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At David’s altar on Araunah’s threshing floor, the sacrifice is made, and the plague stops. But this isn’t just a moment of relief—it’s a pointer to a greater story. This same plot of land will become the foundation for Solomon’s Temple. And long before that, Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac here, only to have God provide a substitute.

In every case—Abraham, David, Solomon—the message is the same: judgment is real, but God provides a substitute. He stays the knife. He relents from the plague. He makes a way.

But on Good Friday, God did not stay His hand. On a hill just outside this area, the Father unleashed His wrath on His own Son. Jesus became the final, sufficient sacrifice. No more temporary relief—eternal redemption.

Every time David looked back at Araunah’s threshing floor, he could say, “That’s where mercy met misery.” And every time we look back at the cross, we can say the same thing.

Prayer Points:

• Thank You, Father, that You provided a final, perfect substitute in Jesus.

• Help me to live in daily awe of the mercy You have shown.

• Make me bold to tell the story of mercy to others who are still under the weight of judgment.

2 People To Pray For Angel De Jesus, our National Changemaker in Puerto Rico The Ekinyambo Lifeword broadcast for the people of Tanzania & Congo

David, despite his flaws, points us to something greater. His humility after failure, his intercession for the people, his costly worship—all these highlight why he was a good king.

Yet David’s goodness has limits. He sins. He fails. He needs mercy himself.

This final chapter of Samuel whispers for something more: a greater King. One who would not just intercede but bear the full penalty. One whose obedience would be perfect, whose mercy would be unending.

Jesus is the better David. Where David sinned, Jesus obeyed. Where David offered symbolic sacrifices, Jesus became the sacrifice. Where David's mercy spared a city, Jesus' mercy spares the world.

Prayer Points:

• Jesus, thank You for being the flawless King David could only foreshadow.

• Teach me to treasure Your mercy and walk daily in Your grace.

• Let my life reflect the kind of kingdom You are building—one of mercy and truth.

2 People To Pray For Rigoberto Jimenez and his family, our National Changemakers in El Salvador The Dagaare Lifeword broadcast for the people of Burkina Faso & Ghana

David builds the altar, offers burnt offerings and peace offerings—and God responds. The plague is averted. Mercy wins the day.

This mirrors an earlier story in 2 Samuel 21 where famine was halted after an act of intercession. God responds to heartfelt repentance, to true worship.

Our God is not distant. He hears. He moves. His mercies are not stingy. They are vast, immediate, and rich for those who cry out to Him.

This is the God we pray to. The God whose heart is tender toward the broken. The God whose ear is tuned to the humble.

Prayer Points:

• Lord, remind me that You hear and respond when I cry out to You.

• Give me the faith to believe Your mercy is always near to the repentant.

• Help me worship You with a heart full of gratitude for Your nearness.

2 People To Pray For Jairo Bonilla and his family, our National Changemakers in Costa Rica The Creole-Capeverdean Lifeword broadcast for the people of Cape Verde

When David approaches Araunah to buy the threshing floor for an altar, Araunah generously offers it all for free—land, oxen, wood. But David refuses. "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing."

David understood something many today miss: worship without sacrifice is hollow. Real worship requires something costly. It mirrors the costly mercy we have received. Worship that doesn’t cost me something—comfort, convenience, pride—isn't worship; it’s self-congratulation.

David’s purchase and offering were tangible acts that said, “God, You are worth everything to me.” Today, the cost might look different: forgiving someone who hurt you, giving generously even when it pinches, surrendering a dream, obeying when it hurts. Each costly act says to God, “You are worth it.”

This threshing floor becomes sacred space. Solomon would later build the Temple here. The small cost David paid points forward to the infinite cost Christ paid—His life for ours.

Prayer Points:

• Jesus, teach me to give You my best, not my leftovers.

• Show me today what costly obedience looks like.

• Fill me with gratitude that counts no sacrifice too great in light of Your cross.

2 People To Pray For Oscar Gaitan and his family, our National Changemakers in Nicaragua The Duruma/Chiduruma Lifeword broadcast for the people of Kenya

You get advice all the time—sometimes from your mom, your best friend, or even TikTok. But have you ever stopped to ask: Is this really the best advice for me? In this episode, we’re getting real about how to handle advice, who to trust, and why you need to go to God first before anyone else.

You’ll laugh with us (and maybe feel a little called out) as we talk about childhood lessons, awkward college moments, and learning to trust God’s timing—even when you don’t feel like waiting.

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David is instructed to build an altar at Araunah's threshing floor. Araunah, seeing the king, offers to give the land and oxen for free. But David refuses: “I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.”

David understood worship isn’t about convenience. True worship costs something—it demands something personal, something surrendered.

We live in a world that offers easy spirituality: worship without sacrifice, obedience without cost. But David’s example reminds us: God’s worth demands our everything.

The price David paid was small compared to the mercy he had received. And the price we pay in following Jesus is small compared to the grace that bought us.

Prayer Points:

• Jesus, let my worship be costly and sincere, not cheap and convenient.

• Show me today what it means to sacrifice for You joyfully.

• Keep my heart amazed at the worth of Your mercy.

2 People To Pray For Sishir, our National Changemaker in Nepal The Chimatengo Lifeword broadcast for the people of Tanzania

The pestilence spreads swiftly—seventy thousand lives lost. But as the angel of death approaches Jerusalem, the Lord intervenes. "It is enough; now stay your hand," God commands.

The justice of God is real. Sin has consequences. But mercy triumphs. Mercy interrupts destruction.

David sees the devastation and pleads, "Let Your hand be against me, not these sheep." A king willing to stand in the gap for his people—that’s a glimpse of Jesus, our true King.

The plague stops because mercy steps in. And ultimately, at Calvary, the greater plague of sin is stopped the same way—because mercy bore the wrath we deserved.

Prayer Points:

• Lord, thank You that Your mercy stops the judgment my sin deserved.

• Make me someone who intercedes for others, willing to bear burdens.

• Teach me to see Your mercy even in moments of pain and loss.

2 People To Pray For Rama Bochung and his family, our National Changemakers in Myanmar The Chikagulu/Kagulu Lifeword broadcast for the people of Tanzania

After David confesses his sin, God offers him three options of judgment: famine, fleeing, or plague. Each one would cost lives. David’s response is striking—he chooses to fall into the hands of the Lord. Why? Because he knows something many of us forget: God's mercy is greater than man's cruelty.

So the plague sweeps through the land. Seventy thousand die. It's horrifying. But as the angel stretches his hand toward Jerusalem, God intervenes. The text says the Lord “relented concerning the calamity.” Mercy interrupts judgment. Grace stays the angel's sword.

This moment shines a light on the heart of God. He is holy and just—and yet abounding in steadfast love. His judgments are righteous, but His mercies are tender. David banked on that truth. And he was not disappointed.

We live under the mercy bought by Christ. Jesus absorbed the full justice of God so that when we sin, we can still fall into God's hands with hope.

Prayer Points:

• Lord, let me trust Your mercy when I’m most aware of my failures.

• Thank You that Your heart bends toward compassion, even in discipline.

• Help me to run to You, not hide from You, when conviction comes.

2 People To Pray For Denis Lopez and his family, our National Changemakers in Honduras The Digo/Chidigo Lifeword broadcast for the people of Kenya

Through the prophet Gad, God gives David three options for judgment: three years of famine, three months fleeing before enemies, or three days of plague.

David’s response is one of the most beautiful moments of faith in this chapter: "Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercy is great."

David knows something critical about God: even when God disciplines, He disciplines with mercy. Fallen into the hands of men, cruelty would reign. Fallen into the hands of God, mercy mingles with justice.

This truth frees us: we don’t have to fear the judgment of our merciful God. His hands, even when heavy, are not cruel. They are scarred hands—pierced for our sins.

Prayer Points:

• Lord, let me trust Your mercy more than I fear Your discipline.

• Help me believe that even in my failures, You are still my safest refuge.

• Grow in me a deeper confidence in Your character of compassion.

2 People To Pray For Our Creative Access missionaries in India The Chichewa Lifeword broadcast for the people of Zambia & Malawi