April 19, 2025 - 1 Chronicles 21

“Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.  So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, ‘Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.”. . . But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, ‘I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly'” (21:1–8).  There is some debate as to precisely why this numbering was so displeasing to God.  Without entering that debate, I want to point out something very important.  When David realized God was displeased, he acknowledged what he had done and asked for forgiveness.  And, though David’s actions had terrible consequences, as sin always does – “So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell” (21:14) – he built an altar and offered burnt sacrifice on it to the Lord.  And the pestilence was halted.  We have a sacrifice!  “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10).  What joy is ours as we stand, right now, between Good Friday and Resurrection Morning!

Depth of mercy, can there be

Mercy still reserved for me?

Can my God His wrath forbear?

Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

“Whence to me this waste of love?”

Ask my Advocate above

See the cause in Jesus' face.

There, for me, the Savior stands

Shows His wounds, and spreads His hands

God is love, His grace so free

Depth of mercy, there for me.   --Charles Wesley (1740)