2 Samuel Chapter 24 Verses 1 – 2

 Ok, we have an interesting issue here in these first few verses because

we have a statement that God is not pleased with His people but then

we have a consequence that is scripturally problematic. Numbering the

people was something God had spoken through Moses that should

only be done a certain way. And if it was done any other way, a plague

was coming as a consequence.

 Exodus 30:12, “When you take a census of the children of Israel for

their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the

Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among

them when you number them.” Why? The principle is simple. God

wanted His people to trust in Him, not in their own might.

 So, the issue we have with these first few verses of our text is that it

appears God is either contradicting Himself or He is moving David to

sin. Both of which he cannot do. Good news…, 1 Chronicles 21 helps

us…

 1 Chronicles 21:1 gives us a parallel account of our text and we read,

“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number

Israel.” The “he” therefore in verse 1 of 2 Samuel 24 is not God but it

is Satan.

 We aren’t given how Satan moved David. We don’t need it. David

knew the Word of God and he chose to heed what he was hearing,

feeling, whatever it was rather than the Word of God. Which tells me

something sinister and dark… That whenever someone sins it is

influenced by the demonic realm. No surprise there.

2 Samuel Chapter 24 Verses 3 – 10

 We read here that David’s heart condemned him after he had

numbered the people which is interesting and too bad because its too

late. The word for condemned in the Hebrew means to strike or smite.

So, we are reading here of personal conviction that I think is rightfully

translated condemnation (and I’ll explain why). The word in the

Hebrew is actually, “naka,” as in, “knock it off!” HA!

 Conviction of heart precedes one of two things. Repentance unto

relief or avoidance unto consequence. Conviction is a very good

thing and there is a real difference between conviction and

condemnation. Conviction is a call to stop, it’s wrong, it’s bad for you

or him or her or them. Stop now before its too late. Once it’s too late,

that personal conviction turns into personal condemnation.

Consequence is unavoidable, and you have only yourself to blame…

 It took them 10 months to finish the counting of the people and yet we

don’t read of David’s conviction during those 10 months. That’s too

bad because now its too late. Perhaps the only virtuous detail here is

that as soon as his hard heart woke up, he takes accountability and

takes it to the Lord.

 Notice he asks for God to negate His own word. I understand that ask

from David. But, that’s not how it works. God remains faithful even

when we are faithless. He cannot deny Himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 tells

us that…

2 Samuel Chapter 24 Verses 11 – 15

 Certainly, a unique instance of grace in the scripture as God gives

David a choice of consequence. You’ve heard it said, you can choose

your sin but you cannot choose your consequence…, well, not the case

here…

 David’s choice here does show repentance and also wisdom. First,

repentance. Part of repentance is accountability. If David had chosen

famine, he would have been fine. The king had the key to the

storehouse. If he had chosen three months of fleeing before his

enemies, he would have been fine. David is beyond the years of battle.

Only his mighty men would have been lost. David chose the only

option that would possibly affect him and his family, personally…

 A part of dealing with things in life involves facing consequence. It’s

one of the hardest things to do because it is one of the easiest things

to avoid. Denial, defense, deflection and avoidance are all options.

Moving, leaving the job, divorce, blocking folks on social media, it

just keeps getting easier to not actually deal with things, grow up and

increase in character. True repentance is very very easy to identify

because all the blaming stops and all accommodation begins…

 David’s choice also shows great wisdom. Proverbs 9:10-11 says, “The

fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the

Holy One is understanding. For by Me your days will be multiplied,

and years of life will be added to you.” Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear

of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

 David knows the heart of God. He is a man after God’s own heart. So

important to study the scriptures and to serve your fellow man, but in

all of that if you miss the seeking, learning and understanding of

God’s heart, you’ve missed everything. David knows God is just,

man is not. So, he chooses wisely. To put himself entirely into the

hands of God and safe from the hands of man.

2 Samuel Chapter 24 Verses 16 – 17

 Oddities amongst oddities! First, the plague was administered by an

angel!? What to do with that? NO clue. That’s a tough one but that

does tell us that when we see things like Covid or whatever, an

element of the healing includes (if not should be led by) prayer! So

many issues in life that we call natural have such a spiritual element

to them and we miss it with all of our modern securities and

remedies!

 And how is it that David “sees” the angel with his hand stretched out

over the land! The word in the Hebrew could also mean, “perceived”

so it could just be that David believed the word of Gad and by faith

was able to see what was actually going on. Perhaps not though. It

very well could be that he saw with his eyes…

 Also, a sure sign of repentance. David wanted to do everything he

could to protect others from the consequence of his sin. It’s

difficult, very very hard, because most always sin involves other

people, but the truly repentant, the one who will grow in character and

wisdom, not just knowledge from consequence, will always look like

someone doing all they can to shield others from aftereffects of their

portion of the sin.

 And you know what, this is one of the things I wish I didn’t know.

Honestly. Because now when I see others not doing this, not doing all

they can, I immediately (and unfortunately rightfully so) sense

cruelty. If there is something you can do and yet you leave it undone,

that is cruel. Cruelty is something I immediately, and always will,

condemn and it really puts my own loyalty to Jesus to the test to try

and serve someone who is cruel. I’d much rather not…

2 Samuel Chapter 24 Verse 18

 Notice the grace of God. After David’s repentance, God invites him

right back into worship. Some never come back. Unworthy and

fallen and failed…, we all can claim these titles. But not everyone

returns to worship. Why? Yes, we could chalk it up to the

condemnation of the accuser of the brethren. Listening to the

enemy…, but that’s an easy button and something folks (frankly)

immature in the faith in certain places say….

 The fact is that a person that knows the Lord and truly repents, that

person will always return to worship because that is what God desires.

It is who He is. He deals with it, chastises, and when the wisdom and

character growth is there, He wants you and is pleased when you get

right back at it!

 What’s cool about this specific location is that according to 2

Chronicles 3:1, the threshing floor of Araunah was on Mount Moriah.

Where Abraham almost scarified Issac, where the temple would be

built and where Jesus would be crucified. The place of ultimate

reconciliation of all men to God.

2 Samuel Chapter 24 Verses 19 – 25

 It is an odd way to end the book however it does end with a

cornerstone principle. Not of worship, not of obedience, not of

religiosity, but of a man that was after God’s own heart. From the first

of sacrifice and offering in the Bible, that of Cain and Able, to the

ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this principle is present.

 David says, “I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing.” An

expression of love. An expression of adoration and valuation. And a

key secret to growth in the Lord.

 It’s been said that love is the costliest of all undertakings. And the first

and only commandment of Jesus is that we would love the Lord your

God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And that we would

love others as Christ has loved us… If your Christianity is costing you

little then your Christianity is little…

 In the great commandment of Jesus is this principle and the reward is

that when we give all to the Lord, we gain all. Perhaps that is the

theme, story, reason, the message we are to receive for the details we

are given of the Chronicles of David’s life…