Scottlea - final session (Sunday)

In Psalm 51 David wrote, " against You, and against You only have I sinned", demonstrating the attitude of a man after God's own heart... Only God can put back together the brokenness that David desired

Conclusion: God will give multiple ways of escape Conclusion: cover-ups never cover up anything, it just multiplies the problem Conclusion: a person involved in sin can recognize/condemn 'rights' and 'wrongs' in others while not seeing their own Conclusion: ready to admit their wrongdoings

Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.” And Joab answered, “May the Lord make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab. And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel. - 1 Chronicles 21:1-7 (NKJV)

• notice Satan's involvement - spiritual nature of the battle - Satan made what was happening to Job look like it was God's fault - God feels the pain of arrows that pierce His children, who dwell within His hand • unbelievers are sometimes used to call-out believers, as did Joab • David trumps Joab • David again confesses that he has sinned and has done wrong - the man of God is consistent when it comes to dealing with his own sin - David chooses the plague as the punishment and 70,000 died • David recognizes that God is merciful • David presents himself humbly • David intercedes (as a good shepherd) that the angel not proceed with Jerusalem • God listens to David • David refuses an offered gift of property, instead insisting on making his own financial sacrifice • David erects an alter to the Lord (v26) • David offers burnt sacrifices and peace offers • David calls upon the name of the Lord • God answers from heaven by fire on the alter - the sacrifice is fully consumed, as David's life is spared - sins (which, as we've seen, are many) totally forgiven, forever, never again, ever, ever, ever to be remembered by a merciful God