David's Intercessory prayer for israel to save them from plague

At the end of 2 Samuel, chapter 24, King David sins against the Lord by counting the fighting men.  He didn't put his trust in God but instead in the strength of the people.  The Lord sent the prophet Gad to David to give him three options for punishment.  Three years of famine, three months of running from your enemies, or three days of plague.  David replied he was in deep distress.  "Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but do not let us fall into human hands."  

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The Lord sent a plague on Israel for the next 3 days.  70,000 people died.  But when the angel who was afflicting the people came to Jerusalem, the Lord said, "Enough! Withdraw your hand."  David saw the angel and STOOD IN THE GAP and said to the Lord, "I have sinned; I the shepherd, have have done wrong.  These are but sheep.  What have they done?  Let your hand fall on me and my family."

 

The bible says that on that day Gad went up to David and told him to build an altar on the threshing room floor of Araunah the Jebusite where the angel had withdrawn his hand.  David went to the site to comply and was asked why he had come.  He told the Jebusite that it was to buy the threshing floor to build an altar.  The Jebusite offered to give it to David and give oxen for the sacrifice.  

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2 Samuel 24:24 reports what David said, "But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it.  I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."  So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.  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."

 

Things to note. 

+ The leaders can bring plague upon the people, and sometimes the people bring it upon themselves. 

+ The Lord is both just and merciful.  He cannot leave sin unpunished, but He also is rich in mercy.

+ Sacrifice or humbling of ourselves that cost us nothing seems to have no value.  Could our culture's story of salvation in order to win blessings and cheap grace be contrary to scripture?  If we come to the Lord to gain a selfish benefit, it might not be for the right reasons.  

+ The Lord hears the intercessory prayers of those who seek Him and will stop the plague.  

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Will you Stand in the Gap with other believers and pray on behalf of our land.  The Lord has promised to hear or prayers from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land.  Rather than a Covid Pandemic, lets turn this to a Prayer Pandemic that brings people out to intercede for our communities.

 

Click on the Sign Up button to join with us and get more information on what we are doing. 

We do not ask for money, but ask that you sacrificially serve your neighbors through this time.

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