What exactly did David do wrong here in 2 Samuel 24? This was not the first time a census had been taken in Israel (i.e. book of Numbers). So, what is the problem here? The problem with this was obvious to Joab, and, as soon as the census was taken, it became obvious to David. This represented a gesture of trust in military resources rather than in God. Remember that the narrator has just given us a list of incredible feats that were achieved by David’s mighty men, who, after David’s own example, sought to defy all the odds by their faith. It is clear here that strength of numbers is irrelevant to God. The Kingdom advances by faith alone. God will use our abilities, but it is not our abilities that extend his Kingdom. It is our faith. Remember too how Gideon was told by God that he would not win the battle against the Midianites because he had ‘too many men’ (Judges 7:2)? God wants faith before ability. David’s lapse of faith was effectively a rejection of God and, as the writer of the parallel account in Chronicles points out, was therefore a capitulation to Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1). Because David did this as king the whole nation would suffer. He was the spiritual head of the house of Israel, and he opened the ‘back door’ to give Satan a claim on his house. As a result, many suffered. Our lapses of faith inevitably affect those for whom we are responsible. When you turn away from God you inevitably block the blessing that God wants to give others through you.
Think about what you are trusting in.
Read 2 Samuel 24:1-17
