As we read this chapter, we learn that David angered God by taking a census of the people. We may wonder, “What was so wrong about counting the people?” In Numbers Chapter 1, God also commanded Moses to number the Israelites, recording the men of each tribe and those who are able to go to war, Moses did exactly as the Lord instructed. This was a legitimate census and according to Exodus 30:12: “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.”
It is clear that taking a census is not a trivial matter; it needs to be carried out with caution, and there is also an offering after the count. However, David’s interest in taking a census did not come from God’s command nor was there any offering afterwards; it was simply due to his pride, his desire to demonstrate the nation’s strength and his self-admiration. He fell into the “numerical” illusion of a prosperous nation and a strong army!
In today’s society, success is often measured by performance and numbers. Yet, the standards of God’s kingdom are different: After a successful evangelistic service, when we say “Thank God”, are we truly thanking God for His presence or for our own abilities? Are we counting God’s blessings, or are we counting our own pride? Leading many truthseekers to believe in the Lord makes one begin to think highly of their own abilities; and the greater one's capabilities, the more responsibilities one is given, and the more successful one will feel! We must be careful not to fall into the trap of counting our success, behind the growth of success may lie endlessly expanding selfish desires.
Listen carefully to God’s admonition
When David raised the idea of census among the people, he had the opportunity to nip the error in the bud and prevent it from growing; for even his commander Joab felt it was inappropriate, saying: “Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” (1 Chronicles 21:3). But David persisted in his actions, ignoring the admonitions God gave through Joab and the military commanders. David’s stubbornness resulted in a time-consuming and laborious journey throughout the land, lasting more than 9 months, during which he counted only his pride and sin. In our own lives, we should maintain a soft and teachable heart, willing to humbly accept advice from those around us. The people around us are able to understand our ideas and thoughts and can see our blind spots most clearly, they can remind us at any time.
Count your own weaknesses
When those who serve God begin to be complacent and count their achievements and calculate their merits, it is often the prelude to their downfall. The Bible encourages us: “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31), even Paul who possessed great eloquence and ability, chose only to boast in his weaknesses that the power of Christ might cover. We can only count our own weaknesses, God will personally count our blessings upon us. It is only when we count according to God’s Will that we can please Him!
