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The hand of Divine wrath was stretched out, and dire calamity ensued. "The Lord sent pestilence upon Israel, and there fell... seventy thousand men" (ver. 14). And God sent an angel of destruction to Jerusalem: this terrible messenger stood with drawn sword (ver. 16) over the city of David, and commenced the dread work of death there (ver. 15). But suddenly the hand of God was arrested, the sword of the angel was sheathed, the ravages of the pestilence ceased, Jerusalem was saved. Whence this salvation? It is clear -

I. THAT GOD'S DIRECT DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL HAD NO SMALL PART IN THE MATTER. The king was vastly more responsible than any other individual in the realm for the coming of the visitation, and he was more concerned in its departure than any other. But the people of Israel were not irresponsible for the one, nor were they without a share in the other. It would have been impossible for us to believe that the multitudes of Israel would suffer as they did for this sin of David, absolutely irrespective of their own deservings; that would have been manifestly unjust. And, similarly, we should have found the greatest difficulty in believing that Divine compassion had nothing to do with the cessation of the plague. But the Scriptures sanction the conclusion of our judgment, if they do not suggest or even affirm it - that the coming and the going of the pestilence were partly due to the direct relations of God to Israel, Respecting its coming, we read that, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David' against' them," etc. (2 Samuel 24:1). . "Respecting its going, we read that "the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, etc. (ver. 15); i.e. the pity of the Lord was stirred, and he stayed his hand. We may learn here the lessons that God has direct dealings with nations, approving their piety anal their purity, condemning their ingratitude and disobedience, rewarding the one and punishing the other.

II. THAT IT WAS LARGELY DUE TO THE KING'S INTERCESSION, (Vers. 16, 17.) Though it is not positively stated that the withdrawal of the angel's hand was owing to the attitude and action of the king and the elders, yet we may safely assume that in large measure it was so (ver. 27). There was everything in David's spiritual posture to draw down a Divine response.

1. He was penetrated with a spirit of penitence; he freely and frankly owned that the sin was his: "It is I that have sinned and done evil."

2. He was filled with a pure compassion for his people: "These sheep, what have they done?... not on thy people," etc. (ver. 17).

3. He was animated by a spirit of noble self-renunciation. No doubt the desire of founding a royal dynasty had grown strong and intense with years of sovereignty, and must have struck very deep root in David's heart; yet he offers to resign all his hopes if the people may be spared. "Let thine hand... be on me and on my father's house." When intercession is thus humble, compassionate, and self-renouncing, it is likely to prevail with God.

III. THAT IT WAS SUITABLY ATTENDED WITH SACRIFICE, (Vers. 18-26.) David was instructed by Gad to "set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshing-floor of Ornan" (ver. 18). After the usual Oriental ceremonies, the king purchased the site and reared the altar: there he offered sacrifices of propitiation, dedication, and gratitude; there he presented burnt offerings and peace offerings (ver. 26); and Jehovah signified his acceptance of the penitential and sacrificial spirit of his servants by "answering from heaven by fire upon the altar" (ver. 26). There are times when we renew our return unto the Lord, and he renews his acceptance of us. Such a time is the hour when we have sinned and have suffered. Then it becomes us to return once again unto the Lord,

(1) in penitence;

(2) in the exercise of faith in the one atoning sacrifice of the Divine Redeemer;

(3) in rededication of ourselves;

(4) in gratitude for his saving mercy. - C.

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KJV: So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

WEB: So Yahweh sent a pestilence on Israel; and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.