Our Merciful God

Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. - 1 Chronicles 21:13-14

David once found himself between the Rock and a hard place. He had sinned against God by taking a census of his army and Yahweh gave him a choice in the punishment he would receive. David chose to fall into God's hand, yet the Lord's retribution resulted in the death of 70,000 soldiers.

Why did David choose God over men, given the serious penalty that resulted

Easy, His mercy. David knew that God would show mercy and he also knew that it is the nature of man to show none at all.

As people who have also transgressed God's moral law, we deserve punishment, but we may be thankful that a merciful God sits in judgment of mankind. The truly amazing thing is that God not only meted out the just sentence, He also took our place. All that remains is for us to believe.

If we had been made director and producer of the Messianic coming, we would have sent somebody who would clean up in the polls, who would win all his battles, and who would bring everything our flesh desired. But that is not the way God did it. The enemy to be devoured is sin. So He sent a sacrifice to die on our behalf. The Lion of the tribe of Judah is the Lamb that was slain. - Mark Dever