14-27 (2 Samuel 24:15-25). David’s Repentance Accepted and Destruction Stayed—Swift destruction followed. Seventy thousand were destroyed by pestilence. David and the elders of Israel were in the deepest humiliation, mourning before the Lord. As the angel of the Lord was on his way to destroy Jerusalem, God bade him stay his work of death. A pitiful God loves His people still, notwithstanding their rebellion. The angel, clad in warlike garments, with a drawn sword in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem, is revealed to David, and to those who are with him. David is terribly afraid, yet he cries out in his distress, and his compassion for Israel. He begs of God to save the sheep. In anguish he confesses, “I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.” God speaks to David, by His prophet, and bids him make atonement for his sin. David’s heart was in the work, and his repentance was accepted. The threshing floor of Araunah is offered him freely, where to build an altar unto the Lord; also cattle, and everything needful for the sacrifice. But David tells him who would make this generous offering, that the Lord will accept the sacrifice which he is willing to make, but that he would not come before the Lord with an offering which cost him nothing. He would buy it of him for full price. He offered there burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. God accepted the offerings by answering David in sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. The angel of the Lord was commanded to put his sword into his sheath, and cease his work of destruction (The Spirit of Prophecy 1:385, 386).{3BC 1127.2}

14-27 (2 Sam. 24,15-25). Davids anger blev accepteret og ødelæggelsen udeblev.-- En hurtig ødelæggelse fulgte efter. Halvfjerds tusinde blev ødelagt af pest. David og Israels ældste var i den dybeste ydmyghed, knurrede for Gud. Idet Herrens engel var på vej til at ødelægge Jerusalem, bad Gud ham vente med sit dødsarbejde. En medynkende Gud elsker stadig sit folk, uanset deres oprør. Englen som var klædt med krigslignende klæder, med et draget sværd i sin hånd, rakt ud over Jerusalem, blev åbenbaret for David og for dem som er med ham. David er frygtelig bange, og råber op i sin nød, og i sin medfølelse for Israel. Jeg bønfalder Gud at rede fårene. Under kvaler bekender han: "Jeg har synet, og jeg har handlet ondt; men disse får, hvad har de gjort? Jeg beder dig, lad din hånd vende sig mod mig, og mod min faders hus." Gud taler til David, ved Sin profet, og påbyder ham at gøre udsoning for sin synd. Davids hjerte var med i arbejdet, og hans anger blev accepteret. Aruanas tærskeplads blev givet ham frit, hvor der skulle bygges et alter for Herren; også kvag og alt hvad der behøves for at ofres. Men David fortæller ham, som vil gøre dette gavmilde offer, at Herren vil acceptere det offer som han er villig til at gøre, men at han ikke vil komme frem for Herren, med et offer som ikke koster ham noget. Han vil købe det af ham for fuld pris. Der ofrede han brandofre og fredsofre. Gud accepterede ofre ved at besvare David og sende ild fra himlen, til at fortære offeret. Herren engel blev pålagt at sætte sit sværd i skeden, standse sit ødelæggelsesarbejde. (1SP 385, 386).