The Census, the repentance, and the altar
2 samuel 24
Other sacred texts do not lambast the office of kingship, nor do they dwell so unremittingly on the failings and limitations of their monarchs. They exalt the king, praise him, smooth over his weaknesses, flatter him, and magnify his achievements. Not so the Bible. So much for the idea that the biblical God is an invention to bolster the power of earthly kings!
- Christopher Watkin, Biblical Critical Theory
Main Idea: When we sin, conviction is the gift that leads us to faith and repentance in the finished work of Christ.
I. The Census (24:1-9)
What’s the big deal with taking a census?
Uriah the Hittite and the Mighty Men of Valor (23:8–39, 24:1-9): The end of chapter 23 provides the military context for our section. David has a battle on his mind. David’s census here is mustering of military personnel (v9). We are reminded of the sin against Uriah and introducing another sin, taking something with wrong motivations and wrong purposes. In both cases, the sin of the shepherd causes the sheep to suffer.
The Exodus and Pharoah (24:13-16): The second connection is the textual connection to the Exodus story. Here Israel suffers from a plague, and the pestilence is spread by the Angel of the Lord, who struck down the people because of the heart of the ruler. Like Passover, the angel of the Lord is turned away by sacrifice—David’s sin, acting like a king of the nations.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20: And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it. – Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
David didn’t always obey God, but he always dealt with God. – Eugene Peterson
II. The Repentance (24:10-17)
2 Samuel 24:10: But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people.
David experienced conviction, not always immediately but inevitably. God always sees through the outward appearance to the heart of the matter (Luke 6:45). To experience conviction is a gift from God to be received with humility (John 16:8).
It is not strange that people sin, but it is reprehensible if they do not acknowledge that they have erred and humble themselves before God.
Ambrose of Milan (333–397)
Conviction always leads to a crossroads, and both are toll roads.
Real repentance turns to God, and real repentance takes ownership of the fallout. David could have squirmed out from this. He could have spared himself. But in perhaps his greatest moment, he seeks atonement by offering himself in exchange for the sheep (John 15:13).
III. The Altar (24:18-25)
Israel is spared from the judgment derived because of the intercession of the mediator whom God provided in the person of King David.
God will accept anyone—even if, like David in his census, we have sinned greatly in offense to God—who comes to him through faith in the offering of the death of Christ.
The narrative concludes with words that fittingly summarize not only the meaning of David’s life but also the message of the whole Bible: “David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel” (2 Sam. 24:25).
