1 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 21: Great mercy at the threshing floor

Begin in prayer

Before we read about David's census and the altar on the threshing floor, let us ask the LORD for mercy together. Ask Him to show us that His mercies are great, and to lead us to Jesus, the sacrifice for sin.

But most certainly, God has listened. He has heard the voice of my prayer.

Psalm 66:19

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Your mercies are great, and show us Jesus, who offered the sacrifice for sin. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Satan moved David to count Israel, and Joab warned that it would bring guilt on Israel (verses 1 to 3). The king's word prevailed, and God was displeased with the census and struck Israel (verses 4 to 7). David chose the LORD's hand, because His mercies are great, and seventy thousand men fell (verses 13 and 14). When the angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said, “It is enough” (verse 15). David bought Ornan's threshing floor, built an altar and called on the LORD, who answered him with fire (verses 24 to 26). Then the LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath (verse 27).

As you read 1 Chronicles 21, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD's mercies are great, and He answered David at the altar.

Satan moved David to count Israel, and God was displeased with the census and struck Israel (verses 1 and 7). David confessed his sin and chose the LORD's hand, “for his mercies are very great” (verses 8 and 13). A plague fell, and seventy thousand men of Israel died (verse 14). When the angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD saw and relented, and said, “It is enough” (verse 15). God told David to raise an altar at Ornan's threshing floor, and David paid the full price (verses 18 to 24). The LORD answered him by fire from the sky, and the angel put his sword back (verses 26 and 27). This teaches that God's mercies are great, and that He meets a sinner at the altar and answers. It shows God as just in judgment and generous in mercy, for He relented and answered by fire. Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10 verse 12).

How does 1 Chronicles 21 show us that the LORD's mercies are great, and that He answered David with fire at the altar?

Satan moved David to count Israel, and God struck Israel.

Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to take a census (verse 1). Joab warned David, but the king's word prevailed (verses 3 and 4). God was displeased with this thing, and He struck Israel (verse 7).

David confessed his sin, and the LORD relented.

David said he had sinned greatly and asked God to put away his guilt (verse 8). He chose to fall into the LORD's hand, because His mercies are great (verse 13). When the angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said, “It is enough” (verse 15). David asked that the LORD's hand be against him, and not against the people (verse 17).

The LORD answered David at the altar, and Jesus offered the sacrifice for sins.

David paid the full price, because he would not offer a burnt offering that cost him nothing (verse 24). He built an altar and called on the LORD, and the LORD answered him from the sky by fire (verse 26). Then the angel put his sword back (verse 27). Solomon later built the temple at this place (2 Chronicles 3 verse 1). Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10 verse 12).

Memorise

Let me fall, I pray, into Yahweh’s hand; for his mercies are very great. Don’t let me fall into man’s hand.”

1 Chronicles 21:13

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, do I run to the LORD for mercy, and trust Jesus, the sacrifice for sin?

David said, “Let me fall, I pray, into Yahweh’s hand; for his mercies are very great.” He built an altar on Ornan's threshing floor, and the LORD answered him from the sky by fire. The law's sacrifices were a shadow of what was to come (Hebrews 10 verse 1). Jesus offered Himself once for sins (Hebrews 10 verse 12).

Our sin deserves the punishment of a holy God, and we have no sacrifice to pay for it. Jesus offered Himself. On the cross He bore the punishment for His people's sin, and nothing is missing from His payment. He rose on the third day, and He is alive.

Run to the Lord for mercy, as David did. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus, the Sacrifice for sin. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven, and finds the mercy David asked for.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD's mercies are great, and that Jesus is the sacrifice that answers for sin. Parents, please explain verses 1 to 17 in your own words, because they speak of Satan, the plague and the angel. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that His mercies are great, and that Jesus is the sacrifice for sin, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says Yahweh your Redeemer.

Isaiah 54:8

Lord God, thank You that Your mercies are great, and that Jesus offered the one sacrifice for sin. Turn each of us from sin, and let us trust Him for forgiveness. Help us to remember Your mercy this week. Amen.