I Chronicles 21:14 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
This chapter begins with Satan tempting David to "number" Israel. It was a successful appeal to pride, and it brought great disaster, with the Lord sending punishment on Israel for it. David took responsibility for his actions, placing himself into the hands of God. We are told above that just before attacking the capital city, the Lord saw, but it does not say what He saw which made Him back off from His plan. What He saw was the humility of the people and the repentance of David. These proper responses to God's hand of judgment led on more than one occasion to His withdrawing His hand. Confession, repentance, and humility are always a proper response when we understand God has seen our evil deeds and we deserve proper punishment. What do you know God has seen in you? How have you responded to Him?
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