Chronological Bible Study – May 23
What I Noticed Today (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21-22; Psalms 30)
2 Samuel 24
2 Samuel 24 relates David’s sin in conducting a census of 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). But 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!
1 Chronicles 21
In verses 1-6, David’s success led to pride.
- Satan incited David to number the people of Israel.
Note: The act of conducting a census was not sinful. Moses had conducted a census twice before (Numbers 1:2, Numbers 26:2). The issue here seems to be David’s pride and perhaps trusting in himself rather than in God.
Note: The parallel passage in 2 Samuel 24:1-3 suggests the Lord was angry with Israel and incited David to take the census, and here it says Satan incited David to take the census. There is no conflict between the two accounts; the Lord used Satan to accomplish His ends.
- Joab, David’s military commander, pleaded with David not to conduct the census and even warned him that this would bring trouble to the people, but David insisted, and Joab complied.
Note: David’s command to number the people from Beersheba to Dan is a reference from the northern boundary to the southern boundary.
In verses 7-17, David realized he had displeased God.
- The Lord instructed Gad, David’s seer, to go and tell David to pick one of three punishments: three years of famine, three months of devastation by their enemies, or three days of the plague from the Lord.
- David selected three days of the plague from the Lord, preferring to fall into God’s hands rather than the hands of man.
- David humbled himself, admitted his sin, submitted to the Lord’s judgment, and repented of his sin.
In verses 18-30, David was obedient to everything he was told to do.
- The angel of the Lord commanded Gad, David’s seer, to tell David to build an altar to the Lord.
- David offered burnt and peace offerings to the Lord, and the Lord accepted his offerings through the fire that consumed them.
1 Chronicles 22
1 Chronicles 22 describes David’s preparation for the building of the Lord’s temple, including his charge to his son, Solomon, to build the temple, and his charge to the leaders to help his son. David left nothing to chance.
In verses 1-5, David gave orders for the stonecutters, metalworkers, and woodworkers to prepare materials for building the house of the Lord.
- David himself gave large quantities of materials for the building of the Lord’s house.
In verses 6-12, David claimed God’s promise that his son, Solomon, would build the temple and have a time of peace.
- David summoned Solomon and gave him specific instructions for building the Lord’s house, encouraged him, and exhorted him to follow the statutes and ordinances of the Lord carefully.
In verses 13-16, by following God’s statutes and commands, David enjoyed prosperity.
- David personally gave vast quantities of gold, silver, and other materials to build the temple.
Note: The quantity of gold was 100,000 talents, or 750,000 pounds, which is 12,000,000 ounces, valued today at $147 Billion!
In verses 17-19, finally, David commanded all the leaders to join in partnership with his son in the building of the temple.
- David ordered the leaders of Israel to come together to help his son; Solomon completes the building of the Lord’s house.
David admonished the leaders to set their hearts and minds on seeking the Lord.
Psalm 30
David’s song at the dedication of the temple. David promises to praise the Lord because he was healed (restored) (vv. 1-3). David called on the people to sing praises to the Lord because God’s anger is temporary, but His deliverance is forever (vv. 4-5). David includes a prayer for mercy, and to preserve him from the grave (vv. 6-10). He concludes, giving thanks to the Lord because he has turned his mourning into joy and dancing (vv. 11-12).
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.