Stopping A Plague

Day 95

Reading: 2 Sam. 23:1- 2 Sam. 24:25

Trouble is never far from our lives. Daily our lives seem to move from handling one issue to another. Every day we seem to have something that is a bother and needs divine intervention. I like saying to those without challenges please enjoy the mountaintop because you will soon be in the valley as you scale another mountaintop or to climb higher you need to push harder and that is not an easy task. Over the last few days, we have been introduced to a giant of faith namely David. David had his fair share of troubles. We have had the opportunity to look at his life from a young age when we saw him get anointed to when he becomes king. Throughout this time we have seen David display his strengths and weaknesses. The purpose is to teach us the ways of God. I don't want to be the believer who hears of God's acts, I want to understand His ways that my life may be a fragrance of the acts of God. 

As we draw a close to the life of David we are given some of his last words. Very deep prophetic words. How I pray that all men and women will desire to see this manner of manifestation that a man could say that the Spirit of God spoke through him, God's word was on his tongue. Lord, may I speak by Your Spirit and may Your Words be on my tongue is my constant prayer! David was dedicated to God that God could speak through him. David declared to the people that God desired that any leader must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 

David after his prophetic pronouncement decides to take a census and doesn't take it in accordance with the law of God. Moses instructed that when a census was taken every man paid a ransom so that a plague didn't break out Exodus 30:12.  We aren't told why God was angry with David and moved David to take the census thus opening the door for the plague. However, this teaches us a principle. When we miss out on pleasing God we lose our protection and open ourselves to plagues. God doesn't allow plagues because He is evil. When God is obeyed and His ways kept, then one enjoys God's blessings. Outside the will of God and one will meet plagues. 

David was convicted in his heart when he numbered the people. He was full of remorse and when the prophet Gad appeared before him with God's judgement, David being a humble man knew that there was a fourth option, namely to fall in the hands of God. He didn't choose his own punishment instead he cried to God for mercy choosing to fall into the hands of God and not a man. Men will lift you and bring you down mercilessly. I would rather fall into the hands of God because God is merciful, for even if He scatters He will bring back and heal. David knew that even if God judged him, mercy would kick in somewhere. 

As the plague struck, David seeing the angel who was striking the people cried to God in prayer asking God for mercy. David's cry was not for himself but for the people. He asked God to impute the wrong on him and not the population. This shows a heart for the people and one of humility. As the angel is about to strike Jerusalem, God stops the angel of death. Gad is sent to David with instructions to build an altar at the place where the plague is stopped.

David proceeds to the threshing floor of Araunah. Bible historians tell us that this was on Mount Moriah. Mount Moriah is where Isaac was offered as an offering to God by Abraham. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son to please God with a very costly offering, the life of his son, the son of promise. Here David arrives to make a sacrifice to God to stop the plague. David is offered the threshing floor for free which he refuses. It was unlawful to give a sacrifice that didn't cost anything. David purchases the threshing floor and makes the altar before offering a burnt sacrifice to God. Only then did God heed the prayers of the land. Learn to build an altar to avert the plagues of life. Learn to do this with a sacrifice that is costly to you.  Stop attempting to bribe God by giving what does not cost you. No one bribes anyone with a costly amount of money. However, to stop the plagues of life give to God sacrificially.

Memory Verse: 2 Sam. 24:24

Decree:

Personalise this scripture

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue." 2 Sam. 23:2(italics mine)