The Big Picture

When David saw the angel striking the people, he said to The Lord, "look, I am the one who sinned; I am the one who has done wrong. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let your hand be against me and my father's house. 2 Samuel 24:17

David has sinned against The Lord by counting all his soldiers and he knew it. He prayed that his guilt might be removed and the prophet said to him, come back in the morning and I will tell you what The Lord says.

The Lord gave David three choices: 3 years of famine; to flee from your foes for three months; or have a plague in your land for three days. David did not know what to choose and left it up to The Lord. He did not want to fall into the hands of men but either the 3 years of famine or the plague was what he gave God the option of choosing.

David did in fact make a decision. One was a direct punishment for him and two would involve his people. When he saw the actual devastation of his choice  he was smitten as only a good shepherd would be, he saw his sheep suffer for his sin.

David then went to the threshing floor of Araunah and offered to buy the place for that is where the angel of The Lord had stopped his destruction. Although Araunah offered his property at no cost David insisted on paying as he knew it must cost him something for all the trouble he had caused. There he built an altar and sacrificed to The Lord.

This same place was where Abraham offered up Isaac as an offering to The Lord and where his son Solomon would build the temple.

Everything is important with The Lord and His ways are not readily understood until some time later, but we have to trust Him for the big picture. We must walk humbly with our God and allow Him the honour of being God and Him alone. Amen!

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