LISTEN AND PAY ATTENTION

2 Samuel 24

I will be the first to admit that I don't understand all of this passage, but I want to make observations on what I do understand.

First, David did not please the Lord.

Apparently wanting to take a census of all of the fighting men David had at his disposal constituted an ego trip on David's part.
v 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."

God uses even our helpers to guide us, but we need to be willing to listen.
v 3. ...But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?

However, David was the King, and as King, he could do whatever he wanted to do; and he did!
v 4. The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

v 9. Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king

It didn't take David long to be convicted of his sin because, in spite of himself, his heart was tender toward God.
v 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.'"

We see an example for us. When we have sinned, we must confess our sins right away and God will always be compassionate toward us.

We also see through this passage that God uses others to speak reproof to us, and our sins can affect innocent people.

v 11-15 Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer: "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.' So Gad went to David and said to him, 'Shall there come upon you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.' David said to Gad, 'I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.' 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.

As we read further in this passage, we see that even the Lord was grieved because so many were paying for David's sin and had died.

There are consequences for our sins and often times others have to pay the price; such as victims of abuse, families of murder victims, victims of alcoholics, etc., etc.

But the thing that this passage teaches us is that while there is always a price to pay for sin, forgiveness is available to us.

Dear Lord, please keep our hearts tender so that others do not have to be victimized by our sins. Thank you for being so tender and forgiving toward us. Amen

Marilyn Willett Heavilin

Marilyn is a wife and mother, author, and international conference and retreat speaker. She and her husband Glen serve as Counselors-in-Residence at America's KESWICK during the summer months.

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 100
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.