Judgment For David’s Sin

I Chronicles 21:1–17
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The writer did not state David’s motivation for taking a census of Israel except to say that Satan caused him to do so (v.11).  Unlike the census taken in the book of Numbers (Numbers 1:2) that God had ordered, it appears that this census was taken so David could take pride in the strength of his army. This suggests that he was beginning to trust more in military power than in God.

Satan moved David to take a census. Satan only tempted David with the idea, but David decided to act on the temptation. God also provided a way out through the counsel of Joab but David refused to take his advice and ordered the census to be taken. David’s census was not against God’s law, but his reason for the census was wrong as he took pride in his mighty army.

When David realized his sin he took full responsibility, admitted he was wrong and asked God to forgive him. The consequences of David’s sin, however had already caused severe damage as 70,000 people died by a plague. When David pled for mercy God responded by stopping the death angel before his mission was complete. God’s halting of the plague is one of the most dramatic scenes in the Old Testament.  The “sword of the Lord” in the hand of the angel (v. 12) had been slaying the people of Israel by the tens of thousands as the plague marched through the land.

Application

David’s sin of putting confidence in military might alone was idolatry. To allow anything to take God’s place in my life is sinful and may cause disastrous consequences. God will always forgive my sins and will make the bitter consequences less severe, but the scars will remain.