, do not dread it as merciless; God's mercies are great, and even in judging he is merciful, more so than people would be. Would you rather fall into the hand of God, or into the hand of man? David chose God, trusting his great mercy. Trust God's mercy, even in his discipline; his hand, even when it disciplines, is more merciful than human hands, for his mercies are great. Choose, as David chose, to fall into the hand of the LORD, trusting the great mercy that tempers even his judgment, rather than dreading his dealings as merciless.

Lord, David, convicted of his sin, was given a choice of three judgments, and his response revealed his heart: I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercies are great; but let me not fall into the hand of man. Show me his reasoning: even facing your judgment, he preferred to be in your hands rather than in human hands, because he trusted your great mercy. He knew that even your discipline is tempered by mercy, whereas human hands can be merciless. Help me learn that trust in your mercy, even in judgment. I can dread your dealings with me, especially your discipline, as though they were merciless; but David knew that your mercies are great, that even your discipline is tempered by mercy. When I must face your discipline or dealing with me, keep me from dreading it as merciless; your mercies are great, and even in judging you are merciful, more so than people would be. Help me choose, as David chose, to fall into your hand, trusting your great mercy, rather than dreading your dealings as merciless. Your hand, even when it disciplines, is more merciful than human hands, Lord, for your mercies are great; help me trust your mercy, even in your discipline.