Prophet Gad

1 Samuel 22:1-5 – David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. But the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

2 Samuel 24:12,14,17,25 – “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’”… 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.”… When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.”… David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

Application:

• ·         The three alternative judgments that Gad offered to David after his sin of numbering the Israelites were all included in the curses that Moses said would come on God’s people when they failed to adhere to their covenant obligations.
• ·         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.
• ·         Although the people of Israel were not without guilt, David assumes full blame for his own act and acknowledges his responsibility as king for the well-being of the Lord’s people.
• ·         Reconciliation and restoration of covenant fellowship were obtained by the king’s repentance, intercessory prayer and the offering of sacrifices.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV