His Promise Is Your Proof

Gods demands us to believe His promises.

I have heard many people find reasons why judgement came to David when he numbered (or made a census of) the people (see I Chronicles 21:1-17 & II Samuel 24:1-15.) Correctly it is pointed out that an offering should have been made for the people that was not offered. Others have said it points to David wanting to take pride in the size of the army. These are all correct, I am sure.

Yet, these answers never really settled the question for me.  I might note that I have just trusted that God had a good reason and I know He is just. Yet, as not wanting to repeat David's mistake, I have been had a reverent curiosity as to why such sever consequences for a "census."

To me these two passages give some clarity into how offensive it was to God:

23 But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.  24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.  I Chronicles 27:23-24

and

And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel.  I Chronicles 21:3

It seems that David's action was seen as a lack of faith in the promise God made that He "would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens."  God just wanted David to believe it without proof.  Just believe.

So, David's action was not of faith in Gods Promise, therefore it was sin to him (Romans 14:23).

Accept God's promise and make His Word the only proof and verification you need.  We are called to just live like His Word is coming to pass in our lives.


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