1 Chronicles 21:2
So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number."
Sermons
The Sin of Self-GratulationR. Tuck 1 Chronicles 21:2
David Numbering the PeopleF. Whitfield 1 Chronicles 21:1-6
Human ActionW. Clarkson 1 Chronicles 21:1-8
Census ReflectionsW. Bramley Moore, M. A.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
David Numbering IsraelHomilist1 Chronicles 21:1-30
David's Self-ConfidenceR. D. B. Rawnsley.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
David's Sin and RepentanceClergyman's Magazine1 Chronicles 21:1-30
Man, Through God, Arresting the Great EvilsHomilist1 Chronicles 21:1-30
Sinful CountingJ. Parker, D. D.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
The Impotence of NumbersHarry Jones.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
Under a SpellW. Birch.1 Chronicles 21:1-30














The narrative does not clearly and explicitly state David's intention in thus commanding a census of the people to be made. Probably he desired to know the numbers of the people of his kingdom as it had been extended by successful war; but this he wished rather for his own self-glorying than for national purposes. It was an act of self-will, and it failed from full loyalty to the theocratic idea which had been so well maintained during David's reign. In just this lay its sin and its mischief. Dean Stanley calls the taking of this census "an attempt not unnaturally suggested by the increase of his power, but implying a confidence and pride alien to the spirit inculcated on the kings of the chosen people. The apprehension of a Nemesis on any overweening display of prosperity, if not consistent with the highest revelations of the Divine nature in the gospel, pervades all ancient, especially all Oriental, religions." And Ewald says, "The only satisfactory explanation of this measure is that it was intended as the foundation of an organized and vigorous government, like that of Egypt or Phoenicia, under which the exact number of the houses and inhabitants of every city and village would have to be obtained so as to be able to summon the people for general taxation. But it is well known what a profound aversion and what an instinctive abhorrence certain nations, ancient and modern, harbour against any such design which they dimly suspect, not perhaps without good reason, is likely to result in a dangerous extension of the governing power, and its encroachment on the sanctity of the private home." We may notice what peril often lies in the return of temptation upon a man after he has conquered it. David had warred in loyal dependence on God, but he fell when attempting to gather up the results of his victory. A camp is never so exposed to attack as in the time of exhaustion and over-confidence that immediately succeeds a victory. Illustrate from the power that lies in the backward suck of a broken wave.

I. SELF-GRATULATION ON ACCOUNT OF RESULTS OF LABOUR. Compare Nebuchadnezzar's boasting over great Babylon. Contrast the spirit manifested in St. Paul's boastings. He says, "By the grace of God I am what I am." Show how keen we are for results, both in business and in religious spheres. The miser delights to count up his hoards, and the religious man is in peril of self-satisfaction in reckoning up his converts. Few of us can bear to have the true fruitage of our life-labour shown us yet; and we learn to think it most wise and good of our great Master that he puts off the harvest-day until by-and-by. Then we may venture to come "bringing our sheaves with us." Enough now for us is the joy of workers in their work.

II. SELF-GRATULATION ON ACCOUNT OF SPIRITUAL TRIUMPHS. Illustrate from the peril of the hermit, monk, or nun; persons who devote themselves wholly to spiritual culture. Show that the humility they seek is ever slipping from their grasp, and subtle pride is asserting its place. St. Simeon Stylites on his pillar was probably prouder than any king. And so now exclusive attention to the training of feelings and emotions tends to self-gratulation. Perhaps more men are proud of their goodness than proud of their greatness. Against this subtle and insidious form of evil we all need to watch. And the great Heart-searcher needs to cleanse the very thoughts and heart, finding out for us our secret wicked ways.

III. The SINFULNESS of all self-gratulation is seen in the evil influence of it on others. Some it excites to imitations. Others it impresses with our insincerity, and so with an idea of the worthlessness of all religion. It prevents our exercising a good influence on others. Nothing more certainly shuts up a man's power than the impression he may produce of his pride and self-conceit. Whatever we may win, one law applies - don't boast. - R.T.

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it.
Lessons:

I. THAT IDLENESS IS THE PARENT OF SIN. It was when David was living as king in ease at Jerusalem that he was tempted of Satan.

II. THAT ONE OF THE BEST REMEDIES FOR WOE IS WORK. The angel of destruction stayed his steps at the threshing-floor of Ornan, even as the angel of salvation visited Gideon as he was threshing wheat.

III. THAT PRAYER, EVEN AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, MAY BE BY GOD'S GRACE EFFICACIOUS. When the sword was actually drawn in the hand of the destroyer it was kept from further execution when David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

IV. THAT OUR GIFTS TO GOD, AS TO MEN, SHOULD BE BESTOWED IN A GENEROUS SPIRIT.

V. THAT WE SHOULD NOT OFFER TO GOD WHAT COSTS US NOTHING.

VI. THAT GOD SANCTIFIES EFFORTS, HOWEVER WEAK THEY MAY BE, IF THEY BE SINCERELY MADE; ACCEPTS GIFTS, HOWEVER HUMBLE THEY MAY BE, IF BESTOWED FROM THE HEART.

VII. THAT THE BEST PROOF THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT OUR OFFERING IS ACCEPTED BY GOD IS NOT THAT WE EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF INFLATED IMPORTANCE OR SELF-SATISFACTION, BUT THAT WE ARE FILLED WITH AN ABIDING SENSE OF PEACE.

VIII. THAT THOUGH WE MAY WORSHIP GOD ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE, YET THAT IN HIS DULY CONSECRATED SANCTUARY, IT IS FITTEST TO DO HIM REVERENCE.

(R. Young, M. A.)

Homilist.
That men suffer for the sins of others is a fact written in every page of history, obvious in every circle of life, and recognised as a principle in the government of God. "The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." That this principle is both just and beneficent, consider —

1. That no man is made to suffer more than he deserves on account of his own personal sins.

2. The men of Israel now for their own sins deserved this stroke of justice.

3. That the evil which descends to us from others is not to be compared to that which we produce ourselves.

4. The sufferings that come to us from others can give us no remorse, which is the very sting of the judgment — our own sins do this.

5. That the knowledge that we can injure society by our own conduct has a strong tendency to restrain vice and stimulate virtue.

(Homilist.)

I. THE PROGRESSIVE COURSE OF SIN.

1. Temptation. Satan the black fountain of all transgression.

2. Transgression (ver. 2). In face of warning (ver. 3). Its desperate folly seen by others (ver. 6). The deadening, hardening power of any lust.

3. Punishment (vers. 10-12). As soon will the magnet escape the influence of the pole, the sea the influence of the moon, an atom the binding force of gravitation, as the sinner escape punishment. "Be sure your sin," etc.

II. THE PROGRESSIVE COURSE OF RECONCILIATION WITH GOD.

1. The messenger, God's afflictive stroke (ver. 7). The prophet, Gad (ver. 9). Every person or circumstance that reproves is God's messenger.

2. Conviction. (ver. 8). The true convict, always confesses, never excuses. Not only owns the sin, but acknowledges its greatness.

3. Penitence (ver. 16).

4. Acceptance.

5. Grateful acknowledgment (ver. 24).

III. UNDERLYING TRUTHS.

1. Though man be tempted, sin is his own act.

2. Our sins affect others. How many widows and orphans!

3. Though sin be pardoned, it leaves terrible scars behind. In David's memory. Gaps in the families and homes of the people. Avoidance of sin is infinitely better than pardon. Christ the only sin-healer.

(R. Berry.)

When the father of the house goes down in character he carries down with him, to a considerable extent, the character of his innocent children. The bad man is laying up a bad fortune for those whom he has brought into the world; long years afterwards they may be told how bad a man their father was, and because of his iniquity they may be made to suffer loss and pain.

(J. Parker, D. D.)

Our sin affects others as well as ourselves. A man whose garden was injured by a troublesome weed said it was due to a neighbour's neglect. He had let his garden run wild, and when the seeds of this particular weed were ripe, the wind blew them over the fence. So one sin may make many innocent people suffer.

People
Araunah, Benjamin, Dan, David, Gad, Gibeon, Israelites, Joab, Levi, Ornan
Places
Beersheba, Dan, Gath, Gibeon, Jerusalem
Topics
Army, Beersheba, Beer-sheba, Bring, Captains, Commanders, Count, Dan, David, Heads, Israelites, Joab, Jo'ab, Numbered, Princes, Report, Rulers, Sum, Troops
Outline
1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people
5. The number of the people being brought, David repents of it
9. David having three plagues proposed by God, chooses the pestilence
14. After the death of 70,000, David by repentance prevents the destruction of Jerusalem
18. David, by Gad's direction, purchases Ornan's threshing floor;
26. where having built an altar, God gives a sign of his favor by fire.
28. David sacrifices there, being restrained from Gibeon by fear of the angel

Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Chronicles 21:1-6

     5249   census

1 Chronicles 21:1-15

     7236   Israel, united kingdom

1 Chronicles 21:1-16

     5544   soldiers

Library
"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh,
Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." For what purpose do we meet thus together? I would we knew it,--then it might be to some better purpose. In all other things we are rational, and do nothing of moment without some end and purpose. But, alas! in this matter of greatest moment, our going about divine ordinances, we have scarce any distinct or deliberate
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished;
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
"He hath hardened their heart."-- John xii. 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This is plainly evident from God's charge to Moses concerning the king of Egypt: "Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not harken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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