Lots of Lessons in One Story

1 Chronicles 21:1-17 (ESV)
Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. [2]So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” [3]But Joab said, “May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” [4]But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. [5]And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. [6]But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.

[7]But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. [8]And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” [9]And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, [10]“Go and say to David, 'Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.' ” [11]So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, 'Choose what you will: [12]either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” [13]Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

[14]So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. [15]And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [16]And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. [17]And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”

1. Satan influenced David. David, a man after God’s own heart, was not above being deceived by Satan and taking an action against God.
2. Joab respected his king when he believed the decision was wrong. How times do we fight tooth and nail with our church leaders over a decision they have made that we know is wrong? Do you let God have a say in it, since He is the one who put the leader in the position? Or is God so weak that He can’t correct His children, so you have been ordained to smite that leader because God has no idea what’s going on? Or could it be, that in your haste to be “right,” you are actually the one in the wrong? Joab followed orders, even though he didn’t think his king was making the right decision – David was ultimately accountable to God.
3. David confesses his sin and asks for forgiveness. When David realized that He had sinned against God, he went to Him for forgiveness of his folly.
4. David accepts the discipline of the Lord. Sin has consequences. David realized this and owned up to the consequences that had to come.
5. David intercedes for his people. When David saw that his choice in consequences was hurting Israel, he went to the Lord and begged that all wrath be turned on him since he was the one who sinned in the first place.

None of us are beyond making a bad decision. If the person making the decision is in authority over you, express your concerns, but don’t fight – ultimately the accountability falls on them. If the bad decision is sin or leads to sin, don’t be prideful and stubborn: stop, confess and seek forgiveness. Own up to the consequences of your decision – do not blame others. If the consequences hurt those under your authority do your best to intercede (God blessed David’s intercession in verses 27 & 28).