(TEXT : 2 Samuel 24:1)
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
FOCUS :
2 Samuel 24:2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
The word “again” in our Bible text: signals the fact that the Lord had been angry with Israel many time before. (1Chroni 21) says, “And Satan…provoked David to number Israel.” There is no contradiction. While Satan did this, it was the Lord who allowed it to be done. Why? The evidence seems to be that both David and Israel had grown prideful in the power of the Nation, seemingly forgetting that is was the Lord who gave all of this. The taking of the census was not unlawful or displeasing to God; however, the reason it was taken, and the neglect of the Word of God, is what made it so sinful. When a census was taken, a half-shekel of sliver, with sliver being a token of Redemption, was to be paid for each man numbered (Ex 30:11-16). This portrayed the fact that Israel blessing and prosperity were anchored solely in the shed blood of the lamb. This is the reason that all were to pay the same amount alike. In the matter of Atonement, all worshippers stood on one common ground – slain lamb. David ignored this extremely important Command of the Lord.
In addition, the Holy Spirit documented the census, and it took Joab and the people that went with him through the entire Israel, nine months and twenty days (2Sam 24:8). And the report given to David after the census was: there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the swords, and five hundred thousand men (2Sam 24:9).
2 Samuel 24:10-11 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
One of the chief operation of the Holy Spirit is smite with conviction when sin has been committed. The modern Church is trying to eliminate this capacity of the Holy Spirit; however, to eliminate any part of His Work is to eliminate Him altogether. He will not function with half measure. To be forgiven of sin, one has to admit that one has sinned, and do so to the Lord (1John 1:9). The Lord alone can take away our iniquity, and He does such by virtue of Christ and what He has done on the Cross. The Cross is the only answer for sin, which was typified by the Altar if the Tabernacle (Heb 10:12-14). For sin make fools even out of the wisest and the most brilliant of men. The ministry of the Prophet is to call the nation and, in this case, the king, to righteousness. While the Prophet at time foretell the greater part of his or her ministry is to call the nation and the Church to Repentance; most of all, the Prophet is a Preacher of righteousness (Matt 3:1-12).
Finally, 2 Samuel 24:13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
There is always a penalty to sin; even though the Lord forgives and cleanses, there is still a penalty. However, it is the Lord alone who stipulate and carries out the penalty, and not man. Even though David committed this great sin before God, God still gave him three opportunity choices to choose the kind of penalty that can be measured to his sin. It can only be God who can do this, for men, men will always judge “by the leading of the flesh but God only judge by the leading of His Spirit;” that is the big difference between men and God. But either by men or by God, “NO SIN WILL GO UNPUNISHED.”
2 Samuel 24:24-25 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
So, that is why when David sees that his sin has gone beyond repair, he also knew there has to be sacrifice that must be paid. And that is why when Araunah offered David all the offering for free for the “Atonement” of his sin, he told him that “he won’t give to God that which will cost him nothing.” There is a “plague” called “sin” that is destroying this world, and causing multiple hundreds of millions to be internally lost. There is only one cure for that plague, and that is the precious, atoning, Vicarious Offering of the Blood if the Lord Jesus Christ, which was done at the Cross, and our acceptance of Him. All the Churches in the world will never stay the “plague.” All the good works, good intentions, money, religion, prestige, title, position, connection, or education will stop this plague of sin. Only the precious Blood of Jesus Christ can.
BE SAFE AND GET SAVED!
God bless you richly!
Jesus Christ loves you
Thank you Holy Spirit
ARE YOU SAVED?
T.O AKINSANYA
PRINCE ORATORTEE