1 Chronicles 21:30

But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

But David {H1732} could {H3201} not go {H3212} before {H6440} it to enquire {H1875} of God {H430}: for he was afraid {H1204} because {H6440} of the sword {H2719} of the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068}.

But David could not go into its presence to consult God, because the sword of the angel of ADONAI had struck him with terror.

but David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

But David could not go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Jehovah.

Commentary

1 Chronicles 21:30 concludes the dramatic account of King David's unauthorized census and the subsequent divine plague that afflicted Israel. This verse highlights David's profound fear and the immediate necessity of dealing with God's judgment.

Context

Following David's sin in numbering the people, the LORD sent a devastating plague upon Israel. The angel of the LORD was seen by David, poised to destroy Jerusalem (1 Chron. 21:16). Through the prophet Gad, David was commanded to build an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite (1 Chron. 21:18). David promptly obeyed, purchased the site, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. When God answered by fire from heaven upon the altar (1 Chron. 21:26), the plague ceased.

Verse 30 explains why David remained at Ornan's threshing floor rather than returning to the tabernacle at Gibeon, which was the established place of worship and sacrifice at the time. The visible manifestation of the "sword of the angel of the LORD" filled him with such terror and awe that he dared not leave the place where God's wrath had been appeased.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Mercy: The narrative powerfully illustrates the serious consequences of sin and God's righteous judgment. Yet, it also showcases God's profound mercy in providing a way for atonement and stopping the destruction once sacrifices were offered.
  • Reverential Fear of God: David's fear was not mere panic, but a deep, overwhelming awe in the presence of God's holiness and power. This reverential fear of the Lord is a foundational aspect of true worship and wisdom.
  • The Significance of Location: The threshing floor of Ornan, initially a place of judgment, became the site of God's intervention and mercy. This location would later be consecrated as the chosen place for the building of Solomon's Temple (2 Chron. 3:1), underscoring its enduring spiritual importance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "angel of the LORD" (Hebrew: mal'akh Yahweh) often refers to a divine messenger who embodies God's presence and authority. In this context, the angel wields a "sword" (Hebrew: แธฅerev), a potent biblical symbol of divine judgment and execution of wrath. David's fear was a direct response to this terrifying manifestation of God's justice, compelling him to remain precisely where God's mercy had been revealed.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us of the profound reality of God's holiness and the serious nature of sin. It teaches us:

  • The Urgency of Repentance: When confronted with the consequences of sin, immediate and humble repentance, coupled with seeking God's prescribed way of atonement, is crucial.
  • God's Provision for Atonement: Even in judgment, God provides a path to reconciliation. For believers today, this path is ultimately found in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the full weight of divine judgment on our behalf (John 3:16).
  • Cultivating Awe: While God is loving and merciful, He is also holy and just. A healthy, reverential fear of God fosters obedience and deepens our appreciation for His grace.
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Cross-References

  • Hebrews 12:28 (2 votes)

    Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

  • Hebrews 12:29 (2 votes)

    For our God [is] a consuming fire.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:16 (2 votes)

    And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders [of Israel, who were] clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

  • Job 13:21 (2 votes)

    Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

  • Deuteronomy 10:12 (2 votes)

    ยถ And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

  • Jeremiah 5:22 (2 votes)

    Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand [for] the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

  • Psalms 90:11 (2 votes)

    Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, [so is] thy wrath.