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1 Chronicles 21 · Grade 4

An Offering That Cost Something

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Read and Think

Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to take a census. Joab protested that it would bring guilt, but the king's word prevailed. God was displeased, and David said he had sinned greatly and done very foolishly, and asked God to put away his iniquity.

Through Gad the seer, God offered three choices. David answered that he was in distress, but let him fall into Yahweh's hand, for his mercies are very great. A plague came on Israel, and many people died. David saw the angel and begged God to let his hand be against him and his father's house, not against the people.

Yahweh's angel commanded Gad to tell David to raise an altar on Ornan's threshing floor. Ornan offered it all for free, but David insisted on paying the full price. He would not offer to Yahweh a burnt offering that cost him nothing (21:24). Yahweh answered him from the sky by fire on the altar, and the angel put his sword away.

Show What You Know

  1. Who moved David to take a census?

  2. What did David ask God to put away?

  3. Why did David choose to fall into Yahweh's hand?

  4. Where did David build the altar?

  5. How did Yahweh answer David?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

IsraelDavidYahwehOrnanGod
  1. Satan stood up against Israel and moved to take a census.
  2. was displeased, and David said he had sinned greatly and done very foolishly, and asked God to put away his iniquity.
  3. A plague came on , and many people died.
  4. offered it all for free, but David insisted on paying the full price.
  5. He would not offer to a burnt offering that cost him nothing (21:24).

Think About It

  1. David confessed right away and took the blame. How can you take responsibility when you do wrong?

  2. David would not give God something that cost him nothing. What would it mean for your worship to cost you something?

Memory Verse

David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

1 Chronicles 21:8 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Your mercy. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How can God bring good out of a sad day?
  • How can you protect or care for people who are hurting?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.