David – God’s Judgement Tool

Read 2 Samuel 24:1-17   
 
2 Samuel 24:1 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?”…10 David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”…15 So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.
 
THIS final chapter of 2 Samuel could easily be two separate chapters as they describe very different elements of David’s final years on the throne. First, God uses David’s sin to judge Israel. How does this make sense?
    We do not read of a specific sin. But Israel’s pattern was consistently distance themselves from the LORD’s holy law. The LORD’s response is to incite David to sin. This means he permitted Satan and sin to influence David. Once again, we understand the Bible teaches the LORD does not create sin; he allows it in the world as a tool to fulfill his purpose. For example, God exhibits this in Peter’s sin against Jesus: Luke 22:31-34 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Jesus didn’t pray for Satan to stop, but he prayed for Peter’s protection through the temptation. God incited Peter to sin in order to sift him into a more humble, obedient servant.
    David, too, needed more humility. Even at the end of his reign when God had saved him from so much opposition, David still exhibited too much pride. David wanted to know the great number of soldiers under his command to be satisfied in his accomplishments. Too often we count God’s provision to say, “Look what I have done!” God’s rebuke would be a lesson to David, to Israel and to the next generations. David repents. He is willing that he and his family be a substitution for Israel – an echo of the Christ to come.
    This judgment is also a lesson for Jesus’ church right now. With humility, know all comes from God. Seek, obey the sovereign Lord’s will.
    Pause now and consider, “What am I counting?” Is it the number of things, the amount of money or valued possessions – or is it your relationship with Jesus? Does pride or humility direct your desires? Be thankful you can count on Jesus’ salvation. Be God’s tool of grace.
 
Romans 4:7-8 “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”