God’s Righteous Judgment

Background Scripture: 1 Chronicles 20-21
Lesson Scripture: 1 Chronicles 21:1-13, 16-17

Introduction

As time continued in the reign of King David, it appears he may have begun to forget the times God had provided guidance and strength for Israel’s victorious battles. Possibly he was thinking and planning for future battles, wondering how he could ensure a good outcome without knowing what his martial strength really was. Joab, the general of David’s army, saw the danger in numbering it, but David’s will prevailed, and a census took place that displeased God and brought judgment upon him and his subjects.

Key Verse

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies (Lam. 3:32).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

To understand the setting of today’s lesson, a brief overview of the book of First Chronicles would be helpful. Ezra writes to preserve the religious history of the Jewish people up to his time, bringing to completion the body of sacred writings of past centuries. He writes against the background of a loss of obedience to God’s law. He endeavors to revive true worship and fervency in the service of the Lord. He expounds mostly upon moral and religious truths, giving less attention to political occurrences.

The chapters preceding this lesson’s text review King David’s ascension to the throne and his many victories on the battlefield against Israel’s enemies. The many times David enquired of the Lord for how to do in face of the enemy are recorded. David expressed that they were delivered because they cried to God and trusted in him. David also gave thanks for the victories by magnifying the name of the Lord.

Obviously, there was a time when David did not worry about the size of his army. He knew that, whether they were many or few, God would provide the victory if they trusted in Him. Perhaps he began to notice the large number of soldiers who would gather when the call went out for battle and the horses and chariots that were lined up for the fight. He was able to trust in his competent captains to present the best front possible. Maybe he recounted some of the skirmishes with the Philistines and how they were made to flee for their lives. In these musings, Satan planted a craving to know the size and strength of his military. After all, that would help him plan future battles and know just how large of an enemy force he could safely engage.

David may have wanted some of the honor from the many successful conquests gained through the countless days of danger and hard work that he had put into fighting the Philistines. Conceivably, he thought, knowing the numbers of his fighting force would help him understand why he had been able to gain so much territory and guarantee future victory. A double sin was claiming honor for victories that God had wrought and discounting his need of God for tomorrow.

Joab was not comfortable with David’s wish to count Israel, understanding that their national might was not in numbers but in God; even if the population was increased a hundred times, it would not be sufficient without divine help.

Afterward, when David was face to face with the prophet Gad, he recognized his folly and had to make the awful choice as to what his punishment would be. In that heartrending moment, he chose to trust God. He realized that putting his welfare in the hands of man was not a good option.

Practical Truths for Today

Today our battles are not wars against our fellowmen where shrewdness and physical power are used for victory. Rather, we fight a daily battle with the archenemy of our soul. We have felt Satan’s cunning, deceit, and desire to defeat us. In our weakness we have cried out to God, trusting in his strength to give us overcoming grace. We, too, as David, gave honor to God for his tender help in time of need. Our lives have given evidence of our confidence in a God who is much greater than us. We have shared with others God’s goodness and his greatness. We have not been ashamed to admit that we were weak without Him.

Nevertheless, for many of us there comes a point where we may look back over past months or years, thinking over our successes and accomplishments, and discover a feeling of sufficiency. We, too, may be tempted to count our resources and take comfort in them. Attending church every Sunday, praying, reading the Bible, and giving liberally into the church offerings can be sources, among many other things, of a secret self-congratulation.

As we pursue the numbering of our perceived personal assets, it leaves less room for faith in God. We steal the honor that rightfully belongs to God, and our spirit becomes exalted with pride. Our life begins to lack the vitality it once had. Our carnal self says, “If I can remember all the good I have done and how I accomplished it, I will have ammunition for the future.” As this happens, we find it easy to talk about ourselves to others, and it becomes more difficult to take interest in the lives of our fellow life-travelers. We become self-centered and self-assured.

Someone in the church, taking note of our undue interest in our personal assets, may ask us why we incessantly and carefully keep track of our resources. These perceived assets have no value in regard to purchasing our salvation and giving us the promise of eternal life. This is where humility is tested and where our trust in God, the church, and our brethren is proven. Can we accept that our brothers and sisters, who have observed our faith in past battles, are seeing a spirit of foolishness in us as we now begin trusting in ourselves or in tangible things? At this point we will have to decide as David did, which burden we will shoulder—the burden of carrying on without God’s help or accepting God’s judgment.

God’s judgment for David’s sin was a just punishment. God’s hatred of sin remains unchanged. In our time, God reveals our sin to us and calls us to repentance. Our flesh will feel punishment as we yield to admonition or discipline; our selfish spirit will want to rebel. Like David, we will need to say that we have sinned and will accept what God requires in order to restore us to his grace.

Questions

1. Do we receive punishment for our sins during life?
2. In the Old Testament, grave sins were punished by whipping, stoning, etc. What is God’s punishment for sin today?
3. Considering David’s sins and failures, how could God say, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart”? (Acts 13:22).

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).