I have to admit that there have been some stories in the Bible that have stumped me from time to time.  Thanks to some help from those much smarter than me I generally figure out its meaning.  One that held me “under the water” for a period is found in I Chronicles 21 and 2 Samuel 24: David taking the census.   I can understand the whole Bathsheba/Uriah thing with the adultery/murder/cover-up.  I think even the youngest or newest Bible reader/searcher can figure that one out.  But for the longest time I sort of figured “what can be so bad about taking a census to see how may people there are?”  Do you mind if I share some thoughts with you?

There are some significant changes and additions between the 2 Samuel passage and the I Chronicles passage.  While it seems to be just an appendage in 2 Samuel it becomes a pivotal story in I Chronicles.  Looking at that passage is like reading a “Who’s Who in War?”  and “What war is next?”  Then we find this account of David taking a census.  Significance?  Maybe none.  Maybe a lot.  I think the latter because it is between the wars and the preparation for building the Temple (which his son, Solomon, accomplishes).   But in my mind there is something much deeper.   We go from the sin of the census to the meaning of the Temple.  The Temple represented God’s presence but it was also the place of God’s mercy and forgiveness, where sin was atoned for on a daily basis.   Who needed it more at that time than David himself?  His grave sin of taking the census (motivated by pride maybe?) led to God giving 3 options to him and after David’s choice, a stunning outbreak of pestilence and death.  David needed that restoration and forgiveness symbolized by the Temple.

One other thing stands out to me: David’s response to Ornan’s offer of free land.   In verse 22 David said, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord-give it to me at full price-that the plague may be averted from the people.” Two verses later he stated, “I will not not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David would not sacrifice without it costing him something.  I am reminded of what Jesus said about paying the price.

Pride is an ugly thing with sometimes horrible consequences.   I/we need to ask ourselves if the price we have to pay is worth our holding onto our pride and “our way.”  We also need to remind ourselves about the mercy and forgiveness that comes in the presence of the Lord.  Do you find pride a difficulty you face?  Do you have any other thoughts you would like to share about this story?  I would welcome hearing them.

This post was inspired by my reading the passage from I Chronicles in the OneYear Bible this morning (Thursday).