Mercy

2 Samuel 24:13-14 – So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.” David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”

Exodus 30:12 – “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

Psalm 4:1 – Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

Psalm 130:4 – But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Jeremiah 33:8 – I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

Application:

• ·         Perhaps a census was taken on various occasions to enter the Israelites into an official roll for public duties in the Lord’s service, primarily military.
• ·         David, who knew both God and war, knew that even in his anger God is more merciful than humans let loose in the rampages of war.
• ·         The faithfulness of God is in full accordance with His commitments to His people and with His status as the divine King—to whom the powerless may look for protection, the oppressed for redress and the needy for help.
• ·         If God were not forgiving, people could only flee from Him in terror.
• ·         “Forgive all their sins” is the basis of the institution of the new covenant

All Scripture verses taken from NIV