One Year Bible, Sunday June 5th "David Commit a Costly Sin By Taking a Census" "Peter and John Heal a Man Lame From Birth!"
As you read through the list of the other 30 mighty warriors, you can see a variey of people involved from various families and various places in the world. Notables are Uriah the Hittite, who was the husband of Bathsheba, and Ahithophel, who was Bathsheba's grandfather.
These remarkable men were the foundation of the greatness of David’s reign. They did not come to David as great men, but God used his leadership to transform them from men who were in distress, in debt and discontented, who met David back at Adullam Cave (1 Samuel 22:1-2).
David Takes a Census
The Lord's' anger is kindled against David for taking a census of the people in Israel. Though it says the Lord's anger burned against him, the "he" is not God but Satan himself as we find out in 1 Chronicles 21:1.
There were three reasons why this was a sin for David to do this.
1. In Exodus 30:12 it says, "When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them."
Israel only belonged to God, not David. With a census every man had to give a ransom for himself showing He was the Lord's, otherwise there would be a plague among them. Later, we see a plague so we know they violated this principle in scripture.
2. David did not listen to Joab, or the captains of his Army, who tried to dissuade him from taking a census.
Joab wasn’t afraid to speak to David when he thought the king was wrong. With the best interest of both David and Israel in mind, Joab tactfully asked David to reconsider this foolish desire to count the nation. - Guzik
3. David was being prideful about how the nations of Israel and Judah had grown under his leadership to rival and surpass other nations around him in numbers.
It is often when the Lord has given us success that we are most tempted to be prideful and think it is because of us.
Judgment for David's Sin
One thing we know about David who was a man "after God's own heart" was that he was sensitive to sin. Like when Nathan rebuked him regarding his adultery with Bathsheba, David asked the Lord for forgiveness. The prophet Gad gave David the Lord's word in the matter. Israel would receive one of three punishments for his sin.
1. A three year famine.
2. Three months of fleeing from one's enemies.
3. Three days of a severe plague.
David picked #3. In options #1 and #2, David would have to rely on his neighbors. In #1 for food. In #2 he would have had to deal with his enemies. Though #3 was the wisest choice is still cost the people 70,000 lives. One can only imagine how sad David felt to know his prideful mistake cost all of these lives. David voices his sorrow and guilt by saying,
“I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? Let your anger fall against me and my family.” 24:17
Our sin always has consequences. In this situation it was great and cost many lives.
David Builds An Altar
David realized that though 70,000 dying from the plague was a result of his sin, he also knew that a sacrifice was needed as a guilt offering as prescribed by the law. David also knew that his and the relationship of the people needed to be atoned for with God, so he also offered "peace offerings".
Though Araunah, the Jebusite (Jerusalem), offered his threshing floor, David would not have him give it for free. David says this about offering something to the Lord,
"No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord my God that have cost me nothing.”
The ultimate sacrifice, Jesus' death on the cross, cost God everything. He gave us his only Son, and Jesus gave us his only life.
Romans 12:2 says, "In view of God's mercy, we should offer our lives to God as a living sacrifice, which is holy and acceptable to God. We should not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewing of our mind, so that we can prove what God's will is. What is good, acceptable, and perfect."
Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar
The Holy Spirit and His dynamic power continued to flow from the apostles. When Peter and John were going to the temple, they were approached by a man lame from birth, who was begging The man eagerly looked at the Peter and John perhaps knowing they were disciples of Jesus and might be likely to give him so money.
But Peter had something different in mind. Though money may help this man for a few days it could do nothing change his true condition. What the man needed was healing, not money. So in the name of Jesus, Peter commanded him to get up and walk. And sure enough the man got up and started dancing and praising God. I bet you would too!
“It is not the Church’s business in this world to simply make the present condition more bearable; the task of the Church is to release here on earth the redemptive work of God in Christ.” (LaSor)
Although it is never wrong to give someone who is begging or in need money, next time think about praying for the person and asking God to heal them in Jesus' name.
Peter Preaches in the Temple
Peter saw this episode as a "teachable moment" for those attending the temple that day. Although the Rabbi would give a message during the service, Peter had already given them a living message right before their eyes. He took them through the Old Testament to show them that what happened to Jesus was not by accident but was foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures.
He pointed to the covenant made with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. To the words of Moses, and the prophet Samuel. Most importantly it was by faith in Jesus that this man was healed. It gave Peter the opportunity to preach the gospel, as he urged the people to repent from their sins and turn to God, so their sins might be wiped away and times of refreshing might come upon their souls.
This was the second benefit of repenting and turning to God. In speaking of “times of refreshing,”Peter referred to the time when Jesus will return and rule the earth in righteousness. Peter went so far as to say, “that He may send Jesus Christ,” thus implying that if the Jewish people as a whole repented, God the Father would send Jesus to return in glory.
When God does miracles through the church in Jesus' name, the purpose is to give witness to Jesus and the gospel. God's ultimate goal in everything he does on earth is to lead people to faith in Jesus. The church can do many things to help people and we should. But ultimately the goal of the church is to lead people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. As people come to faith in Jesus, times of refreshing will come upon their soul, and we will be one step closer to Jesus' return.
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