"Do Not Let Me Fall Into Human Hands"
David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands."
So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. I Chronicles 21:13-15
So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. I Chronicles 21:13-15
As far as was humanly possible, David knew God at a depth very few people have been privileged to know. The depth of his knowledge caused him to become a man after God's own heart. But David also knew humans very well. He knew how King Saul sought for years to kill him. He knew his own son, Absalom, turned the hearts of the people against him, usurped his throne and forced him to walk into exile. He knew how some of his own trusted officials sided with Absalom against him. David knew the difference between the compassion of God and the wickedness of humans.
David knew God but he also knew humans. He would rather fall into the hands of God than that of humans. His words are rather painful to reflect over: "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands." God is compassionate beyond understanding, indeed the Bible tells us that "it is because of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed. His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness." God's love is so astonishing that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for us while we were still actively sinning against Him! David knew the compassion of God. He knew how God spared his life after he had committed adultery -- a sin that called for the death penalty. He would rather fall into the hands of God than that of humans.
Scripture tell us in Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT) that, "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" David did not want God to give humans the power and authority to determine his fate. When humans are given the power, the resources, or expertise to make a difference, their actions can be rather unpredictable. Unless that individual truly fears God, that power can be abused to the detriment of all. Very few people have the humility to exercise power in a way that is truly beneficial to humanity or the organization they serve. Power can make us proud, arrogant and even downright disrespectful of our fellow humans. It happens in nations, on the job, in families and even in the Church. Just listen to the news! I call that "The Human Factor." Always remember the human factor.
So, how do you handle the privilege of the power and authority God has given you in your country, your family or God's Church? Would people gladly say: "let this person (you) be the one to deal with them because they truly see godly characteristics in you? Reflect over that.
David knew God but he also knew humans. He would rather fall into the hands of God than that of humans. His words are rather painful to reflect over: "I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands." God is compassionate beyond understanding, indeed the Bible tells us that "it is because of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed. His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness." God's love is so astonishing that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for us while we were still actively sinning against Him! David knew the compassion of God. He knew how God spared his life after he had committed adultery -- a sin that called for the death penalty. He would rather fall into the hands of God than that of humans.
Scripture tell us in Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT) that, "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" David did not want God to give humans the power and authority to determine his fate. When humans are given the power, the resources, or expertise to make a difference, their actions can be rather unpredictable. Unless that individual truly fears God, that power can be abused to the detriment of all. Very few people have the humility to exercise power in a way that is truly beneficial to humanity or the organization they serve. Power can make us proud, arrogant and even downright disrespectful of our fellow humans. It happens in nations, on the job, in families and even in the Church. Just listen to the news! I call that "The Human Factor." Always remember the human factor.
So, how do you handle the privilege of the power and authority God has given you in your country, your family or God's Church? Would people gladly say: "let this person (you) be the one to deal with them because they truly see godly characteristics in you? Reflect over that.
Prayer: Lord, I ask that you give me the humility to serve out of kindness and compassion and not the potential wickedness of my human heart. Amen