David's Pattern to Get RIGHT with GOD

“9 But the king (David) insisted that they take the census, so Joab and the commanders of the army went out to count the people of Israel…. 10 But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing.” 11 The next morning the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: 12 “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” 13 So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the LORD who sent me.” 14 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” 15 So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south… 17 When David saw the angel, he said to the LORD, “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.” 18 That day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up to do what the LORD had commanded him… 25 David built an altar there to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.” 2 Samuel 24 (NLT)

David’s Pattern to Get Right with God

1. David insisted they needed to take a census, and so they did!

2. After his conscience began to bother him, he realized what he had done wasn’t right.

3. He immediately confessed!

4. David gets a message from God thru one of HIS servants, letting him know that though God had heard him confess the sin, a punishment should be applied.

5. At this point, David is troubled!

6. But David recognizes that falling in the Lord’s hands would produce a more merciful and compassionate punishment that if he would have fallen in human hands.

7. And as the Lord carries on HIS word (the punishment), people starts to die and David calls for mercy.

8. God’s servant comes back to David, and encourage him to go and build an altar to bring a worship sacrifice.

9. David goes buys the land, and worships.

10. The Lord accepts this love offering, answers the prayer, and stops the plague.

So even though you might have sinned more or less than whatever David did, because we all do, the pattern is the same. God wants NOT to destroy us; HE IS to RESTORE us! That’s why HE allows our conscience like it happened to David, to bother us, to call our attention, to realize we need to get back to HIM because we were not made to be separated or in another page different that the one our Creator is in, but in the same!

 

So, once we realize we have sinned, it’s time to confess! And be NOT surprised because consequences will come BUT if we confess you can be sure that they will be less severe than if we choose to stay in sin.

Thereafter, worship THE LORD!!! Sing or talk to HIM about your love for HIM, about HIS wonderful mercies, about how terrible you felt before and how your hope is in HIM. As you do, do be NOT surprise, because even while you are in worship, THE LORD will come and work things for you, and as you open your eyes, things will look, smell and even sound different. And it was all even before your eyes without you even realize it!!! Because better is one day in HIS court, in HIS house, in HIS presence than thousand elsewhere! Try for yourself, and share with me what GOD had done for you.