A retelling of a story from Chronicles

So there was a king of a great nation. He sinned through a prideful trust in his country rather than in God. But he acknowledged his sin and repented, coming before the Lord and saying, "Take away the iniquity of your servant."

But it was still a very serious sin. The Lord said, "I give you three choices: 3 years of famine, 3 months of the sword by the hand of your enemies, or 3 days of the sword by the hand of the angel of the Lord."

And the king said, "Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man."

But it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

And so the angel of the Lord swept through the land, killing tens of thousands. He came to the very capital itself, the city of the king, with his sword in hand to destroy it. But the Lord relented, and said, "It is enough; now restrain your hand."

The king lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, with a sword in his hand stretched over the city. Terrified, the king and his nobles put on sackcloth and fell on their faces.

The king again came before the Lord, this time saying, "I am the one who sinned! These sheep, what have they done? Let your hand be against me and my father's house, but not against your people." And the angel of the Lord commanded the king to build an altar in that place.

The king sought to buy the land to build an altar. The man who owned the land said, "Take it to yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. Look, all that I have is yours -- I give it all."

But the king said, "No, I will not take what it yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing." And so the king bought the land and built an altar and brought offerings. And fire from heaven came down and consumed the offerings. And at last the angel of the Lord sheathed his sword.

But the king never went to this altar, to inquire of the Lord, so great was his fear of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

A personal reading and interpretation of Psalm 86

Condescend to hear me, Lord,
     for I lack so many things.
Preserve my life,
     for I am set apart for you -- you are my God.
Save your servant who trusts in you!
Show mercy to me, Lord,
     for I cry aloud to you all day long.
Make glad the soul of your servant,
     for I lift up my soul to you.

For you, Lord, are good.
For you, Lord, are ready to forgive.
For you, Lord, are rich in mercy to all who call upon you.

Give ear, Lord, to my prayer,
     and listen to my petitions.
     In the day of my distress I will call to you,
for you will answer me.

Among the great powers there is none like you, Lord, nor are any works like yours.
All nations -- whom you have made! -- shall come and worship in your presence, Lord,
And shall call your name glorious!
For you are powerful, and do incredible things -- you alone are God!

Show me your path, Lord -- I will walk in your truth.
Make my heart unified, to fear your name.

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with my entire heart,
     and I will glorify your name forever!
For you have been merciful to me,
     and you have brought out my soul from deep subterranean darkness.

O God, prideful thoughts have risen within me,
     and a host of destructive sins have sought to destroy me -- they do not consider you!
But you, Lord, are a God full of compassion, and full of grace,
     long-suffering and overflowing in mercy and truth.

Turn to me and have mercy on me!
Give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.
Show me a sign of your goodwill towards me, so that I would be ashamed of my rebellious thoughts,
     because you, Lord, have have helped me and comforted me!