II SAMUEL 24 Lesson # 27
PRAYING FOR THOSE WE HURT
I. Introduction:
Q Is God responsible for our sin?
An = In a way, He is. He places or puts certain things or situations in our lives. We as kids liked candy, and stores had candy, and it was tempting to steal…so if God had never made us like candy, we would never be tempted to steal. The same thing with sexual sins, if God had never given us such desires, we would not be tempted by them, etc.
The Bible faces such questions squarely. After all, the world we live in was created by Him. In a strange way, our text alludes to this issue, but then goes out of “speculation” and deals, in the typical biblical way, with practical life.
II. Taking the Census: Stroking Our Ego. II Samuel 24:1-9.
>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 24:1.
Note: Remember throughout this lesson that God was already angry (in a judgment mode) against Israel, before David took the census. The Bible does not tell us what sin Israel committed, it does not wish to have us focus on that, but we can assume that God’s judgment was fair and motivated by some specific sin of Israel.
Note: The Hebrew word behind the word “incite” in the NASB and NIV and “moved” in the KJV is sooth in Hebrew. It does not mean to “compel” but to “motivate”. David’s will was quite in tact. However, God is not just the one that allowed David to take the census but incited him to do it. (Although I Chronicles 21:1 says Satan incited David to such action.) God is going to use a proclivity in David to judge Israel. He is going to take a census, which is dangerous for her.
Q Why is taking a census such a bad thing to do?
An = In our day, the reasons a census would be bad is that it could lead to higher taxes!!! However, a census in ancient Israel was taken quite seriously for a different reason. When an ancient census was taken it was not just “counting heads” it had military and sacred implications. To be part of Israel’s army implied sacred commitments and entailed rules of purity. If you broke those rules of purity, then the nation was in sin.
Perhaps, it would help to see some modern examples. It is one thing to be on the church’s rolls and another to be a church member. The one is counting heads, the other implies spiritual commitment. Or, it is one thing to go to church, it is another thing to take communion. When an Israelite was enrolled in a census he had to give an “offering” of a small coin to be purified or ransomed (Exodus 30:11-16).
When David took the census of his now large empire it contained many non-Jews who did not follow the Mosaic law. Perhaps with the success of the empire, many Jews were lax concerning their observance of the Law. To take the census would encourage many to violate God’s law.
Q So why would a king take a census?
An = Pride. In David’s later years he seemed to grasp for some type of significance. He wanted some type of “assurance” that he was important. He wanted his ego gratified. He needed some type of proof that he was significant.
Q Do older men or leaders do that today?
An = Yes, we do. We see the obvious in some political leaders that build lavish palaces, while their people starve or build huge military machines while the infrastructure of their country suffers. However, we do this on other levels as well. We buy an expensive car, or certain brand names, take certain jobs or advancements, build huge houses as tangible validation of our importance. Often, we take more prestigious jobs or move to “better” neighborhoods, while our kids do not really want or need these things. Our pride needs them.
Often parents or leaders seek security in the wrong way. They are not necessarily evil but just in a spiritual fog. Their pride blinds them. Often we do not listen to others who try to tell us such actions are wrong and dangerous. We can become blind.
>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 24:2-9.
Q Did David accomplish what he wanted?
An = Yes, he found out after the great effort of his chief staff (almost 10 months work) that he had great military capability.
Q Is there any hope for people with pride?
Q Is there any safety from people who harm others with their pride? Has a leader’s pride harmed you?
An = They might want to share what happened to them by such people.
Q Is there any hope if we are the ones who make such errors?
An = What happens if our own actions imperil our own family? What if our decisions harm those whom we are responsible for as church leaders or employers? David will show us the way. He will show us, not as the perfect, never make mistakes type of guy, but as the “man after God’s own heart”. As an imperfect leader and father, like us, he will show us the way.
III. Praying For Those We Hurt: II Samuel 24:10-25.
>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 24:10.
Q What has David done?
An = He has come to his senses and seen his foolish pride, then he has confessed. Notice he was not confronted or accused. He saw his guilt on his own.
Q Is private confession enough?
An = Those who believe in cheap grace think so, but the Bible shows us a much more accurate picture. There is more to squaring with our sin than private confession. It is the necessary start, but what follows will show if we really mean it.
>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 24:11-14.
Note: Even though we confess, their are consequences to our actions.
Q Why did David choose what he did?
An = The key is in 24:14. David does not want to fall into the hands of men, but only into the hands of God. Even though he is a warrior, he wants in the hands of God. He is tired of his pride.
>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 24:15-17.
Q What is David doing in 24:17?
An = A remarkable change has taken place. David does not lament the punishment, but seeks the welfare of others, after personal repentance (24:10). In the end David had no royal arrogance left, He has only prayer and hope in God’s mercy.
Note: Remember Saul? Saul was willing to kill 80 priests, David, whole cities, etc. or anyone who stood in the way of imperiling his own family from staying on the throne. David is very different. Here David is so worried about the people he is willing to give up his future, his family welfare, his personal gain or significance.
Note: David wants to help others and does not try to dodge the punishment. He is willing to take the punishment onto himself.
Q What is the true proof that David means what he says in 24:17?
An = Talk is cheap, even remorse can be temporary. You know a person by their fruits says Jesus in Matthew 7:16,20. >>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:20 What a man does shows what a man or a woman is.
>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 24:18-24
Q Could David have gotten the altar area and materials free?
An = Yes, he could have. Araunah also wanted the plague stopped and gladly offered to the king all that he wanted and needed. Sometimes ministers think the epitome of ministry is getting people to give things. It is not. It is paying our own way.
Q Why did David refuse to accept Araunah’s gracious offer?
An = The answer is found in 24:24: “…I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” David was not trying to get out of his own responsibilities.
>>>> Have someone read II Samuel 24:25.
Q Was David heard?
An = Yes, he was listened to. David prayed “on behalf of the land” and the destruction and judgment stopped.
IV. Conclusion:
Q What steps do we learn from David as to how to deal with our mistakes as fathers and leaders?
An = 1) Confession: Acknowledge our foolishness (II Samuel 24:10).
2) Place them in God’s hands: Submit to His will and rely on His mercy (II Samuel 24:14).
3) Accept the punishment on yourself: David realized that his power was not to be used for his own ego, but to serve his people and bless them. He was wrong and was willing to give up everything for them. (II Samuel 24:17)
4) Take no easy way out: David wanted no free rides. He was willing to pay for his own sacrifices. He wanted to accept the financial, tangible costs of his expression of helping his people.
Q What has happened to David from the beginning to the end of this chapter?
An = He started out a typical self-centered, self-aggrandizing leader to one who was willing to die on behalf of his people and serve them. He became in confession, submission, acceptance of penalty, and rejection of ease like Jesus Christ. We too can move from our self-centeredness to Christ likeness, as we follow the steps David has shown us.
Note: II Chronicles 22 and II Chronicles 3:1 tells us that this site became the sight of the Temple in Jerusalem. The floor of Araunah, the site of David’s confession and acceptance of his own guilt and its cost, became the foundation for the temple Mount. The place where thousands and thousands of people worshipped God for nearly a 1000 years. It became the very place where Jesus Himself was to preach.
Our efforts to face our own mistakes can be used by God to form the foundations of future blessings for others.
Note: Remember, God was already going to judge Israel before David took the census! God was angry with Israel and needed to judge her, but He wanted to bless Israel and David too, so He gets His leader David involved. God knows what we are like and will “incite” us to bring our sinful tendency to the surface, to the front of our consciousness and then we can see it and confess it. Then as we seek to involve ourselves in stopping the seeming judgment we have caused, He uses our efforts to mature and purify us and then bless the very people we pray for.
God judged Israel, but in the process purified and matured David and gave Israel a gift: the Great Temple site for prayer for a 1000 years, so they could seek Him and His Presence.