Lots going on this morning!  Let’s read 2 Samuel 24:1-9, 1 Chronicles 21:1-16, 2 Samuel 24:10-17, 1 Chronicles 21:7-17, 2 Samuel 24:18-25, 1 Chronicles 21:18-30, and 1 Chronicles 22.  Continuing on with David – let’s see what happens today.  Leave a comment and let’s have a dialog – what stands out to you today?

See how the MSG translates David’s prayer asking for forgiveness for taking the census:

“But when it was all done, David was overwhelmed with guilt because he had counted the people, replacing trust with statistics. And David prayed to God, ‘I have sinned badly in what I have just done. But now God forgive my guilt’ ” (2 Samuel 24:10 MSG)

Did you see the phrase: “replacing trust with statistics”? We do that too sometimes, don’t we?  Fine line between counting the cost and moving out of faith…. When God asks us to do anything for Him, we can be (we should be) confident that He will also make provision for us.

I also think about the threshing floor often, when David purchases it from Araunah, instead of receiving it as a gift:

“the king said to Araunah, ‘No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice.’ ” (2 Samuel 24:24 MSG)

A sacrifice must be a SACRIFICE.  And also: YAY – we are starting building preparations for God’s sanctuary (1 Chronicles 22)! I love this history!  I also love how David invests in his son as well as in the temple, creating a legacy for future generations to worship.  What are you doing to leave a legacy for the next generations?

Big day!