David’s Census Temptation

Synopsis     1Chron 20:5-21:7     1/16/2020 

After David had brought Aram under subjugation, war broke out against the Philistines. Goliath’s brother had become a leader in Gath. And he led the Philistines against Israel. However, he was soundly defeated.  

And so, Israel experienced peace on all its borders. But with peace, David became tempted. As a result, he was motivated to count the people in a census.

Even though Joab discouraged the command, David ordered the census. So, Joab conducted the census as ordered. Once the report came in, God’s wrath flared against Israel and David. 

David’s Temptation 

David was a king – a powerful man with an important job. So, he wanted to understand his resources. He wanted to know what he had to work with in the case of any eventuality. 

But God is a God of simple obedience. After all, following God is essentially a faith walk. It’s not a “rolling of the dice” in a strategy game. Instead, it’s agreeing to obey the voice of another person.  

In conducting a census, David chose to administer the nation like any king. As an administer of power, he began to look at the people like pieces on a chessboard, rather than brothers amongst the Chosen People. And this marked a further decline in the relationship between God and the ancient nation of Israel. 

My Temptation 

When I reflect on this passage, I sometimes find myself wondering, “What’s the big deal?”  

But in reflecting in this way, I reveal to myself how far from God’s thinking I can be.  

God’s promise to me is the same as it was to King David. If he directs me to do something, then He will provide everything necessary to accomplish His command. And if He hasn’t directed me to act, then I should probably refrain.  

Of course, my tendency in taking matters into my own hand is to objectify my relationships with other people. When I feel the pressure to “make things happen”, I effortlessly switch from seeing other people in the light of God’s purpose for them. And instead I begin to see them from the perspective of my purpose for them.  

Like David, whenever I look at my circumstances apart from God’s purpose for my life, I automatically objectify other people. I always think in terms of how I can use others to achieve my ends. 

And experience suggests this attitude always ends badly.  

So, my daily challenge remains to seek God’s will and trust Him entirely. 

“My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” Phil 4:19