Observation: This chapter is about David doing that which the Lord does not like - taking a census of fighting-eligible men as a way of measuring his own strength - and punishing David. However, the very first verse of this section tells something different. Yes, David will take a census, thus registering 1.3 million men for military service, and then an undefined plague of retribution will kill 70,000 of those men. However, this all happens because ... "the Lord's anger burned against Israel again."
This is an issue common to the era of the Judges. The people are sinning, turning away from the Lord. For hundreds of years, when this would happen, the Lord would send an enemy to oppress them until they cried out for relief. That isn't going to happen now, because the Lord's anointed king is the protector of Israel. So instead, the Lord stirs that king to act in a manner to correct the people.
And so we see that having a king has not changed the cycle of behavior of Israel. It is true that, in the future, several kings will lead the people into even worse behavior, but even with a godly king the people turn away from God. We don't know how, but likely they were at the very least passive toward God ... withholding offerings, failing to pray, not participating in festivals, overlooking blessings they have and not giving thanks for them. And God took direct and hands-on action to wake them back up.
Application: I would say that the passive behavior I just outlined describes many today. Even those who believe in God do not engage in daily communication and communion with the Lord, fail to give him his due in either worldly offerings or regular thanks or personal worship, and exclude thoughts about God's faithfulness even from celebrations intended to honor him.
And I would say that I see the Lord's direct and hands-on action in the 'plagues' we see inflicting us, which are destroying the lives of younger people in our society, and creating anguish both mentally and emotionally for older generations that cannot comprehend the circumstances.
When and where will the Lord relent? Who is a leader that will accept accountability and humbly submit to the Lord? Will all of us just return to the Lord? Or have we moved beyond those mile posts, and now simply await destruction and exile?
Prayer: Lord, I pray, have mercy on us. Our nation in this land have sinned beyond anything imaginable, and this is truth, the place where we are today could not have been imagined one generation ago. We deserve your anger, your wrath, and your punishment. We are in your hands. May you relent and restore us as only you can. However, if you will not, may those faithful in Jesus Christ be spared in your sight. And in all of this, thy will be done. Amen.
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