There are no more fitting words for David’s predicament. With the afflictions, onslaughts, and imperfections that are in our lives, they are fitting for us today. David sinned in numbering the people but still had spiritual sense in his response to God.
II Samuel 24: 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. 14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. 15 So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
Think about it. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord. It’s a statement of resignation, almost a cliché. It’s what you’re supposed to say in troubled situations. However, God is not a last resort. Trust him first. David didn’t say “let’s wait and see what happens.” Right away he said they must fall into the hand of the Lord. It’s the best idea a person could ever have. God is extending his hand. Isaiah said the hand of God is stretched out and was long before we ever trusted him. Many times we wait, but we need to trust him now.
David was in a strait of his own doing. He had been in many frightening situations that were not his fault. He supported King Saul, but the king hunted him down to kill him. Even though he tried to honor Saul as king, David couldn’t help how Saul felt. Some situations we have no control over; others we have a little. Evil is present. This body is temporary. I’d rather be in God’s hand any day that to trust in man or my own ability. We must trust God to the point of falling. If you were on a roof and couldn’t get down and strong men holding tarps told you to jump to safety, would you jump? You would want to know they were strong, able-bodied men first. Well, there is none stronger than the Lord God.
David wanted to know the number of his army. Joab told him not to do it. He reminded him that God was their king; their strength was not in the number of their army. David ignored him. It took 9 months and 20 days to count. David had his number and in verse 10 his heart told him he had sinned. David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. Regardless of how well things are working in your life, you need to be forgiven of your sins; you need God to be your heavenly Father. If you’re not saved, your soul is lost without a Savior. May your heart smite you and show you how much you need to fall into the hands of a saving God.
As a Christian, the strait you’re in may be of your own making—fall into the hands of the Lord. If you’re discouraged and disheartened, that’s how the devil works to defeat you. Satan knows how close the coming of the Lord is. He works on us to get us to fall away and lose faith in God. The main sign of his coming is mass deception and falling away going on today.
You may be facing something and wondering why it’s happening, now of all times. You need your health; you need your securities; you need your wits about you. We all find ourselves in one strait or another. David was king of Israel but was in a bad situation. We all have a great need to be met. Don’t even think you don’t have needs. You do! Deliverance from sin. A touch in body. Mark it down. You need help, and God doesn’t forsake us. It’s not the hour for us to forsake him. It’s the hour to fall into his hands.
David was presented with three options of punishment: 7 years of famine, to be sought by his enemies for a specified time, or a time of pestilence in the land. None of these are what we would call good choices. We can’t tell God “I don’t want anything bad to happen to me today.” Our life doesn’t work that way; it’s not a fairy tale. That type of life doesn’t exist in this life, but if we’re in the hands of the Lord, life is bearable, sin is forgivable. There is a tomorrow. David had to choose between the three. His reply was wise. He didn’t come right out and choose the pestilence. Verse 14 is a prayer. I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. David had had enough of being chased by his enemies. He wanted to fall into the hands of God not man. He knew he deserved what was ahead, but he was willing to put himself at the mercies of God. We do have choices. We are going to fall one way or another. Which way will you fall? Will you be a casualty of man? A casualty of the devil? Or will you fall into the hands of God?
The hands of the strait you’re in may be great, but God’s hands are stronger and surer. You can count on him. You won’t be torn and bruised in his tender hands. They are dependable. They are eternal. Drop into them because they are ready to receive you.
When I was about 5 years old I climbed into an old pear tree and couldn’t get down. My older brothers and sisters did nothing to help me. I was crying and scared. Daddy came outside and held out his big, strong arms and told me to jump. I trusted him, let go, and he caught me. I was in an impossible situation, but daddy was the way to deliverance. If you find yourself in a strait today, the best thing you can do is fall into the hands of God. He can do all things. His mercy is great. His arms are just right.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 