It seems David can’t stay out of trouble when he has time on his hands. The last time he did something foolish was when he stayed home from battle (2 Samuel 11:1–2). Instead of conquering the enemy, the enemy within himself conquered him, and David committed adultery and murder. Though God forgave him and spared his life, he lives with the consequences of his sin. His family will live with it long after he is dead.
In today’s reading, David has subjected his enemies and entered a time of calm and peace. With time on his hands, David does something foolish; He numbers the people, provoking God. Now, taking a census the correct way was expensive. It was an event for all Israel (Exodus 30:11–16). It cost everyone something. That is not the census David is looking to take; he is going around the law to get a number—that displeases God! (The king is not above God’s law in God’s eyes!)
Just as God did in the first instance, He does so in this instance. He sends a seer (prophet) to confront David. Gad gives David a choice between three punishments: famine, destruction by the enemy’s sword, or a severe plague. David throws himself at God’s mercy to choose punishment for him. Still, God chooses the punishment he already said He would bring, which was written in the law—the plague (Exodus 30:12).
Seventy thousand people die in short order from the plague. More were about to die, including everyone in Jerusalem. David is so distraught that he asks God to allow his family to bear the brunt of the judgment that innocent lives could be spared (1 Chronicles 21:16–17). God responds with an answer—build an altar! And make it in a specific place, not just anywhere.
Notice the mark of true repentance—the change of heart that shows humility before God.
And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” (1 Chronicles 21:22–24, ESV)
Ornan would gladly give his king what he needed, but David insists on paying the full price. Why should Ornan suffer a great financial loss because of the king’s sin? David will not make that mistake, though it would have been an easy response to God’s judgment for his sin. True repentance produces humility. This humility seeks to make things right, even at great cost. We all know that talk is cheap!
The lesson I see in these two events in David’s life is to walk in humility and watch against pride. And when I sin, I must humble myself and truly repent, even though it may cost me something to make it right. Let us rejoice that God accepts a contrite spirit!
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. (Psalm 51:17, NLT)
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalm 30.