A Census that displeases the Lord

I Chronicles Chapter 21

Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the Israelites. He sent Joab out to give orders to his commanders to count the people. Joab asked David what the reason was for this census. He argued that they were all David's servants and it would cause Israel to sin.

But David insisted that Joab take the census. When Joab returned, he reported 1,100,000 men eligible for military service in Israel and 470,000 in Judah. He did not include the tribes of Benjamin and Levi because he was distressed at what the king had made him do.

God was indeed displeased with the census and punished Israel for it. Then David asked God for forgiveness and the Lord spoke to David through a seer. The message told David he had three choices for punishment and God was letting David pick his punishment. The choices were: three years of famine, three months of destruction by Israel's enemies, or three days of severe plague as the Angel of the Lord brought devastation.

David was devastated and begged God for mercy. So the Lord sent a plague upon the people and seventy thousand people died as a result. God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But just as the angel was preparing to destroy it, the Lord relented and made the angel stop. At the moment the angel was told to stop, he was standing by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

David looked up and saw the angel standing between heaven and earth with his sword drawn, stretch out over Jerusalem. So David and leaders of Israel put on sackcloth to show their distress, and fell down with their faces on the ground. David called out to God that he was the one who sinned, the people were innocent. He asked God to let his anger fall on himself and his family, but not to destroy the people. Then the Angel told Gad to instruct David to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David did as instructed. Aranunah also saw the angel and his four sons ran away and hid. Araunah bowed before David. And David said to him that he would buy the threshing room floor at full price and build an altar there so the Lord would stop the plague.

Araunah offered his property free to David along with oxen for burnt offerings and tools for wood to build a fire and wheat for a grain offering. But David insisted on paying him for the items and built the altar. And when David prayed, the Lord answered him by sending fire from heaven to burn the offerings. When David saw the Lord had answered his prayer, he offered sacrifices. At that time, the Tabernacle of the Lord and altar of Moses were at the hill of Gibeon. But David was not able to be there to inquire of God, because he was terrified by the drawn sword of the angel of God.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: This census was a disaster, unlike other censuses, because David used it to take pride in the strength of his army. He was beginning to take more trust in military power than in the power of God. Joab, who was not a man of high morals, recognized the census as a sin. David's motives were very wrong.

Why did God have so many innocent people die and not take David's life? David deserved punishment, but his death wuld have resulted in political chaos and invastion by enemy armies and hundreds of thousands would have died. Instead, God spared David's life and put a stop to the plague. We cannot know fully the mind of God in this judgment. But we do know that putting one's confidence in the military alone, is idolatry.

When David refused to take Araunah's land as a gift, he did so because an offering should cost the giver in terms of self, time or money. It needs to mean something. Giving to God what costs you nothing, does not demonstrate commitment.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? The imagery of the Bible is at its best in this chapter when we imagine the angel of the Lord standing with sword drawn, ready to wipe out Jerusalem. No wonder Araunah's sons ran in terror, wouldn't you? The consequences of David' sin were set in motion. But God always forgives our sins if we ask for his mercy and are sincere in asking. Once again, David relied on his own strength instead of his faith. He was tempted by the devil.Satan is mentioned by name in this chapter. He is always waiting to tempt us. Our own self-sufficiency can be our downfall. Don't let Satan get a foothold. Pray and focus on your faith in God.

Yours in faith,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. 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. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
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 , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues..
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.
Pray for the speedy recovery of Sandy in Minnesota who underwent successful brain surgery for a tumor recently.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.