2 Samuel

2 Samuel 24: The LORD relents and is merciful

Begin in prayer

Before we read about David’s count and the altar on the threshing floor, let us come before the LORD together. Ask Him to show us His mercy, and to help us bring our sin to Him.

Great are your tender mercies, Yahweh. Revive me according to your ordinances.

Psalm 119:156

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are merciful, and show us Jesus, who offered one sacrifice for sins forever. Help us to bring our sin to You and not to trust our own strength. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David orders Joab to count the fighting men from Dan to Beersheba, and Joab warns him against it. The count takes nine months and twenty days. David’s heart troubles him, and he confesses that he has sinned greatly. The prophet Gad offers him three punishments, and David chooses to fall into the LORD’s hand, because His mercies are great. The plague kills seventy thousand people, until the angel is stopped at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David buys the threshing floor, builds an altar, and offers sacrifices, and the plague is removed.

As you read 2 Samuel 24, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD is merciful, and He relented before David built the altar.

The chapter begins with the LORD’s anger burning against Israel, and David is moved to count the fighting men (verse 1). Joab warns against it, but the king’s word prevails (verses 3 and 4). The count takes nine months and twenty days (verse 8). Afterward David’s heart strikes him, and he says he has sinned greatly (verse 10). Gad gives three choices, and David chooses the LORD’s hand, because His mercies are great (verses 13 and 14). The plague kills seventy thousand people, but when the angel reaches Jerusalem, the LORD relents (verses 15 and 16). Only then does David buy Araunah’s threshing floor and offer sacrifices, and the plague is removed (verses 18 to 25). So the LORD’s mercy came before the altar. Every sacrifice pointed ahead to a greater one, and Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10 verses 1 and 12).

How does 2 Samuel 24 show us that the LORD is merciful, and that He relented before David built the altar?

David counts the people when he should trust the LORD.

Joab warns him against the count, but the king’s word prevails (verses 3 and 4). The count takes nine months and twenty days (verse 8). The text says the LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and He moved David to count the people (verse 1).

David confesses his sin and chooses the LORD’s hand.

David says, “I have sinned greatly” (verse 10). Gad offers three punishments, and David chooses the LORD’s hand, because His mercies are great (verses 13 and 14). He would rather fall into the LORD’s hand than into the hand of men (verse 14).

The LORD relents before the altar, and Christ is the greater sacrifice.

The LORD relents at Jerusalem and says, “It is enough” (verse 16). Christ is the greater sacrifice, for He offered one sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10 verse 12). David buys the threshing floor, builds an altar and offers sacrifices (verses 24 and 25). The plague is removed from Israel (verse 25).

Memorise

Let us fall now into Yahweh’s hand; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.

2 Samuel 24:14

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where do I place my trust, and do I come for mercy?

David counted the fighting men, and the LORD sent a plague on the people. David confessed his sin and begged for mercy, and the LORD relented at Jerusalem. Then David built an altar and offered sacrifices. Every sacrifice pointed ahead to a greater one, and that one is Jesus (Hebrews 10 verses 1 and 12).

Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever. On the cross He gave His life for His people, once for all, and that sacrifice cost Him everything. After His burial, Jesus rose alive, and then He sat down at the right hand of God.

So come to Him, the Sacrifice given once for all. Turn from your sin and trust Jesus. Everyone who trusts Him will receive mercy, because the LORD is merciful, and forgiveness is theirs.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD is merciful, and that David chose His mercy over the hand of men. Parents, please explain in your own words the plague in verse 15 and David’s counting in verses 1 to 4. 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 He is gracious and merciful, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh preserves the simple. I was brought low, and he saved me.

Psalm 116:6

Lord God, thank You that You are gracious and merciful, and that Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins forever. Call each person here to turn from sin and believe in Jesus. Help us to trust Your mercy this week, and bring our heart question to You. Amen.