Read:
The Bible is a collection of 66 books that tell one story: God’s plan to redeem humanity. When we read its chapters in isolation, we sometimes lose the overall story. When questions come to mind as we read, we can often find the answer somewhere else in the Bible.
Take this chapter for instance. Were you immediately confused by the first verse? Did God tell David to do something and judge him for it later? There are two passages in other parts of the Bible that will help us understand this.
In Exodus 30:12, God commanded Moses to tell the people that when they took a census, they needed to buy back those men that were counted. In ancient cultures, a king was only allowed to count what belonged to him. With this command, God is reminding Israel that the people belong to God. It’s also a warning against relying on their own strength. Throughout the Bible, God uses the weak, the small, and the overlooked to do mighty things. Think of Gideon (Judges 6-8) and the boy who shared his lunch (Matthew 14).
The second passage that helps us understand 2 Samuel 24 is 1 Chronicles 21—it retells the same story from a different angle. Look at 1 Chronicles 21:1 and you’ll see something surprising. Who told David to take a census? Satan did. So the “he” in 2 Samuel 24 is likely Satan, not God, although God allowed it to happen.
But God isn’t telling us random stories. Remember, all the books of the Bible are telling the story of God’s redemption of humanity. What does God want us to remember when we read this story of sin and repentance in David’s life? “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” (2 Samuel 24:14, NLT) God redeemed us by sending his Son to die for our sins; he is merciful.
Pray: God, you are indeed merciful. You tell us your plan because you want us to know there is hope and salvation for everyone who believes. Give me opportunities today to tell others about your great mercy. Amen.