“David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.”
2 Samuel 24:25 NIV
“The plague on Israel was stopped.” Oh that we could build an altar of prayer by joining our voices in unison to God, our Heavenly Father with faith and hope this pandemic of Covid-19 in all its forms be stopped in the earth.
I often wonder if God is so heartbroken over the division of humans that He is in heaven doing what He has done before? Is He weeping over us because we are divided.
Jesus wept (John 11:35)
thedailylily.com 
“Is He weeping over us because we are divided?”……….. this is certainly a question we should consider Sara. 🤔 I found a few Scriptures that gives us some instructions :
“John 13:35
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 13:8
Love Fulfills the Law
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
2 Corinthians 13:11
Final Greetings
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Galatians 5:13
Life by the Spirit
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. “ Hum….. 🤔🧐🙏
I think I’ve heard it said many times about various things, those are some hard sayings Tammy just posted!
“Oh that we could build an altar of prayer by joining our voices in unison to God, our Heavenly Father with faith and hope this pandemic of Covid-19 in all its forms be stopped in the earth.”
I would like to agree with you in an Amen, Sara.
In reading 2 Samuel 24:25 and its context you posted, it looks like it took effort and cost for David to build the alter where he did that stopped the plague.
“Is He weeping over us because we are divided.” From reading John 11, it seems to me that there was a divide going in the area where Jesus brought healing and a friend back to life. Looks like from vs 48 there was political pressure contributing to the divide.
The Chasm of division seems to only grow wider and deeper with time, power, greed, me and mine! Some might use the term Narcissism.
Sure seems the scriptures Tammy posted above has gone in the way of history books.
Tammy, do you have footnotes on this scripture?
…16) “So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17) For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18) Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.…Romans 9:16-18
Yes, Sara, here are the footnotes for Romans 9: 16,17,18, from the NIV. “ The fallacy of gaining salvation by human effort remains as strong as ever – people still think good intentions are the key to unlock the door to eternal life. By the time they get to try the lock, they will find that their key does not fit. Others imagine that their efforts are building an invisible ladder to heaven made up of service, family, position, reputation, good work, and desire, although none of these rungs will support a feather. People are so busy trying to reach God that they completely miss the truth that God has already reached down to them. We cannot earn God‘s mercy – if we could, it would not be mercy. Paul quotes from Exodus 9:16, where God foretold how Pharaoh would be used to declare God‘s power. Paul uses this argument to show that salvation was God’s proper work, not man’s. God‘s judgment on Pharaoh’s choice to resist God was to confirm that sin and harden his heart. The consequences of Pharaoh’s rebellion would be his own punishment.”
Last evening for a few hours I listened via live stream parents attending a school board meeting in my county and speaking on behalf of their children. The parent/speaker had signed up for a two minute spot to speak. Their topic seemed to be; to wear a mask or not in classroom? Or, and mostly LGBT, seemly the needs of transgender children rights or no rights in bathrooms, locker rooms etc.
Their passions as parents from both sides were as if their hearts were running over with love for their children. Some prayed the Lord’s Prayer and other personal prayers for the board members and issues. Those sounded as if they thought public schools were the church of Jesus Christ. Others sounded as if their love for all people ran deeper than a perfect well that supplies fresh water. Angry? Yes! Sarcasm and attacks against board? Yes!
I think we get the point and maybe picture without me going on about individuals speaking for a limited 2 mins when emotions were high. The speakers had to stand outside building for their time to be called. A thunderstorm with rains appeared and I guess for safety still not allowed shelter in building they thought they should have because they pay taxes. Just imagine to a listener like me hearing all this while inside and no children in school at this time but pay plenty of taxes in the county.
I must say it was stressful listening. I have heard personal thoughts from different sides in community since this is not new issues and covers many parts of the earth.
I struggled in the night with my own thoughts and had no words to pray from my heart. Scriptures come to mind like the one above from Romans where I asked Tammy to look up footnotes. The comforting thoughts from this scripture and footnotes keep my mind and mouth from flapping to myself or others how horrible and how bad these “entitled parents” are. Well, that’s the title I’m hearing about the meetings.
Let me say I realized one thing a two minute voice alone may not be the key but collective voices of two minutes might land a punch or vote.
Now what should I do with all this were my thoughts that kept me from finding peace within. Guess who? persistent Tammy showed up on text with footnotes. Some strange reason she could not get to post here. Yet, she texted them to me hoping I would post. I didn’t post until this am ie here. I posted them in bold letter on my mind and in my heart for a peaceful night sleep.
Notes read, “…people still think good intentions are the key to unlock the door to eternal life. By the time they get to try the lock, they will find that their key does not fit. Others imagine that their efforts are building an invisible ladder to heaven made up of service, family, position, reputation, good work, and desire, although none of these rungs will support a feather.”…WOW there is more to the footnotes and scripture from Romans. This has been a long note to you but if you are looking for answers like me so my tongue doesn’t speak idle words which it has and still tries to do study the Word footnotes and all. And, think about the beatitudes as well, Blessed/ happy are you….Thanks Tammy for the timely footnotes.