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2Samuel
CHAPTER 24

This chapter concludes the second book given the name of Samuel. Obviously, Samuel didn't write all of this because he died before David became king; and this chapter approaches the death of David.
Perhaps one of the reasons why Samuel's name is associated with this book is because he began writing and recording the events in 1Samuel, and because of his great influence in the era that includes Saul and David.

Chapter 23 recorded the reflection of David upon the two most important things in his life. God and his friends. This chapter however is reflective of the SINS of David. After all, he was only a human being. And even near the end of his life, having learned many valuable lessons from God, he could be moved in his heart to sin.

We are ALL sinners ALL our lives. And we owe to God all our lives. There are some other lessons that we shall learn from David in the book of 1Kings. However, none are more important than this final lesson in the book of 2Samuel.

The lesson is this: God has offered me that which cost Him EVERYTHING, and I shall not offer to God that which costs me NOTHING! Friends, God GAVE you your life. It cost you NOTHING to receive it. God did it without your help. It was a FREE GIFT from God. BUT - it IS your life. He totally gave it to YOU. Therefore, the ONLY thing you have to offer God is YOUR LIFE! Meditate on that in the ensuing Scripture discussion.

1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

We must understand that it wasn't GOD Who initiated the census. God IS in control of the government. And the government is the reflection of the people. The Bible plainly says here that God was "angry" with the nation of Israel. God simply USED David's sinfulness in order to CORRECT sinfulness on the part of the nation.
You seen in 1Chronicles 21:1 the Bible plainly says that Satan stood "against" Isreal and provoked Dvid to the sin of this census. Many people have difficulty in coordinating the two parts of this story.
FIRST - Israel was sinful. That's why God was angry with them. SECOND - Satan stood against them and testified to their sin. THIRD - David is a sinner and wanted to see Israel numbered for his own pride.
So God knew three things: Israel as a nation was sinning, Satan was trying to influence David, and David wanted to have this census. And God USED these circumstances to discipline both David and the nation. It was PERFECT COORDINATION of events by the Lord.

2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. 3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? 4 Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.

David told Joab to take the census. In itself, there is no sin to doing that. However, David did this out of pride. Probably, in his latter years, he wanted to know just how LARGE a kingdom he had.
God has given David EVERYTHING he has. Why should he take PRIDE in WHO he is?
We have that problem today.
Joab didn't like this at all. But David insisted, and Joab had no choice.

5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer: 6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon, 7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba. 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

Joab traveled the country and took the census. He made a circle and came back to Jerusalem. It took 9 months and 20 days. (Seems like THEY worked about as fast as OUR government - he he.)
1Chronicles 21:6 tells us that Joab did NOT count the tribes of Levi or Benjamin. Altogether there were 1,570,000 men who were able to go to war (1Chronicles 21:5).
From the tribe of Judah alone there were 470,000 men. This might intimate that Joab didn't really do a very good job of counting the other 10 tribes. After all, Joab REALLY didn't want to take this census. Therefore, he probably didn't do a very complete job.
9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

When Joab gave the number of people to David, David realized his sin. He confessed it before the Lord in prayer, and asked for forgiveness.
Even though sin is forgiven, there still may be some consequences which must follow.

11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.

Next morning, as David was up early for prayer, Gad the prophet came in and told him that God had 3 choices for him:
1) seven years of famine,
2) three months of being chased by his enemies,
3) or three days of pestilence in Israel.

14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.

David realized that famine would bring other domineering nations upon Israel. And to David, even three MINUTES of running from his enemies was too much. So David decided to "Let GOD meet out the punishment."

15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

God sent the pestilence, and the first day 70,000 men died! Then the angel in charge of the punishment began to "stretch out his hand" toward Jerusalem.

16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

Now the angel's presence was near the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David SAW him. And he called out to God saying, "I have sinned, but these sheep, what have they done? Let Thine hand, I pray thee, be against ME, and against my father's house."
David was willing to take all the punishment in order to free the people. Now THAT'S a picture of our Lord and Saviour!
God heard David's prayer, and responded (see verse 16). He told the angel "that's enough."

18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. 19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.

God sent Gad to David again. He told him to build an altar where he had seen the angel (at the threshing floor of Araunah).
David was willing to do ANYTHING God wanted. He went immediately to Araunah.

20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. 23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

This is the crux of the chapter. David went to Araunah and asked to buy the threshing floor. Araunah, having great respect for his king, and perhaps a certain sentiment for the occasion, offered to GIVE the area surrounding the floor to David.
But David made this comment, "..neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing." (verse 24)

Here, my friends is a MAJOR lesson in salvation.
God has given us everything that we are and have.
We have squandered away WHO we are by SIN.
God offers a free gift to us in salvation - a return to NO SIN.
It is a FREE GIFT, but it is NOT WITHOUT COST!! It cost Jesus suffering, pain, debasement, agony and death!
We should not think that salvation is WITHOUT COST!
There is only ONE THING we can do to receive salvation; and believe me it COSTS!
That is to SURRENDER. Surrender ALL THAT WE ARE AND HAVE to JESUS!

Yes, salvation is a free gift. But it cost God, and it'll cost you and me. Don't ever let anyone tell you salvation is WITHOUT COST!

One must give his WHOLE LIFE to Christ in order to be saved.

Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

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