Worship the LORD

Read 2 Samuel 21, 24, 1 Chronicles 21-22, Psalm 30  
 
2 Samuel 24:1-3 Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census…10 But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.”…15 So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.
 
GOD was angry with Israel. We do not know a specific sin. But sadly we aren’t surprised. Israel’s pattern was to consistently distance themselves from the Covenant God’s holy law. To cleanse the nation again, the LORD God incited David to sin, so the sin would be the tool of his judgment. This means he permitted Satan and sin to influence David. It is written this way in 1 Chronicles 21:1 Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.
   Once again, the Bible teaches the LORD does not create sin; he allows sin in the world as a means to fulfill his purpose. For example, God showed this in Peter’s sin against Jesus: Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Notice Jesus didn’t pray for Satan to stop. He could have done so and kept Satan from Peter. Instead, he prayed for Peter’s protection through the temptation and to his repentance. God used Satan to incite Peter to sin in order to sift Peter into a more humble, obedient servant. Peter needed to know his sin, and he needed to know repentance. He would be a much more effective preacher with that personal experience.
   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. A census properly done was God’s command to determine the one-half shekel temple tax. But David wanted to know the great number of soldiers under his command. It seemed he desired to feel the pride of his accomplishments. And perhaps he did not trust God’s protection as completely as he should have.
   God is displeased when we say, “Look what I have done!” He desires we credit him for all we are and have. God’s rebuke would be a lesson to David, to Israel and to the next generations. Prayerfully it is a lesson for us.
   David repents. He sees God’s death angel hold back his sword from Jerusalem. He submits his family and himself to God’s justice. David interceded for his people as Christ would 1,000 years later. He obeyed God’s command to purchase Araunah’s threshing floor. It is here the temple will be built under Solomon’s reign.
   God used his judgment to clear the way for a new age in Israel. He has used this judging, restoring process through the Flood, through Israel’s 40-year wandering, and through the Judges. He is about to begin this process with the prophets under the kings to come.