David takes another census

2 Samuel Chapter 24

The anger of the Lord burned against Israel and it caused David to harm the people by directing a census of Israel and Judah.

King David told Joab, the commander of his army to take a census in Dan in the north, to Beersheba in the south. But Joab questioned David and asked him what difference did it make how many people were in the kingdom. David insisted. So Joab and his officers went out to count the people of Israel. And it took them nine months and twenty days to complete their task and return to Jerusalem. There were 800,000 men of military age in Israel and 500,000 in Judah.

So after the census, David's conscience began to bother him and he spoke to the Lord and told him he sinned and should not have taken the census. He asked the Lord to forgive him. And the next morning the word of God came to the prophet Gad, who was David's seer. The message was to tell David that the Lord gave him three choices. David must choose one of the punishments and God would do it.

So Gad came to David and asked him which of the punishments he would choose: three years of famine throughout the land, three months of fleeing from his enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout the land? God awaited David's answer.

David replied to Gad that the situation was desperate, but they should fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy was great. And that morning, the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that lasted for three days. Seventy thousand people died throughout the nation. But as the death angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented and told the death angel to stop. At that moment the angel was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

When David saw the angel, he said to the Lord, "I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are innocent- what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family." That day Gad came to David and told him to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite and he did as the Lord commanded.

When Araunah saw the king coming he bowed and asked why they came to him. David replied that he had come to buy the threshing floor to build an altar there so that the plague would stop. Araunah told David to take it and use it as he wished and he also provided oxen for the burnt offering and the ox yokes as wood for the fire. But the king insisted on buying it because he could not present offerings to the Lord that did not cost him anything. So David paid fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. And David built the altar to the Lord and offered the burnt and peace offerings and the plague was stopped.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: How did God cause David to sin? He does not cause people to sin, but he allows them to revel in the sinfulness of their hearts by their actions. God provided an opportunity to David in order to deal with a disastrous national tendency, and he wanted this desire to show itself. (First Chronicles 21: 1 says Satan incited David to do it. Hebrew writers did not always distinguish between primary and secondary causes. So if God allowed Satan to tempt David, to them it is as if God did it.)
What was wrong with taking a census? In the past one was conducted to find out how many men were eligible to draft into the army. However the land was now at peace, so there was no need for a census. David's sin was in pride and ambition in counting the people so he could glory in the size of his army, its power and defenses. By doing this, he put his faith in the size of his army rather than in God's ability to protect them regardless of their number. Even Joab knew it was wrong.
The Bible does not make it clear why God was angry with the people of Israel. Perhaps because of their previous support of Absalom or perhaps they put their security in the military instead of God- this would be the disastrous national tendency that God could see happening.

This is the last chapter of 2 Samuel and it has described David's reign. After more than 400 hundred years, Israel was finally at peace. David accomplished what no other leader before him had done. His administration was run on the principle of dedication to God and to the well-being of the people. Yet he sinned. Despite his sins, the Bible calls him a man after God's own heart because when he sinned, he recognized it and confessed his sins to God. David's commitment to his life to God remained loyal to him throughout his lifetime. The book of Psalms give a deeper insight into David's love for God.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? I want you to think about how long (400 years) it took for God to bring the people to peace. A time frame like this is probably a millisecond to the almighty. Yet God thinks and knows everything that has happened and will happen. This "Big picture" is often hard for us to grasp. It makes it difficult to believe that in the grand scheme of things, God could care for each of us tiny, insignficant beings. But he does. His power is so great that he knows us intimately, he knows what we think and what is in our soul. Rejoice in his attention! Rejoice in his love! And pray for his continued guidance.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, and Arlene’s nephew David. Update on Lori: she sheds her back brace soon and can drive. She thanks God for healing her. Please continue to pray for her during recovery. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home from the hospital and having rehab for the paralysis on one side of her body. Continue to pray for her recovery.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake,those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.