SCRIPTURE: 1 Chronicles 21
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
God was very displeased with the census, and he punished Israel for it. Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt for doing this foolish thing.” [1 Chronicles 21:7-8]
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” [Matthew 27:45-46]
In this reading, taking a census was not the sin but the attitude behind it; apparently David was placing his trust in “multiplied troops” rather than in the promises of God.
His words in Psalm 30 seem to reflect this: “When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!” Your favour, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.” [Psalm 30:6-7].
Notice how his self-reliance impacts the whole nation, not just himself.

This is a hard passage; the suffering inflicted on the nation seems unfair, considering it was David’s sin.
I cannot make sense of it, I can only trust God that somehow it makes sense.
The general idea seems to be that David’s sin (i.e. relying on our own strength instead of God’s help) has devastating consequences, not just for himself but for others.
Think of Adam and Eve, whose act of self-reliance also affected the whole human race.
Think of the consequences of sinful, foolish choices that we make – and the innocent people that suffer.
Sin is not joke, no April Fool’s joke; sin (immorality, selfishness, rejecting or defying God, etc.) is very serious, very destructive – we do not take it serious enough.

Just think about how Jesus – a truly innocent man – suffered.
But there is one important difference in Jesus’ case; whereas the suffering in our passage was unintended (David did not mean to cause such misery, neither did Adam and Eve), Jesus’ suffering was intentional – He chose it for Himself.
Jesus chooses to take the brunt of sin, death and hell upon Himself so that He can defeat the curse.
When all hell breaks loose against Jesus, He is ready for it.

As we think about all the suffering in the world this holy week, we need to remember two things.
First, that it is the natural consequence of our sinful rejection of God and rebellion.
Second, that Jesus embraces the fullness of this suffering, so that He can defeat it, and restore to us the hope of forgiveness, freedom from sin, death and hell, and the gift of eternal life.

PRAYER:
Lord, at first glance the punishment for David’s sin doesn’t seem to fit the crime. Help me to see how destructive sin and self-reliance are. And help me to repent and cling to You for eternal life!