1 Chronicles 21:13

ALTERNATIVES OF PUNISHMENT OFFERED AND BALANCED

‘And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.’

1 Chronicles 21:13

I. It is better to fall into the hand of God than into the hands of men, because in His whole treatment of human sin God is constantly seeking, not the destruction, but the salvation of the sinner.—God has never answered our sin merely by punishment. Instead of confining Himself to penalty, He sets up the cross and shows men the sinfulness of sin through the depth and tenderness of His own mercy.

God’s government is not a mere magistracy. It is a moral dominion—a government of the heart.

II. What is wanted for a full acceptation of the principle of this text?—(1) A deep sense of sin. David had it: ‘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.’ (2) An unreserved committal of our case to God. David gave himself up entirely to God’s will. We must fall into the hand of God, an expression which signifies resignation, perfect trust in the Divine righteousness and benevolence, and an entire committal of our whole case to the disposal of God.