Nearly every day there is a tragedy somewhere in our nation or in the world that we can read about.

What is our response?

Do we stand in judgment of those who suffered? Do we think it will never happen to us?

Jesus reveals the proper response: Repent. "Repent" means a "change of mind" - a change of mind about the power of sin to destroy you and a change of mind about God that he is not your enemy but your Savior.

Repent! That was Jesus’ response when people asked him about the violence and tragedy in Jerusalem. It is easy to stand in judgment over those who suffer. It is better to see it as a reminder of how fragile our lives are.

Read Luke 12:49-13:9. Now is the day for us to search our own hearts, confess our sins, and claim again the mercy of our God in Christ.

⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:7-8). 

That need for daily repentance is illustrated in King David's life. 

In 1 Chronicles 20-22 God gave David great victories (chapter 20) and had promised "to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky" (1 Chronicles 27:23).

But God's promises weren't enough. Pride welled up in David's heart and led him want to know how many men were at his command (chapter 21).

The spiritual backstory of David's sinful decision

Two of our sisters in Christ asked about 2 Samuel 24:1

Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

Did the LORD caused David to sin?

To make it even more complicated, 1 Chronicles 21 brings in Satan's involvement.

Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

The same Hebrew word is used for "incite" - Satan incited David to take the count and the LORD incited David to take the count.

We get a little glimpse into the spiritual backstory behind some of our decisions.

• David's backstory - probably pride leads him to count his soldiers and trust in numbers rather than in the LORD
• Satan's backstory - probably to use David's pride to destroy him once and for all... to bring God's judgment on David just like God's judgment has come on Satan.
• The LORD's backstory - probably to call David to repentance for his pride and draw David back to HImself. And to use David's failing also to call the entire nation to repentance.

Reminds me of Jeremiah 17:9: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

There are many mixed motivations in my own heart.

Satan has his motivations.

Thankful I know that the LORD is my Savior God and his motivations are always loving and good. I may not always understand them, but I will trust Him.

David is a changed man... 

At the end of the chapter, the plague stops on the threshing floor of Araunah where the temple will be built. From this point on, the focus of 1 Chronicles is that of a repentant king who wants only to worship his Savior. Chapter 22 begins several chapters of preparations for the temple. 

The daily call to repentance

One of the benefits of daily Bible reading is it is a time when the Lord confronts us like the prophet Gad confronted King David. We open up God's Word and hear His call to repent and claim again his grace in Christ. 

As David's life purpose was changed, so many ours be changed. As we walk away from this time of repentance with our God, may we live only to bring glory and honor to the LORD's holy name.  

Worship with our offerings

"I will not ... sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing" (1 Chronicles 21:34). A friend challenged me to think about my offerings with this verse in mind. 

Is it possible that our offerings "cost us nothing"? Are the gifts we are giving to the LORD's work large enough that they they make us cling to the promise David gives to Solomon, "The LORD be with you"? (1 Chronicles 22:16) Or is our investment in the LORD's work an insignificant part of our financial planning? 

LORD, help me make plans to support your kingdom work that are so large, that if you are not with me, they will surely fail. Amen.