Word Count: 295

Contact Ken Barnes

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

by Ken Barnes  
7/07/2016 / Christian Living

The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David's seer. This was the message: "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.'" (2 Samuel 24: 11-12 NLT).

David had sinned by ordering the census taken of Israel. Interestingly, David did not even receive the full extent of the shortest of the three punishments. When God finds a man willing to assume full responsibility for his transgressions, the Lord can be quick to extend mercy. God takes no delight in judgment.

David is told to choose between 7 years of famine, three months of war, or three days of plague. He chose the last option, the most severe but the shortest. The outbreak started in the morning. It was devastating as seventy thousand men of Israel died, but it appears to last only to the evening sacrifice of the first day (v. 16). Why? First, God is gracious and looking for a way to be merciful. Second, the Lord found a man who took full blame for his offense. In verse 17 David asks the Lord to chasten him and not his people. God looked down and saw a man with a repentant heart and relented of the full extent of his chastisement. The purpose of discipline is to bring a change of heart. When that has transpired, there is no further need for the pain of punishment.

Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. When we embrace God's righteousness, accepting the consequences of our sin, the Lord can be swift to extend his mercy to us. Mercy always triumphs over judgment.

I worked for seventeen years as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. My missionary work has taken me to Mexico, Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Spain, and Ukraine. I hold a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. [email protected]

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Ken Barnes

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer