1 Chronicles 21 : The Census
1 Chronicles 21 <The Census>
1. Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
3. But Joab replied, "May the Lord multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"
4. The king's word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem.
◇ This passage brings to mind the opening scene of Job, where Satan seeks God's permission to test Job. It appears that Satan, with God's permission, is testing David (2 Samuel 24:1). While Job withstood the test, David succumbed to Satan's temptation. He dismissed his subordinate Joab's objections and hastily ordered the census.
The census revealed that there were 1.57 million men capable of bearing arms and going to war. For this, David received severe punishment from God. When God presented three options for judgment, David chose three days of plague, resulting in the death of 70,000 people.
Could taking a census really be such a grave sin deserving such severe punishment?
In the ancient Near East, censuses were conducted for the benefit of the king and state—for military conscription, taxation, and forced labor. They were taken to demand physical and economic sacrifice from the people for the state's benefit.
Scripture records censuses commanded by God: one for organizing the army to conquer Canaan (Numbers 1), and another for the fair distribution of land (Numbers 26). God's censuses were entirely for the benefit of the Israelite people—a far different purpose from David's census.
The people of Israel were David's subjects, but they were the Lord's people, given by the Lord (verse 3). David was not given them for his own palace and kingdom. God entrusted them to David to rule well with goodness, righteousness, and justice. When David forgot this crucial truth, he fell into sin. As a result, 70,000 innocent people died from the plague. Even weeping and repenting could not bring back the dead.
Whether in nations, churches, or any community, leaders must never forget their proper role and responsibility.
♧ Good and Almighty God, help me never to forget my proper role. Enable me to fulfill well my responsibilities as Your steward and as a disciple of Christ. Holy Spirit, make me strong and courageous. Amen.