1 Chronicles 20 provides insight into God’s mercy. The chapter begins with some very familiar words; and like the dramatic background music in a movie, we just know something bad is about to happen. “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, Joab led out the armed forces… but David remained in Jerusalem“. But the chronicler does not mention the greatest moral failure of David’s life. It is omitted completely. Instead, the next mention of David indicates God had completely restored him, “Joab attacked Rabbah and left it in ruins. David took the crown from the head of their king… and it was placed on David’s head“. Why is David’s juicy scandal left out? I believe there is an important message to all of us that have failed to honor God. It pleases God to restore us and make us useful for His purposes. “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). Remember, this letter was written to the Jewish people that were coming out of Babylonian captivity and preparing to face more adversity. When we mess up, we tend to think of ourselves as damaged goods, but God views us from an eternal perspective. Do you feel unusable because of a moral failure? Read on!
There is a sense that David’s sin had previously separated him from God and all the people in his life. There are a number of things that tend to cause us to isolate ourselves (depression, anger, loss, fear, hurt feelings). In our separation we inevitably blame God. And separation leaves us vulnerable. Psalm 51 was written by King David as he poured out his heart to God seeking forgiveness; “Against you, you only, have I sinned“. It is clear David understood he needed to come before God in humility before any other healing could take place. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (Ps 51:1). After intimacy with God was reestablished, David united the nation. Only the united nation was able to achieve victory over all their enemies. Notice the result, “Then David and his entire army returned to Jerusalem“. Do you know that you are God’s delight? “For the Lord takes delight in his people; He crowns the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149:4).
Finally we see Israel facing the giants once again. “In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines“. David first encountered the Philistines in his youth when he stood up to Goliath of Gath. It seems Goliath had family members that still remained. Perhaps symbolically God took David back to the beginning. This time, however, David did not fight alone. “In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot… He also was descended from Rapha. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him… and they fell at the hands of David and his men“. You may be facing some old familiar giants today. There is no reason to battle alone. 1 Corinthians 12:12 explains that all followers of Christ are bound together as one by God’s Holy Spirit. And just as the human body, we need one another. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink“. Feeling alone? Follow David’s example.