Pastor's Message
May 2021
A Lesson from David
As great as King David was, we know very well he had his flaws. Everyone remembers his sin with Bathsheba. You might also think about his dealings with his son, Absalom. But there is a less familiar, rarely talked about sin of David that is relevant to our times.
The Lord was angry with Israel which led to Da-vid’s sin and the judgment that followed. David asked for a census of all the fighting men in Israel. Even though his army commander counseled against such action, David did it anyway. You might wonder, “What’s the big deal? Shouldn’t the king know such information?” But the real issue was one of pride and reliance on the power of the army rather than the strength of the Lord.
After nine months of counting, “In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand” (2 Samuel 24:9). But as soon as David heard the report, he was conscience-stricken. “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” (:10)
The next day, the prophet Gad was sent to David with this instruction: choose one of three judgments: three years of famine; three months of running from your enemies; or, three days of plague. David chose the plague, because he would rather be dependent on the Lord’s mercy than that of his enemies.
So, that’s just what happened. A plague swept through the land, and 70,000 people died. David pleaded with the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.” (:17)
That day, the Lord sent Gad to David and told him to build an altar at a certain location. He complied, and the plague ended. “Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped” (:25).
For the past year, a plague has swept through our nation. According to reports, approximately 570,000 people have died in the U.S. because of this plague and close to three million worldwide. Now the Lord has not said why this plague hit, but we should not be surprised based on the immorality throughout the globe, including here in America. But God’s people have been praying. We hope that this plague ends soon, although it may linger for three years rather than three days.
In the days that followed the plague in Israel, healing had to take place: healing among the sick, healing throughout the nation, healing within David, and healing within his leadership team. In time, those things happened. In fact, the place where David built the altar and prayed would also be where his son, Solomon, would build the temple.
As our community begins to open up, it is important that we as a congregation also work toward healing. We acknowledge that the Lord has blessed us greatly throughout this pandemic. We acknowledge and praise the Lord for the grace that we have seen in so many areas. But there remains much work to do. We still have a mission and a commission from the Lord. We are still to build one another up in love.
I pray that the Lord brings healing to you. I pray that the Lord continues to guide his Church with mercy and grace. I pray that the Lord answers our prayers on behalf of the land. Peace be with you!
~ Pastor Ben Golisch
A Lesson from David
As great as King David was, we know very well he had his flaws. Everyone remembers his sin with Bathsheba. You might also think about his dealings with his son, Absalom. But there is a less familiar, rarely talked about sin of David that is relevant to our times.
The Lord was angry with Israel which led to Da-vid’s sin and the judgment that followed. David asked for a census of all the fighting men in Israel. Even though his army commander counseled against such action, David did it anyway. You might wonder, “What’s the big deal? Shouldn’t the king know such information?” But the real issue was one of pride and reliance on the power of the army rather than the strength of the Lord.
After nine months of counting, “In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand” (2 Samuel 24:9). But as soon as David heard the report, he was conscience-stricken. “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” (:10)
The next day, the prophet Gad was sent to David with this instruction: choose one of three judgments: three years of famine; three months of running from your enemies; or, three days of plague. David chose the plague, because he would rather be dependent on the Lord’s mercy than that of his enemies.
So, that’s just what happened. A plague swept through the land, and 70,000 people died. David pleaded with the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd, have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.” (:17)
That day, the Lord sent Gad to David and told him to build an altar at a certain location. He complied, and the plague ended. “Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped” (:25).
For the past year, a plague has swept through our nation. According to reports, approximately 570,000 people have died in the U.S. because of this plague and close to three million worldwide. Now the Lord has not said why this plague hit, but we should not be surprised based on the immorality throughout the globe, including here in America. But God’s people have been praying. We hope that this plague ends soon, although it may linger for three years rather than three days.
In the days that followed the plague in Israel, healing had to take place: healing among the sick, healing throughout the nation, healing within David, and healing within his leadership team. In time, those things happened. In fact, the place where David built the altar and prayed would also be where his son, Solomon, would build the temple.
As our community begins to open up, it is important that we as a congregation also work toward healing. We acknowledge that the Lord has blessed us greatly throughout this pandemic. We acknowledge and praise the Lord for the grace that we have seen in so many areas. But there remains much work to do. We still have a mission and a commission from the Lord. We are still to build one another up in love.
I pray that the Lord brings healing to you. I pray that the Lord continues to guide his Church with mercy and grace. I pray that the Lord answers our prayers on behalf of the land. Peace be with you!
~ Pastor Ben Golisch