What I Noticed Today (2 Samuel 23-24)
2 Samuel 23
2 Samuel 23 begins with David’s song about leadership.
- In verse 1, he refers to being called by God.
- In verse 2, he refers to being led by the Holy Spirit.
- Verses 3-6, describe a Godly leader as one who rules justly in fear of God, not for selfish gain.
Note: David uses two metaphors to describe the results of a good leader: they are like the sun shining in the morning, and like the rain that makes the grass grow.
- Verses 6-7 describe worthless men (presumably leaders) as being like thorns that are thrown away and consumed in a fire.
The balance of 2 Samuel 23 lists the accomplishments of the mighty men that had served David over the years.
- Interestingly, David included Uriah the Hittite in the list since it was David’s own treachery that got Uriah killed.
- Of note, is the diversity of David’s mighty men who came from a variety of backgrounds, and tribes, and some were foreigners.
2 Samuel 24
2 Samuel 24 relates David’s sin in conducting a census among the people.
Note: 1 Chronicles 21:28-22:19 contains a similar account that places the date of this event late in David’s reign at the time when David was giving instructions to Solomon for the building of the temple.
In verses 1-17, David orders a census of the Israelites to be conducted:
- Verse 1 says that the Lord was angry at Israel and incited David to conduct the census.
Note: We do not know from the text what caused the Lord to be angry at the Israelites.
Note: 1 Chronicles 21:1 says Satan is the one who incited David to conduct the census, which is a seeming conflict with 24:1. Certainly, God could use Satan to accomplish his will. God may have allowed David to be tempted, but God did not force David to take the census.
- David ordered Joab to conduct the census. Joab protested, but David’s order prevailed.
- It took almost ten months to complete the census.
- When Joab gave the census numbers to David, David realized he had sinned in ordering the census.
- David confessed his sin to the Lord, but there was still a consequence to be born.
- God gave David his choice of three punishments for Israel to endure.
- David wisely picked three days of pestilence over three years of famine or military losses to their enemies.
- David took responsibility for the sin and asked God to punish him, not the people.
In verses 18-25, David built an altar to the Lord:
- Gad came to David and told him he should build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
Note: Gad was a prophet of the Lord whom we first met in 1 Samuel 22:5.
- David went to Araunah and bought the threshing floor and oxen for the sacrifice for 20 ounces of silver
- David built an altar and sacrificed the oxen as burnt and peace offerings.
- The Lord ended the plague on Israel.
Note: There were situations in which taking a census was allowed (Exodus 30:11-16). However, when a census was completed, it was to make atonement for the people, and a ransom had to be paid for each person over 20 years old.
Note: I wonder if David thought God really was ordering the census and if David had taken the census in accordance with the Laws God had set forth if God would have forgiven him and not punished Israel.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- I am impressed by David’s recognition that leadership is a special calling, that the Holy Spirit should lead leaders, and that leaders should faithfully and justly administer the responsibilities God has given them. We could certainly use a few more leaders like that in our world today!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
