Today I read 2 Samuel 24, in which David ordered a census of Israel and Judah, had to choose his punishment, and built an altar to sacrifice to the Lord. Today I considered that leaders take actions and sometimes their followers are the ones that face the consequences of their actions.
Actions and Choices
God used David because He was angry with Israel (2 Samuel 24:1-25). God was angry with Israel and moved through David. David ordered Joab to do a census. Joab did not want to do it, but had to follow the king’s orders. It took Joab and the captains of the army 9 months and 20 days. There were 800,000 men in Israel and 500,000 men in Judah. David realized he sinned and asked God to forgive him. The prophet Gad told David his three choices of punishment. David chose the punishment under God’s hand of pestilence because God can be merciful. God’s angel destroyed 70,000 men. David asked God to stop harming the innocent for his sin. God had Gad tell David to build and altar to the Lord. David made sure he paid for the land, built the altar, and sacrificed offerings to God. God stopped the plague.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
David had three choices for punishment. The first was seven years of watching his people starve from hunger. The second was enemies winning against his people and having to flee for three months. The third was being under God’s wrath for three days. David would choose God because he loves God and knew God can be merciful. I believe that David knew God’s punishment would be severe but he did not realize how many people he would lose in those three days. David lost more men in three days (70,000 men) than he lost in the battle against Absalom they called a “great slaughter” (20,000 men see 2 Samuel 18:7). David lost more men per day than the “great slaughter” and knew his innocent sheep/followers were being punished because of their leader’s mistake. I believe David truly felt terrible but also his actions toward God helped stop the plague.
Did you realize how much of an impact a leader has in the lives of those around them? Does this passage make you think again about choosing as a leader that prays and goes to God for guidance?
Just as a heads up. I plan on reading the book of Nehemiah next.