Quick or Transformed

Quick or Transformed?

As chapter 24 of 2 Samuel opens we read, “Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” Then a few verses later we read, “Now David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.’”

David’s desire to conduct a census was somehow connected with the LORD’s anger against Israel.

It would be easy to conclude that God somehow “made” David conduct the census - that God “tempted” David into this sin, but this would be terribly fallacious. In reading Scripture we frequently arrive at conclusions through deduction, which is always the wrong approach. Deduction is the process of arriving at conclusions with limited information. Scripture is not one of Sherlock Holmes’ mysteries to be solved. The Bible is God’s revelation, i.e. divine and glorious disclosure of His character and nature. When we look at Christ’s incarnation, the Cross of Calvary, and the empty tomb - there is no deficit of data. There is only our inherent sin-nature that continually rejects and rebels against God and His sovereignty.

We must always begin with, travel through, and land on the benevolence and perfection of God’s holy (set apart) character. If we allow for - or even entertain - any other possible conclusion, we reveal that we are mere theological critics and fabricators of personal belief systems. Ultimately we disclose that we are not born from above, and that we are not supernatural children of God (John 1:12).

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The LORD’s anger burned against Israel throughout the Old Testament for their perpetual idolatry and stubborn refusal to repent (turn) from sin, autonomy, and rebellion. David’s idol here was the size and strength of “his” army. God used David’s lust for personal power, independence, and significance as the tool of personal reconciliation and national discipline.

God gave David three options: 1) a seven year famine, 2) three months of terror, or 3) three days of pestilence/plague. A famine doesn’t necessarily mean death. David might have considered it a seven-year fast - a time for Israel to focus on God and His abundant provision for them before and after the famine. Three months of being pursued by enemies doesn’t necessarily mean death. David might have chosen this option, but he deduced that flight automatically meant he would be captured. In 24:14 David said, “do not let me fall into the hand of man.” David’s concern for himself was greater than his concern for the nation of Israel. So David chose option 3 because it would be quick and painless - for him.

After the plague was over David had an epiphany: “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep (the nation of Israel), what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”

This sounds noble enough on the surface, but God would not have arbitrarily punished Israel for David’s sin. David was still making deductions, drawing erroneous conclusions.

At the end of chapter 24 David is instructed by the prophet Gad to build an altar to the LORD. David is obedient in this and asks Araunah to sell him his land. Araunah wants to give the land to David, but David says, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.”

We can’t offer anything to God that costs us nothing. That’s not works based salvation - that active, willing, and obedient participation in the mission of God.

Along the way David transitioned from a sin-riddled man high on power, prestige, significance, and self. David allowed God to reveal and instruct his heart regarding his sin. David was transformed from someone who was willing to allow others to pay for his corruption - as long as it didn’t cost him anything - to a man would not offer anything to the LORD that cost him nothing personally.

At the start of the chapter David’s concern was for self. He could easily endure three days of plague upon the nation. Therefore he jumped on the easiest/shortest option over three months of terror/flight from his enemies - or - seven years of famine.

At the close of this final chapter of the book of Samuel, David was finally transformed into a man who owned his sin, and reckoned “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.” The book ends here with “David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.”

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There is no need for skills of deduction or inference when it comes to Scripture and the benevolent character of God. “The LORD was moved by prayer…” God is still moved by authentic repentance, i.e. our turning from sin back to God. God is still moved to boundless love and mercy by selfless prayer.

In what areas of your life are you conducting a census? In what ways are you striving for acclaim, power, significance, control, prestige, and comfort? Have you realized that your sin profoundly impacts those around you? Will you choose the quickest solution that provides zero transformation merely because it will cost you nothing? Or will you refuse to offer anything to the LORD that costs you nothing?

David owned His sin, built an altar for burnt offerings (the only kind where 100% is given to God) and peace offerings (the kind that seeks reconciliation, restoration, and communion with God), and prayed heartfelt, unselfish, and intercessory prayers for the people of God.

Maybe it was just then that God inspired and filled David’s heart with these glorious words:

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

-Psalm 103:11-12

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com