INTRODUCTION, You have heard the old adage – we count people because people count. How true that is and as a nation we have been counting people for over 200 years. In fact our nation’s first census began in 1790.
217 people were used to count
It took at total of 9 months
3,929,214
A census has a way of finding out the facts about a nation. USA Today reported some interesting stats from a recent census
The mountains of Monroe County have the most Doctors – 1.5 per 100 residents
Atlantic City NJ has the highest Crime Rate, NYC was ranked at 119
The most crowded city – NYC, 64,395 per sq. mile. While the City of Loving TX has just 91 residents.
Best educated live in Chapel Hill NC – 69% of the population have a college degree.
A census can give one quite a bit of information, but a census can also demonstrate some great biblical truth.
READ 2 SAMUEL 24:1 – 10
The Census of David was one, which caused great harm to the people of Israel. Last week, we saw the effect of sin in the life of David with his dealings with Bathsheba. Tonight I want us to see how sin not only affected David but it cost Israel dearly as well. And yet we shall see that when one truly repents he once again is restored to the relationship with God.
1. The Census was a Crime against God
2 Sam 24:10, David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."
The Census
Vs 8 tells us it took 9 months and 20 days to accomplish
Notice the scope of the census – Vs. 2, So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are."
David’s Desire – Military Strength – just how many men are on my side?
The Census was not done correctly, Exod 30:11-12, Then the LORD said to Moses, "When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.
The Census brought a change in David
Gone was the young Giant Killer – he needed only a sling and some stones.
He was now a man full of self will and self-deception for 9 months he let the census go on.
After all God had done for him he was no longer willing to trust God for protection. He had been made King, he had been delivered from Saul and yet he was willing to put his trust in his men and not his God.
WHAT HAPPENED TO – Ps 18:2, The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Or what about Ps 18:30-32, As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
Lessons to be learned
Prosperity can endanger our relationship with God – Sometimes it is more difficult to carry a full cup, then an empty cup. Prov 30:8-9, Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ’Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
Even if you are a person after God’s own heart – you are not exempt from sin. A lesson thee church needs to be reminded of daily.
2. Consequences to Israel
2 Sam 24:11-14, Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: "Go and tell David, ’This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’" So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come upon you three 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." David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men."
3 Choices were given
7 years of famine
3 months of flight
3 days of pestilence
Each would affect Israel in a profound way, 7 years of famine would force the people into economic hardship. 3 months of flight would mean the King would be preoccupied, thus Israel would be open to enemy attack. 3 days of pestilence would bring death to innocent people.
Warning to leaders
People are only as good as their leaders
Responsibility of leaders is to be faithful before God
Note the biblical Truth about Sin
David had repented – yet the consequences of the sin were in the land. SIN MUST BE PUNISHED
Lamb or Christ
Lesson to be learned
One’s sin is not simply a personal matter
Punishment is sure
Justice is always administer by God
3. The Cost of repentance
Read 2 Samuel 24:15-25
Pestilence was stopped – but look at the cost
70,000 had died as a result – Is it possible that the 70,000 were fighting men? If so 1 in 20 of his army was wiped out.
Again David was affected by his sin – with Bathsheba he lost a son, and now he as lost a part of his army.
As a result of God relenting – The prophet Gad tells David to make a sacrifice. WHY?
Sacrifice expresses a right attitude toward God – Gratefulness
Sacrifice reestablishes one’s priorities – At the beginning of the chapter, David was focused on himself, but now he is focused on God. Could it be one of the reasons we don’t sense the presence of God today is that we have forgotten to make God a priority in our life. Admit it, It is easier to give a tip than a tithe. Easier to give lip service rather than serve in the kingdom.
Sacrifice brings honor to God
Interesting items to note about the place where David made his sacrifice
First it was a new Altar – At that time the altar the people were accustomed to go to the town of Gibeon to sacrifice, that was where the Tabernacle was, but David is told to build a new altar.
In the place where the plague had stopped – WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE? 2 Chr. 3:1 we discover this was the site of the new temple. And if you go back to Genesis 22, Moriah was the mountain were Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, but the Lord provided - RAM
David’s Response in building an Altar
2 Sam 24:20-24, When Araunah looked and saw the king and his men coming toward him, he went out and bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" "To buy your threshing floor," David answered, "so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped." Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take whatever pleases him and offer it up. Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king." Araunah also said to him, "May the LORD your God accept you." But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
Through the consequences of the sin, God was able to bless Israel once again.
2 Sam 24:25, David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
David’s decision to count the fighting men had cost him greatly. He lost favor with God, and he allowed Israel to be open to the Wrath of God. Yet God was good, he accepted the sacrifices of a sinner and restored the damaged relationship.
Is. 66:2, Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
Ps 51:17, The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Someone has said God can do much with broken pieces – but he has to have all the pieces. David was a man after God’s own heart because he was willing to give all of his brokenness back to God and allow him to restore him. The example of the census reminds us that God is not in the business of punishment – but in restoration.
PRAYER>
