October 20, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Samuel? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Samuel 24 (NIV)
David Enrolls the Fighting Men
1 Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”
2 So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.”
3 But Joab replied to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?”........Continue Reading
David starts this chapter struggling with a pride issue…not something all that uncommon for all of us. Once again Joab is there to draw attention to this issue. God puts people in our lives quite strategically and we should all be so blessed to have a Joab that always speaks truth in love when needed.
David quickly realizes his pride has gotten the better of him and also realizes consequences will come. Imagine God allowing you to choose your punishment and David shows his wisdom and faith by choosing to receive punishment from God’s hand and not man’s and begs that the punishment fall on him because he was the one that disobeyed however his actions still cost the lives of 70,000! Our sin always effects the people around us.
Did a bit of internet research to find out why taking a census was wrong and came across Exodus 30:11&12
Then the Lord said to Moses, “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.
2 Samuel 24
It is sometimes hard to understand how the people can suffer the consequences of the ruler/king of the country before the Lord. I guess it is because we are in a time of grace, when the Lord Himself took on our sins and gives us His righteousness to stand before Him. And even so, like David, we make mistakes and step out of God’s will. I am thankful for God’s covenants and that He keeps them.
“And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”
It is an odd account closing out this book. It starts with God being upset about the behavior of Israel. They were not honoring Him and so discipline was necessary to get them on track. So David is incited to do something that he should know is wrong. It is a test of faith, that if he passes, things would have worked out differently. David’s trust was to be in God, not the number of fighting men he had. What things do we count that gives a little comfort when our dependence should be on Him? Even Joab knows that David shouldn’t do this and this time he is right to challenge the king and be the iron that should be sharpening his sovereign. It is interesting that Judah has more fighting men per capita than the other tribes put together. But it shouldn’t matter and David knows it’s wrong once he hears the numbers. It is right for us to have a conscience that holds our thoughts and actions up to God and His standards and prompts us when we are wrong. What a blessing to be in the church age where Jesus sacrifice and our dependence on that frees us from the guilt of sin. But David is rightly confessional in bringing his sin to God.
How daunting it is to choose your punishment but how right David is to place himself in God’s hands and not the hands of men. He is also right to seek for judgement to come to him rather than the people, and yet it was their unrighteousness that caused the problem in the first place. And sacrifices are the means to bring atonement, and it is right for David to build an altar where the boundary line had been set. And we find here a guiding principle for life: I don’t want to give God something that doesn’t cost me. Sacrifice shows faith, appreciation and commitment. All valuable things for us to express as we too give to God.
2 Samuel 24
Seems like Israel is at peace at this time. So why take a census of fighting men. Tough way to see Davis at this point to put his faith in numbers. I do it every day. Looking at my strengths in this life instead of drawing strength from above. This pandemic has taught me a few things. Number one. How vulnerable we are as human beings. And totally relying on the lord. In this life you will have tribulations. But take heart. I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!!!
2 Samuel 24
2 Samuel 24