WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19
Scripture: 1 Chronicles 21:24-25

We find David purchasing the field where the angel stopped destroying. This was a great picture of covenant. David purchased the place so he could build an altar and make an offering to the Lord. Ornan offered the land for free but David refused to take it and he refused it by saying in verse 24,25 “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.’ So David gave Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place.” Now based on today’s price for gold that was about $1,728,000.00. David paid $1.7 million for the field, just to build an altar and pray to God. What was unique about this place? It was unique because it was the place where the angel stopped destroying. It was the place where God initiated mercy. And it was the place that would become the temple mount where the Hand of God would be available to those who entered the Holy of Holies. This was the very place where mercy triumphed over judgment. Is there hope for our nation? There is hope because we have a covenant of Sure Mercy! God had given David a covenant of Sure Mercy and on the place where that covenant was first honored by the angel, is the place where the temple was built and the Holy of Holies was erected. Was it any wonder that David was willing to pay $1.7 million dollars for that location? It was the place where mercy triumphed over judgment. Jesus shed His blood so mercy could triumph over judgment. Mercy is a double-edged sword. Mercy can start or stop judgment. Mercy to David meant starting judgment on Absalom and Ahithophel, restoring the kingdom. Covenant mercy often means full-blown judgment on the enemy who will not relent. Covenant mercy to Israelites was where the sword stopped in Jerusalem. David built an altar there and renewed his covenant with the Lord. We can renew our covenant with the Lord. We can stand in prayer and ask God to move based on covenant!