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2 Samuel 24

“Sinful Census”. 2 Samuel 24. “Who Started It?”. “Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah’” (2 Samuel 24:1). “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1).

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2 Samuel 24

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  1. “Sinful Census” 2 Samuel 24

  2. “Who Started It?” • “Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah’” (2 Samuel 24:1). • “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1).

  3. “What was Wrong with It?” • David’s military commander Joab, who did not have a sensitive moral conscience even knew that this was wrong (24:3). • In spite of Joab’s objections, David was unmoved, and yet shortly after the census is taken, David himself will acknowledge the sinfulness of his actions (24:8 “I have sinned greatly”). • David’s sin was pride and ambition in counting the people so that he could glory in the size of his nation and army, his army rather in God’s ability to protect them regardless of their number. We sin in a similar way when we place our security in money, possessions, or the might of our nation” (Life Application Bible, p. 488).

  4. God’s Mercy: The Three Options • God in His grace would allow David to choose what punishment he should experience because of his sin. • The alternatives were seven years of famine, three months of flight before his enemies or three days of pestilence. • David chose the third option, throwing himself on the mercy of God. • “When you sin greatly, turn back to God. To be punished by Him is far better than to take your chances without Him” (Life Application Bible, p. 489).

  5. “A Divine Purpose” • The plague quickly hit and 70,000 men died, and yet David did not die. • The Bible does not say why God was angry with the nation. Perhaps it had been due to their support of the rebellions of Absalom (chapters 15-18) and Sheba (chapter 20), or perhaps, there equally had put their trust in military and financial prosperity instead of God.

  6. “A Divine Purpose” • God may have allowed the census, because David’s momentary pride was nothing more than a symptom of a larger problem. “God dealt with the whole nation through David who exemplified the national sin of pride” (Life Application Bible, p. 489). • Thus, when God allows a temptation to happen it can be something necessary to the life of an individual, life of a nation or life of a congregation. If God had not allowed this, then David may have never faced up to the sin that had been lurking in his heart. Yet, we equally know that David was not tempted against his will (1 Corinthians 10:13).

  7. “Mercy” • “The Lord was grieved... Enough!” (24:16) • As the angel of the Lord approached the major population center of Jerusalem, God stayed His hand. • “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies... Therefore, repent and live” (Ezekiel 18:32). • “I suppose the story seems amazing to us because we do not customarily associate gorillas with kindness. I wonder if in our gut-level thinking we don’t have a gorilla view of God’s mercies? We tend to look upon mercy as a divine exception rather than as the divine character. Not so with David” (Davis, p. 320).

  8. “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it” (Genesis 18:32) • “When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand... for the Lord was merciful to them” (Genesis 19:16) • “Thy mercy is great to the heavens” (Psalm 57:10) • “Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee” (Psalm 86:5) • Individuals who “end up” in condemnation are those who have persisted in their sin – until the very end.

  9. The Necessity of Atonement • David was quickly told to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite (24:18). • Observe that David actually sees this angel (24:17). • David’s words on this occasion have challenged believers ever since, “I will not offer burnt offerings to Yahweh my God which costs me nothing”. • “David understood the religious imperative of true sacrifice. For him, religion that cost nothing was worth nothing, either to God or humanity” (Bergen, p. 480).

  10. Closing Observations • Do we really appreciate what it means to have a God-provided, God-directed means of atonement? • We can stop sinning or stop a sin, but that never solves the problem. Wrath is still present even after people stop a sin. • The problem is never resolved until there is true repentance, atonement and forgiveness.

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