The Hand Of The Lord
March 9 | Rick Thiemke
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2 Samuel 24:10-25
The Lord's Judgment of David's Sin
10 But David's heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 11 And when David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you. Choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 13 So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him, “Shall three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”
15 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel from the morning until the appointed time. And there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70,000 men. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.”
David Builds an Altar
18 And Gad came that day to David and said to him, “Go up, raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up at Gad's word, as the Lord commanded. 20 And when Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. And Araunah went out and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. 21 And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, that the plague may be averted from the people.” 22 Then Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Here are the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood. 23 All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God accept you.” 24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.
Today’s text brings us to another incident in the life of David. Although the text raises many questions, it is also rich with Gospel insights. The account of this incident is also recorded in 1 Chronicles 21 - with a bit more detail.
David decides to take a census of all fighting men (verse 2). Even Joab, a murderer who was not godly or moral, begged King David not to count them (verse 3). David did not heed the warning, but chose to do it anyway.
Obedience When It Doesn’t Make Sense
Why was this census wrong? The ultimate reason is that God did not want David to do it. When God says no, our response should be obedience. In all of life, whether it is a sexual ethic or financial stewardship, His ways are meant to lead to life and as His people we must always follow. Whether they make sense to us or not, yielding to them must be our response.
Our culture finds this kind of obedience unbearable and unacceptable. We usually lean into our pragmatism and assess whether His rules make sense. We obey only if we understand them and agree with them. This is arrogance and pride. In Genesis 3 we see this pragmatism and arrogance on display.
The military census was prideful, lacked faith and trust in God and hinted at a plan of military aggression that mimicked other nations. The more powerful nations plundered the weaker nations. This was not God’s way. God wanted them to trust in Him for security and prosperity. God is to be their security and treasure.
Judgment is pronounced (verses 11-13), but David must choose which form it will take:
three years of famine,
three years of enemy attack, or
three days of plague.
David gives the choice back to God and displays confidence that God will exercise judgment with mercy. The judgment is terrible, as 70,000 people die when a plague spreads across the country (verse 15). There must be judgment because God is just. ions.
Grace Comes
As judgment is about to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relents and says, “enough” (verse 16). David sees the suffering and is heartbroken. He offers himself: Let me (the shepherd) take the judgment (instead of the sheep) - let your hand fall on me and my family (verse 17).
A thousand years later Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). David’s prayer would be answered. The judgment of God fell on David’s offspring.
The threshing-floor of Araunah - Mount Moriah is a significant place. It is where Abraham raised his hand to slay Isaac in obedience, but God stopped him and provided a sacrifice. In our text, judgment is again averted on this site. On this same site, Jesus hung on a cross. Once again, the hand of the Father was raised - just like it was over Isaac - but this time it was not withdrawn. There was no alternative. The judgment of God for human rebellion fell on Jesus and judgment was averted from God’s people.
Isaac was spared after a journey of three days. Jerusalem was spared after three days of the plague. And after three days Jesus rose from the dead and judgment was gone. Your judgment is gone if you put yourself in His hands.
Discussion Questions
In what areas of your life do you struggle with obedience when God’s guidance doesn’t seem to align with your understanding or desires?
David’s quick repentance is highlighted as a sign of spiritual maturity. How can we cultivate a similar attitude of humility and quick acknowledgment of our own failures?
How does the story of David and the subsequent plague illustrate the balance between God’s justice and His mercy? How does this relate to your personal experiences?