Taking A Count of the People

Taking A Count of the People

In a moment of insecurity, David called in Joab, commander of his army, to go throughout the nation of Israel and take a census of the people. Joab saw the evil this would cause and protested, but the will of the king prevailed. It wasn’t until after the census was complete that David realized his guilt. The Prophet Gad confronted him and while he chose his punishment, he also realized that he was to blame, not the people.

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2 Samuel 24:24
In our last episode we learned how David made right on a wrong done by Saul to the Gibeonites, and how God blessed his righteous actions with prosperity for Israel. The Philistines once again attacked, wanting to plunder Israel’s wealth, but David’s army was strong, well-trained, and brave, just as their leader. David, now in his older years, had built a legacy of courage and conviction that glorified God and prospered His people. Today we’ll hear how David allowed insecurity and a sense of ownership of the people to creep in, causing him to seek to control the people by taking a census. Though warned by Joab, David pushes forward. There will be a price to pay for his actions, and David will be faced with a tough decision. What will he choose?
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