“David built an altar there to the LORD… And when David prayed, the LORD answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn up the offering on the altar. Then the LORD spoke to the angel, who put the sword back into its sheath.
Then David said, ‘This will be the location for the Temple of the LROD God!”
1 Chronicles 21:26-27, 22:1
David’s story not only portrays the consequences of failure, but it so powerfully demonstrates God’s grace and mercy in response to a repentant heart. When David saw the angel of destruction standing over Jerusalem, there was no time to rush to the Tabernacle in Gibeon to intercede. David was staring at a drawn sword threatening his people, and he alone was responsible! So, David immediately built an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor, right next to the death angel.
The fact that the Lord answered David’s prayer with fire from heaven right there on the threshing floor is incredibly significant. Right there at the place of repentance, right there, surrounded by the casualties of David’s sin, right THERE, God sent His fire of grace and blessing. Overwhelmed by God’s grace, David’s responded, “THIS will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God!” In the place of grace the future Temple would house the God of Grace.
So, do not be discouraged by your failures. They may not be the same kind as David’s, but the same kind of repentance will bring God’s fire of grace to your life, and the same miracle will take place: Right there on the floor of your failures—the God of Grace will come and dwell in your temple!
God’s presence always dwells in the place of grace!
