Thursday, November 13, 2008

Census

I'm sure this verse gets lots of discussion. After David does a whole bunch of battles and settles down, this happens:
1 Chronicles 21:1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.

Now a census doesn't seem like a bad thing, but evidently it is some sort of bad thing as when David tells Joab to do it, Joab is like- what are you doing buddy? Joab knew it was wrong. For what reason it was wrong I don't know. Maybe counting your troops makes you think you can accomplishing things in your own strength so they weren't allowed to count them.
But Joab does the census because David insisted and Israel gets punished, though David takes responsibility, At the end:
1 Chronicles 21:29 The tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the desert, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time on the high place at Gibeon. 30 But David could not go before it to inquire of God, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

Because he did something wrong, it caused a block in his relationship with God.

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