This was a tough chapter to read today. We sometimes joke that the devil made me do it. And we sometimes think the devil DID make me do it, but the truth of the matter Satan plants the seed of temptation in our mind and it is up to us whether or not to follow through on these temptations. If we allow the temptations to follow through into action, then we sin. I justify my sins thinking it won't hurt anyone but it does. Imagine throwing a pebble into a pond and watching the ripple effect - all those circles that form after the pebble plops through the surface of the water. The circles start where the pebble hits the water and the surrounding circles become larger and larger. The ripple effect can be far reaching. The surface of the water was peaceful before a pebble was thrown into the pond, it causes chaos and takes time to return to a peaceful state again. David's sin was far reaching today.
Chapter 21 verse 1 begins with Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of the land. I wondered what was so wrong with wanting to take a census, and came up with this - David wanted to know how many people were in his kingdom for the wrong reasons. The reasons were for pride, to see how much his kingdom had grown, and how big his army was. David tells Joab, the commander of the army, to take a census. Joab questions David about this, but David ignores Joab's advice and orders him to take the census. Joab makes a good point - all of David's subjects are the Lords people and does God really need a head count of everyone? Joab counts everyone except the clans of Benjamin and Levi because Joab finds this command from David repulsive.
Verse 7 God finds this census evil too, and he punishes David for his sin.
Verse 8 David confesses his sin, and confesses he has done a very foolish thing.
Verse 9 God speaks through Gad, David's seer. God gives David 3 choices as punishment for his sin.
I wondered why God chose to punish the whole nation, and not just David. Two thoughts come to mind, first - David is commander so his actions can be far reaching, and secondly maybe he wasn't the only person in Israel who was prideful and placed their great nation above God.
Here are the 3 punishments God gave David to choose from.
1.3 years of famine
2.3 months of being defeated by other armies
3. 3 days of a plague on his nation.
David pleads for mercy and God settles for the plague.
The plague begins, and 70,000 men die. As the Angel of the Lord descends up on Jerusalem to destroy the city, God commands the angel to stop as God observes the severity of his punishment. The angel is standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite when God orders him to stop the plague. David looked up and saw the angel, David and his elders fell face down on the ground. David pleads to God that only his family be punished, and spare his people. The angel of the Lord tells Gad to tell David to build an altar to God.
David buys the threshing floor from Araunah for a fair price and builds an altar to the Lord at the threshing floor. David gave up something - in this case money to show his sincerity for asking forgiveness for his sin. Verse 30 surprised me - David could not go to the tent where the Ark was because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.
Chapter 22 verse 1 David says that the house of the Lord is to be located at the threshing floor, and the altar of burnt offerings will be located here too.
Father God, we thank you for this reminder of how sin affects not only us but those around us. You have given us the life story of a great warrior David, and like any other man he sins. David accepts his punishment for sin but also pleads that others won't suffer for his sins and God showed mercy upon his request. I ask this day that when we sin we do not fear coming before your throne, we can come in fear and awe but not so fearful what we can't come to you. No matter what we have done, you will allow us to come to you. We will still be punished for our sin but in your mercy your punishment may be changed.
Tough lesson today how our actions impact others.
1 comment:
I do not remember ever reading God giving David a choice of punishments! I remember you saying to me once...."this action I'm doing is only affecting me." I've heard others say that as well, including my own daughter. So not true. It affects everyone watching. And God can allow great consequences. I learned in BSF....do what is right, and trust God with the consequences.
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