So David
said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, number Israel from
Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word
that I may know their number.” (v.2)
David’s
sin in this chapter, is of the spirit of pride and display. He boasted in the growing numbers
of Israel, and credited them to himself, as the result of his own mastery. All
such public displays of boasting are very despicable to God, who will not give
His glory to another. Therefore, David’s misdirected leadership would cost
Israel greatly.
As
leaders of families, businesses, churches or any position of overseer, we need
to depend on God and rely on His strength and guidance – not our own. We need
to give Him the glory for the gifts He has entrusted us with, not brag or put
on some public display of boasting. Because in so doing, we are setting up ourselves and those around us for a fall. King
David was a “shepherd” when he went astray, so it was inevitable that the
nation or “sheep,” would suffer too (v.17).
Sin will always affect those
around us, like a pebble dropped into a pond, the ripples of sin go out carrying
their consequences with them. Therefore,
we must be careful not to publicly brag about the success of our business, our company investments and securities, nor miserly count
our assets, or survey the growing treasures and power in our
lives. These gifts, entrusted to our care, are to be held in gratitude, not pride - which could be gone in a moment, affecting not just us but others as well.
The
Truth
“Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father
of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
