SCRIPTURE: 2 SAMUEL 24
DAVID COUNTS THE FIGHTING MEN (vs. 1-17)
David took a census of Israel for 9 months and 20 days. There were 800 thousand able bodied men who could handle a sword and 500 in Judah. David was conscience stricken and asked forgiveness from God. The Lord gave him three options to choose: First – three years of famine in their land. Second – 3 moths of fleeing from the pursue of the enemies; Third – three days of plagues. David chose the third one. So the Lord sent plagues on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and 70,000 people from Dan to Beersheba died.
DAVID BUILDS AN ALTAR (vs. 18-25)
God told David to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing flour of Araunah. So David went there and Araunah met him. David told him that he would build an altar for the Lord so that the plague on the people may be stopped. Araunah offered to give him the threshing floor with his oxen for offering together with the threshing sledges and ox yoke for the wood. But David insisted of paying him because he would not sacrifice burnt offering to the Lord that costs him nothing. David paid 50 shekels and build an altar to the Lord and sacrificed brunt and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land and the plague was stopped.
THOUGHTS:
Counting the military men suggested that David was interested in determining his military strength. He ignored Joab’s inquiry why he had to take the census when God can multiply their troops. It was the sin of pride that prompted David to take that census. As a consequence, God gave three options of punishment for David to choose.
David had a shepherd’s heart. He did not want to watch the people suffering from plague and died. He repented of his sins and paid the full price for the sacrifice of burnt offering and fellowship offering.