2 Samuel 24:14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord Let us receive punishment from his immediate stroke, that is, by famine or pestilence, but chiefly by the latter. For though the sword and the famine be also from God's hand, yet there is also the hand of man, or other creatures, in them. The reason of this choice was partly his confidence in God's great goodness; partly, because the other judgments, especially the sword, would have been more dishonourable, not only to David, but also to God, and his people; and partly, because he, having sinned himself, thought it just to choose a plague, to which he was as obnoxious as his people; whereas, he had better defences for himself against the sword and famine than they had. And let me not fall, &c. True, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! Fearful indeed for those who have, by their impenitence, shut themselves out from his mercy. But a penitent dares cast himself into God's hand, knowing that his mercies are great.