Focusing On Numbers

II Samuel 24:1-16

“And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” (II Samuel 24:1) 

From the very beginning, there had been Israelites who chose to disobey God.  Samson’s bad example as judge made such behavior appear acceptable.  While most of Israel followed David’s example, there were always those who rebelled, and frequently, like Sheba, gathered a following.  Even David was infected by the prevailing attitude, grttingh caught up in his own power and fame.  God used his pride to punish Israel, encouraging him to focus on how large an army he had.

“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. 

And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?” (II Samuel 24:2-3)

David ordered Joab to take a census of all the people so they could know how big they had grown.  In the past a count had been made at God’s instruction, for a specific purpose such as dividing the land or organizing for battle.  This time the purpose seems to have been solely so David could gloat in the power he had, much like a preacher gloating over his church attendance.

Joab was not a good or spiritual man, having murdered four men out of selfish motives.  Even he recognized that David’s motivation was wrong, and advised against it.  The number really didn’t matter, even if it was a hundred times as many.  He questioned why David even cared.

“Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. 

And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer: Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,  And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.  So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.  And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.” (II Samuel 24:4-9) 

As king, David didn’t much like having his decisions questioned and he insisted his orders be followed.  The census took almost ten months.  It showed about eight hundred thousand experienced warriors in Israel and five hundred thousand in Judah, giving David a standing army of over 1.3 million men, and making him one of the most powerful men in the world at the time.  It must have been a real ego trip.

“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, Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 

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.” (II Samuel 24:10-13)

God directed the prophet Gad to go to David about his taking the census.  David recognized his sin in focusing on the numbers instead of on god, and asked that the sin be taken away.  God offered him three choices as to how to deal with it.  The entire nation could experience seven years of famine, with the resulting suffering, or David could be attacked  and forced into exile for three months, or there could be a three day epidemic of fatal disease.   Either famine or epidemic would reduce the size of David’s army, while three months of fleeing in exile would weaken his dependence on the army.

Once again we are reminded that even though the sin is forgiven, there are consequences for it.  Justification does not mean that it is just as if we had never sinned, but that things have been set right.

One is left to wonder how many religious organizations split because God wants to move the focus from the size of the organization to dependence on himself.

“And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.” (II Samuel 24:14)

None of the punishments were desirable to David.   Either he or his people were going to suffer severely as a result of his sin.  When he thought about it, David knew that people tend to go to extremes.  He decided to place the outcome in God’s hands, as he believed God would show more restraint and consideration than people would.

“So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.  And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.” (II Samuel 24:15-16)

Seventy thousand men died of the epidemic, throughout the land.  When the plague came to Jerusalem, God said that was enough and it spread no further, justifying David’s choice to trust God rather than other people.