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Samuel chapter 24 reminds us how seductive it is to consider the
blessings of God as something we have earned. When we have success
or achievement, we are much more likely to give ourselves credit, yet
when something bad happens, we tend to question God. The final
chapter of the book begins with King David’s decree to “Go
and take a census of Israel and Judah“.
Remember, Exodus 30 expressly warned against
taking a census. Numbering the people was prohibited because
counting heads represents ownership and the Israelites belong to God.
David gave the task to his go-to guy, “Go
throughout the tribes of Israel… and enroll the fighting men, so
that I may know how many there are“.
Insightfully, Joab said, “But
why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?“.
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Chronicles 21:1 adds an interesting detail to the story; “Now
Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel“.
Pride
always turns our focus away from God.
“After
they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at
the end of nine months and twenty days… Joab reported the number of
the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred
thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five
hundred thousand“.
After hearing the numbers, David knew he had been rebellious, “David
was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men“.
To his credit, David Immediately sought the Lord, illustrating that
he was not perfect, but he knew where to find forgiveness. “I
have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take
away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing“.
God is always quick to respond to repentance, “Before
David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad
the prophet“.
Do not let pride prevent you from seeking God’s forgiveness.
David
was given the option of which plague the nation will endure. Wisely,
David trusts God’s mercy. “Let
us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do
not let me fall into the hands of men“.
We tend to think of God in human terms, but His mercy and patience
is endless. In the midst of the plague, David again showed his love
for God’s people. “I
am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep… Let
your hand fall upon me and my family.”
David was instructed by the prophet, Gad to “Go
up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah
the Jebusite“.
Upon hearing David’s plan, this righteous man offered to give
David everything he needed. King David replied, “No,
I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my
God burnt offerings that cost me nothing“.
“David
bought the threshing floor and the oxen… built an altar to the Lord
there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then
the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on
Israel was stopped“.
It is important that we understand that our forgiveness also comes
at a high price. 1 Peter 3:18 explains,
“For
Christ also suffered once for sins, for the just and for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God“.
And following David’s example, we are wise to put our confidence
in God’s mercy. “If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
(1 John 1:9).