Suggested reading: 2 Samuel 24

Today’s reading starts with David’s order for Joab to take stock of Israel’s fighting men and conduct a census.

This angered God, although it wasn’t clear in the bible what specifically about the census angered God. I checked for possible reasons why assessing military strength is sinful during this time, and this is what I got (thanks ChatGPT):

• Lack of Trust: By counting his people, David might have been demonstrating a lack of faith in God’s ability to protect and provide for Israel, relying instead on his own military strength.
• Pride and Arrogance: The act of counting the population might reflect David’s pride in his own power and achievements, rather than attributing success and security to God.
• Potential for Oppression: Censuses in ancient times were often associated with taxation and conscription. Thus, counting the people could be seen as a preparatory step towards greater burdens on the populace.

God then sends a prophet to David to let him choose the consequence:

¹³ So Gad went to David and said to him, “Shall there come on you three^[a] years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me.”

2 Samuel 24:13

David chose the plague, which resulted in the deaths of 70,000 people. David then realizes his sin:

¹⁷ When David saw the angel who was striking down the people, he said to the Lord, “I have sinned; I, the shepherd,^[a] have done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family.”

2 Samuel 24:17

David then repents and owns up to his mistake. God stopped the punishment as soon as David repents.

²⁵ David built an altar to the Lord there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

2 Samuel 24:25

This is too coincidental a reading for me. I won’t disclose why (God knows why), but the lesson here is that leaders can become prideful and arrogant when they rely on their expertise, strength, and wisdom.

And when that happens, God will surely humble the leader through punishment, and the punishment can be serious and ugly, as he did with David.

Call to action:

Dear leader-readers, don’t let your ego swell. All your victories are not your own doing. They are God’s. If you lose your way, God will surely punish you, and if you are punished, make sure to own up to your mistakes and repent.