2 Samuel 24

Bible Passage:  2 Samuel 24

We have come to the end of the 2 books of Samuel. And to be honest, this was a chapter that had me feeling a bit confused for a moment at the get-go.

Moved to sin

When we read the first couple of verses, you might be wondering, “But how could God cause David to sin? Isn’t very unfair to David?”. Truthfully, when I first paid closer attention to this chapter and especially to these verses, I was thinking along that line. Did God make David so that He could punish him later on? *Gasp* Sounds unreasonable. Or is it so?

Let’s view the replay… *rewind sound*

If we read in the literal sense (or whatever you call it), we would perceive this as God being the main “culprit” by causing David to sin so that he could be punished for it. But we ought to know that the God whom we worship is of that sort. And after thinking a while and consulting a brethren, whose name is *bleep*, here’s a possible explanation.

Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.. – 1 Chronicles 21: 1

If we read on further, we would notice that this was the same event as recorded in the first half of today’s chapter. Only this time, it records that it was Satan who moved David to sin, not God.

Next, read Job chapter 1, verses 6 to 12. Here, we can say that Satan somewhat asked for permission from God to do what he wished towards Job. And God allowed.

I think that this situation is a bit similar to the event in 2 Samuel 24, in that while Satan was the one who moved David to sin, it was also God who allowed Satan to do so, for a reason.

In Job, the reason, you could say, was that God wanted to prove that Job would not fail in his faith even in dire times of great distress and pain. But in David’s and Israel’s case this time, it wasn’t for the same reason..

Do what you wish..

Though I can’t say for sure what was the reason, but this recording does remind me of something.

Wouldn’t it be dreadful to think of a situation where God could care less about what we do, so much so that He would allow us to listen to the devil and sin? What if someone reaches a stage when God no longer works in him/her and does not guide the person? Remember like what happened to Saul, who committed wrong after wrong even after God left him?

This is a fearful thing indeed.. Worse than almost anything else imaginable…

May we continue to pray everyday that God will guide our steps all the way, that we would never end up in the above situation. And even if we were “on the way”, we pray that God would turn us back to Him.

Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord.. – Lamentations 3: 40

Acknowledging mistakes

After numbering the people, David realised what wrong he had done and in verse 10, his heart condemned him for doing such a thing.

This, to me, brings out again a good point about David here that we’ve read of before in previous postings. David was able and humble enough to admit his mistakes and to readily accept full responsibility for them. Just like the time he inadvertently caused the massacre of many innocent lives while running away from Saul.

Speaking of which, we have also made comparisons with Saul, who was a total opposite in this department, always trying to cover up his errors.

But we know that God knows everything that we have ever done, including the wrongs we try to hide. Therefore, we have to always confess our sins, known and unknown to our heavenly Father, for only He can forgive and have mercy on us.

He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy – Proverbs 28: 13

Let us all strive to reach out and draw closer to God.. That we’ll always keep His commandments that He may never leave us.