Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20030302.htm

1 AND 2 SAMUEL: GOD'S SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS IN OVERSIGHT
Part LXIV: Learning To Trust God Instead Of Numbers Or Money For Blessing
(2 Samuel 24:1-25)
  1. Introduction
    1. In today's often "Madison Avenue" approach to Christian ministries, numbers and the amount of a budget plays a big role in how we evaluate how effective or divinely blessed is a given endeavor for God.
    2. However, trusting in these things instead of God is sin that God disciplines as is taught in 2 Samuel 24:
  2. Learning To Trust God Instead Of Numbers Or Money For Blessing, 2 Samuel 24:1-25.
    1. When Israel sinned against God in a way Scripture does not explain to us, God allowed Satan to tempt king David in a moment of his spiritual weakness to sin against the Lord by numbering the people:
      1. For a reason we are not told, God's anger burned against Israel for some sin, 2 Samuel 24:1a.
      2. Hence, He let Satan tempt David to number the people of war to ascertain his human military might:
        1. Though 2 Samuel 24:1b tells us God motivated David to sin by numbering the people, we learn from 1 Chronicles 21:1 that it as actually Satan who was the party who tempted David to do this.
        2. In reality, God allowed Satan room to tempt a carnal David to number the people to judge Israel for some sin not explained to us in Scripture, cf. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, footnote to 2 Samuel 24:1.
        3. The purpose of the numbering as we can discern by who was ordered to do the census along with the military appraisal of the event was to determine David's human military might, 2 Sam. 24:2, 9.
    2. Yet, numbering the people was sin as it meant David was putting his trust in human versus divine power:
      1. God had promised to expand the number of Israel's people as they obeyed Him, Deuteronomy 1:11.
      2. Yet, the Mosaic Law taught Israel's king was not to put his trust in his own military might by multiplying horses unto himself, but that he was to trust in God to supply him the victory, Deut. 17:16. (Clearly, David at this time had neglected to read Deuteronomy 17:16-20 where the kings were to read daily from the Law so as to avoid turning from God's will and stay blessed by Him!)
      3. Even Joab, David's commander with his other military leaders balked at David's call to number the people, for Joab told David God was able to increase their number as they had need, 2 Sam. 24:2-3.
      4. Thus, David's sin was one of putting his trust in human might versus trusting the Lord for His might.
    3. Even so, David's word prevailed, and Joab had the people numbered for military might, 2 Sam. 24:4-9.
    4. After the census, David's conscience bothered him, and he realized he had sinned, 2 Samuel 24:10.
    5. In response, God told David to select one of three punishments: either he would see 7 years of famine or be chased 3 months by his enemies or see 3 day's worth of disease kill some of the people, 24:11-13.
    6. Having learned the foolishness of trusting in human strength instead of God's power, David replied he would trust GOD to choose the right discipline rather than fall into the cruel hand of man, 2 Sam. 24:14.
    7. Accordingly, the Lord sent Israel a disease that killed some of the people, 2 Samuel 24:15 & 24:1.
    8. When David was told by God to offer a sacrifice to appease Him at Araunah's threshing floor (24:18) he bought the threshingfloor, oxen and wooden threshing instruments for sacrifice at a steep price, signaling his departure from depending on even his money for welfare, 2 Sam. 24:21-25. [The 25 ounces of silver in 2 Samuel 24:24 paid for the oxen and threshing instruments, but David paid 300 ounces of gold for the land according to 2 Chronicles 3:1, a price of over $100,000! (Ibid., Ryrie St. Bible, ftn. to 1 Chr. 21:25)]
Lesson: (1) David failed to HEED SCRIPTURE regarding his need to leave his military might with the LORD (cf. Deuteronomy 17:16), for he had (a) NEGLECTED to KEEP READING it to that end, and so (b) came to TRUST in NUMBERS versus GOD for his might. (2) In proper repentance, David SHIFTED his trust from HUMAN MILITARY (and FINANCIAL) might to GOD!

Application: (1) It is SIN for us to trust in ANY HUMAN resource for blessing rather than in GOD Who SUPPLIES the human resources around us, be it numbers or finances or human abilities. (2) May we then REPENT of such errant trust to rely on GOD and depart from the "Numbers Game" so often practiced in Christian circles (attendance numbers, giving numbers, etc.) (3) Even BETTER, may we CONTINUALLY expose ourselves to Scripture reading and teaching to AVOID such an errant trust in numbers and people in the FIRST place!