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Day 363 – Compassion 1 Chronicles 21:1 Now Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. 2 David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.” 3 Joab answered, “May JEHOVAH make His people a hundred times more than they are. However, my lord the king, are they not my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” 4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout Israel and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. 6 However, he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab. 7 Elohiym was displeased with this thing; therefore, He struck Israel. 8 Then David said to Elohiym, “I have sinned greatly, because I did this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done foolishly.” 9 JEHOVAH spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10 “Go and tell David, saying, ‘Thus says JEHOVAH: “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.”’” 11 Then Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says JEHOVAH: ‘Choose for yourself, 12 either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of JEHOVAH—the plague in the land, with the angel of JEHOVAH destroying throughout the territory of Israel.’ Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.” 13 David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of JEHOVAH, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” 14 Thus, JEHOVAH sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. 15 Elohiym sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he destroyed, JEHOVAH looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” The angel of JEHOVAH stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of JEHOVAH standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces. 17 David said to Elohiym, “Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who sinned and did evil; indeed, but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O JEHOVAH my Elohiym, be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.” 18 Therefore, the angel of JEHOVAH commanded Gad to say to David that David should go and erect an altar to JEHOVAH on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 Thus, David went up at the word of Gad, which he spoke in the name of JEHOVAH. 20 Now Ornan turned and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves, but Ornan continued threshing wheat. 21 Then David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David. He went out from the threshing floor and bowed before David with his face to the ground. 22 Then David said to Ornan, “Grant me the place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar on it to JEHOVAH. You will grant it to me at the full price, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.” 23 Ornan said to David, “Take it to yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. Look, I also give you the oxen for burnt offerings, the threshing implements for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; I give everything.” 24 Then King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for JEHOVAH, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.” 25 Then David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place. 26 David built there an altar to JEHOVAH, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on JEHOVAH; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then JEHOVAH commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath. 28 At that time, when David saw that JEHOVAH had answered him on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of JEHOVAH and the altar of the burnt offering, which Moses had made in the wilderness, were at that time at the high place in Gibeon. 30 However, David could not go before it to inquire of Elohiym, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of JEHOVAH. God’s names: JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal Elohiym – Supreme God Yeshuwa – Jesus God’s character: Judge Executioner Compassionate Did you do something and immediately regretted it? The outcome you expected didn’t happen. Instead, the outcome hurt everyone involved. Satan urged David to count the people. Despite Joab’s counsel against his decision, Joab went throughout Israel to count the people and brought the total back to David without the numbers for Levi and Benjamin. When David heard the total, he regretted his action. Gad, his seer, gave him three options from JEHOVAH. David chose the option that would come against Israel alone and not involve their enemies coming against him. He knew JEHOVAH’S mercy and hoped Elohiym would relent, which He did when the destroying angel came to Jerusalem. David wasn’t the only one to see the angel about to destroy Jerusalem, Ornan and his sons also saw the angel poised to strike Jerusalem. David confessed his sin to Elohiym and He told him what he needed to do to cause the plague to cease. David bought the threshing floor from Ornan, who protested about the cost. However, David told him he wouldn’t sacrifice to JEHOVAH with something that cost him nothing. As soon as David placed the sacrifice on the altar, JEHOVAH answered with fire on the sacrifice. Then JEHOVAH commanded the angel to sheath his sword. People are ready to blame others for their actions. In this case, Satan caused David to sin. When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, Satan caused many of your actions because you are at war with him. He wants to see your destruction. However, when you rely on Yeshuwa’s mercy, and confess your actions, He will bring about a different outcome from what Satan intended against you. Satan wanted to see the destruction of Israel. JEHOVAH had just promised David that his seed would sit on the throne forever. That meant the Messiah would come from David’s lineage. Satan didn’t want to see that happen. In destroying Israel, he would destroy the line through which Yeshuwa would come. David knew JEHOVAH’S mercy and depended on it to save his people. You can depend on Yeshuwa to save you too from your actions which bring about a different conclusion from what you intended. Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind; therefore, I have hope. 22 Through JEHOVAH’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 24 “JEHOVAH is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore, I hope in Him!” 25 JEHOVAH is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of JEHOVAH. What do you need to confess to see Yeshuwa’s compassion and forgiveness in your life? Make your confession today, this minute, and watch Yeshuwa change the outcome with His forgiveness. Let’s pray: Father, I am a sinner. My actions get me in trouble every day. Forgive me and cleanse me from my actions against You. Turn my trouble into something good for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 15 January 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.