2 Samuel 23-24 Not A Way To End

David wanted something.  He wanted to see how big his army was.  Jewish law permitted a national census if a Temple tax was collected.  He didn’t want to bother with that, probably because the people would complain about the cost to them.  His army commander and general staff thought it was wrong and told him so.  He ordered it done anyway.  Was it a matter of “I’m the king and I’ll do what I want”?  We’ll never know.

 

During the nine months it took to do the census, David could have relented and repented and called it all off, knowing he was wrong.  But he didn’t.  My commentary said:

 

“Sometimes God’s greatest judgment is simply to let us have our own way … David’s sin with Bathsheba was a sin of the flesh … But the census was a sin of the spirit, a willful act of rebellion against God.  It was motivated by pride … Pride is the ground in which all other sins grow.”

 

It also noted:  “Scripture makes a distinction between sudden sins of passion and willful sins of rebellion and treats the guilty party differently … David sinned against a flood of light.”

 

God gave David 3 choices of punishment:  Years of famine, military defeat, or disease.  People would likely revolt against his throne during years of famine or following multiple battle losses.  But disease was God’s province alone, and David trusted God’s mercy despite his sin.

 

The judgment angel killed 70,000 Israelites in 3 days of sickness, then God extended mercy and halted the killing.  The prophet then told David God wanted an altar built where the judgment angel halted.  It “just so happened” to be the same spot where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.  Solomon would one day build God’s Temple on that very spot.  First David had to acquire it.  The owner offered it as a gift, but “David knew the high cost of sinning, and he refused to give the Lord something that had cost him nothing,” my commentary said.

 

Father, help me to see clearly the high cost of my sin before I yield to temptation.  Help me to know what I could possibly lose and make it abundantly clear to me.  Also, never let me forget that the highest cost of my sin was the death of Your Son on the cross to pay for it.  That alone should get my attention.  Thank You for Your mercy and love!

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford