But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing.” – 2 Samuel 24:10 (NLT)
Near the end of his reign, David, a man after God’s own heart, fell into the trap of pride and self-reliance. By ordering a census of Israel (a major undertaking that required nearly a year to complete), David sought to measure the greatness of his kingdom, forgetting that it was God, not numbers, who had brought the nation success. In ancient Israel, counting the people without God’s command implied ownership (Exodus 30:12). David didn’t own these people, God did! This revealed a momentary shift of David’s trust in God to trusting in human strength.
But here’s the thing: David’s heart was tender toward God. When confronted with his sin, he didn’t try to justify his actions or delay repentance. He confessed, acknowledging the foolishness of his pride and the depth of his need for God’s mercy.
We, too, can fall into the trap of placing confidence in achievements, possessions, or even our own plans. When we take stock of our “kingdoms” without first acknowledging the Lord who gave them to us, we drift toward self-reliance and away from Him. We begin to think pretty highly of ourselves, and pride – that sin that is so appealing and yet so deadly, sets us up for impending disaster.
David certainly had his flaws, but he was never one to refuse taking ownership of his wrongdoings. Quick to repent, he kept his account fairly short with God. When we recognize our sin, we would do well to follow his example.
Former Blackout Artist 