Why Was It A Sin For David To Take a Census of the People of Israel? - One Year Bible, Friday July 15th

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Why Did David Sin While Taking A Census of the Israelites

The first thought when I read this passage was why was it so wrong for David to take a census of his people?  Here is where it is helpful to do some cross referencing. The principle for the census is found in Exodus 30:12,

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.

David's sin was one of a pride. 

The principle of Exodus 30:12 speaks to God’s ownership of His people. In the thinking of these ancient cultures, a man only had the right to count or number what belonged to him. Israel didn’t belong to David; Israel belonged to God. It was up to the LORD to command a counting, and if David counted he should only do it at God’s command and should receive ransom money to “atone” for the counting. (Guzik)

The other thing we see is that David was confronted first by Joab, and then by his commanders for this sin. 

Joab said to David, 

“May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?” 21:3

It took a lot of courage for Joab to confront King David. Guzik says, "Joab tactfully asked David to reconsider this foolish desire to count the nation."

If you have a friend who will confront you when you are clearly disobeying God that is a good friend. Give thanks for them.  We know David was a man after God's own heart. We know he had sinned greatly in his adultery with Bathsheba, and then having her husband Uriah killed. David was a great man, yet he was vulnerable to temptations like pride and lust and murder. 

Interestingly as the Lord went to punish Israel for their king's pride, the Lord told the prophet Gad to give David the choice between three different types of punishment. 1.) 3 years of famine. 2.) 3 months of destruction from their 3.) Three days of a plague of destruction. 

Though David does not seem to give God a direct answer, we see by the next verses he chose #3. David's response was, “But let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” 21:13

Why did this comment insinuate that David chose option #3

“Had he chosen war, his own personal safety was in no danger, because there was already an ordinance preventing him from going to battle. Had he chosen famine, his own wealth would have secured his and his own family’s support. But he showed the greatness of his mind in choosing the pestilence, to the ravages of which himself and his household were exposed equally with the meanest of his subjects.” (Clarke)

We see the results of the plague were severe. and 70,000 men of Israel died. I am assuming this was the Northern kingdom (Israel), because the angel was poised with a sword over Jerusalem (Southern Kingdom) when the Lord told the angel to relent. This gave David a chance to take action. He knew atonement needed to be made for his prideful decision. David's shows the true heart he had as a shepherd, as he offered his own life in exchange for God's mercy. 

Listen to David's integrity in his words, 

“I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong! But these people are as innocent as sheep—what have they done? O Lord my God, let your anger fall against me and my family, but do not destroy your people.” 21:17

But the sacrifice the Lord was looking for was not David himself, so the angel told David to buy the threshing floor of Aranuah, the Jebusite (Jerusalem). In great humility, Aranuah offered it to David for free, but David insisted on paying the full price. Here was his reasoning, 

"No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and give it to the Lord. I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!” 21:24

David bought the threshing floor for full price and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar there. God showed his approval for this sacrifice by sending fire from heaven to consume the offering. What is significant is that this became the new home of the tabernacle, and place for the eventual temple David's son Solomon would build!  

What Can We Learn From This Story? 

1. Pride can be very tricky. It can look like we are doing something noble but in reality it is self serving and arrogant. David's prideful decision making was costly to the people he led. Where might pride be working in your life right now? Are you justifying it by thinking you are doing something for the Lord?

2. Do you have people like Joab in your life who will call you out when you are exhibiting pride or other sinful behavior? Do you listen to them? If you have someone like this, they are a gift to you! 

3. God had mercy on David and did not take his life for his sin. But there was no forgiveness without the shedding of innocent blood. In this case an innocent animal was offered.  David's intercession for mercy, buying the altar at full price, and the sacrifices he offered according to the Law provided atonement both for David and his people. 

In the same way Jesus' death on the cross atoned for our sins. Like David, we deserve death for our sin as Paul says, "The wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. 

If you have some sin like pride which has taken hold of your heart, confess it to God and receive the free gift of forgiveness you have received by Jesus' sacrifice for you on the cross! Remember the sacrifice of Jesus cost him everything, so as we receive this gift let us use our freedom to serve others!