2 Samuel 24 -- Heartbreaking

It takes combining 1 Chronicles 21 with this chapter to get the full picture of what was going on, according to my commentary.  2 Samuel states that God incited David to number the people, while 1 Chronicles 21 names Satan as the culprit.  Both are true:  God permitted Satan to tempt David in order to accomplish His purposes He had in mind ... This is one of four instances in the Old Testament where Satan is named specifically and seen openly at work."

A census was permitted if the rules laid down in Exodus 30:11-16 were followed, which included a temple tax, but David didn't direct that the tax be collected.  "He wanted a military census to see how big his army was ... Joab's speech in verse 3 suggests that David's command was motivated by pride.  The king wanted to magnify his own achievements rather than glorify the Lord ... The Lord was displeased ... but He permitted  ... the counting ... Sometimes God's greatest judgment is simply to let us have our own way."

"Realizing that he had been foolish in pursuing the project, David confessed his sin and sought the Lord's face ... When he confessed his sin of adultery and murder, David said, 'I have sinned', but when he confessed his sin of numbering the people, he said, 'I have sinned greatly'... David saw the enormity of what he had done."

"David's sin with Bathsheba was a sin of the flesh, a yielding to lust ... but the census was a sin of the spirit, a willful act of rebellion against God ... motivated by pride, and pride is number one on the list of the sins that God hates ... Both Scripture and civil law make a distinction between sudden sins of passion and willful sins of rebellion."

"God in His grace forgives our sins when we confess them, but in His righteous government He allows us to reap the consequences.  In this case, the Lord even gave David the privilege of choosing the consequences ... Knowing the mercy of the Lord, David wisely chose pestilence for his punishment."

"We must note that 24:1 says that God was angry with Israel, and not with David, so He must have been punishing the people for some sin they had committed."

God told David to purchase Ornan's threshing floor for use as an altar.  David insisted on paying for it even though Ornan offered to give it to him.  "David knew the high cost of sinning and he refused to give the Lord something that had cost him nothing ... The land that David purchased was no ordinary piece of property, for it was the place where Abraham had put his son Isaac on the altar and where Solomon would build the Temple."

"David's two greatest sins were his adultery with Bathsheba and the numbering of the people.  But out of those two greatest sins, God build a temple!  Bathsheba gave birth to Solomon and God chose him to succeed David on the throne... Solomon built His temple and dedicated it to the glory of God ... Knowing what God did for David does encourage us to seek His face and trust His grace when we have disobeyed Him.  'But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.'"

Father, thank You for Your provision for my sin -- the death of Your own Son.  My sin is costly, and as I am about to reach a point where I might choose to sin again, remind me of the nails in His hands and feet.  Remind me of what my sin costs You.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford