Census-taking

Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.” 1 Chronicles 21:1-2

God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel. David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” 1 Chronicles 21:7

On the surface of things, we of course are prompted to ask the question: ‘how bad is a census really?’ It seems to us an arbitrary reason to incur the Lord’s wrath. What was it about David’s push to number the people of Israel that prompted such a response? We see that it is not only is the Lord displeased by David’s decree but even Joab, who is assigned to carry out the task, tries to push back against it.

First, the Chronicler gives us additional information that the 2^nd Samuel recording of this event does not, namely that Satan prompted David’s actions. Not a good sign for success. The instances of Satan directly referenced in the Bible are so comparatively few that we are bound to notice when he is mentioned.

Secondly, the purpose of a census was to determine (and muster) how many fighting men there were to be found. The strength of the nation of Israel was always to be derived not from its armies or chariots but rather from the Lord. Historically, they had always been the underdog, the oppressed, and underprivileged. That is why the Lord’s assistance is so revealing about His character. He chooses those who are not strong to demonstrate His power. Israel’s victories, and indeed, their very existence came only when they trusted in the Lord for their survival. Think of the moments throughout history when this is demonstrated. Gideon’s army is purposefully reduced to show that the victory came from the Lord. Caleb confidently entrusts himself to the Lord’s will despite the odds stacked against him as he ventured forth to take his portion of the Promised Land. Complete reliance upon the Lord was to be the hallmark of the nation of Israel.

To take a census of the eligible warriors in a nation is to consider the likelihood of victory in war. ‘How do we stack up against our enemies?’ This type of economics makes perfect sense in worldly thinking. It was (and is) the prudent method of weighing the risks and rewards of a military engagement. Israel, however, was not to be a worldly nation and its determining factor in victory or defeat was not numbers or arms but rather the good pleasure of the Lord.

This is why David’s decision smacks of arrogance. It flies in the face of the radical dependence that the Lord required of Israel, His chosen nation and covenantal partner. In evaluating strengths and weaknesses, as other nations did, the census essentially said, ‘we only have ourselves, let’s see if victory is expedient,’ rather than asking whether the Lord would provide the victory in spite of the odds.

Observing and understanding David’s sin must not lead us to a pharisaical self-righteousness though. In fact, it is the very fact that I can empathize with David’s fleshly calculations, which brought this verse to my attention in the first place. I tend to be an over-thinker (that might be an understatement, let me think about it) who often finds himself crippled by the possibilities of success and failure. I think that we all have tendencies toward self-reliance in this regard. We see with our eyes the temporal and earthly facts. It is much harder to focus instead upon the Lord who controls unseen the world. I can think of a half dozen areas in which I try and analyze myself to victory rather than trusting instead the Lord.

-          Money – how often does my prudent approach to money deprive the Lord the chance to provide for me?

-          Conversation – how often does fear and ‘rational’ thinking rob me of situations to tell others of the glory of God?

-          Spontaneity – Oh, how few are the times that I promptly answer the call that the Lord has placed upon me. Instead I analyze and rationalize away that which the Lord desires for me.

-          Prayer – How rarely I pray when I should. Instead I put my requests on a ‘prayer list’ for some future time of concentration that never comes.

How different are we from David really? He wavered and trusted in his own reasoning and in the forces available to him. We seem to trust in anything but the Lord far more often than we would dare to admit. How different are we from Ananias and Sapphira who in their human reasoning saved some of the sale of a house for themselves? May we make choices in a way to be rewarded by the Lord rather than punished as David (and Israel) was or with the finality of that young couple in Acts.

Logic and wisdom in such calculations may be all the world has to depend upon, but we who follow Christ and who abide in His Spirit are not confined by rationality. Our God is bigger. Our God is stronger. Our God is not limited by that which is visible. That is the God that we must embrace.

Our aim is complete surrender; complete and absolute dependence. Our aim is to be so deeply embedded with the Holy Spirit that we see the power and trustworthiness of the Lord rather than the twisted prudence and logic of this world. To be sure, we use the wisdom and intellect He has given us, but never should we let mathematics trump the call of the Lord.

Our aim is simple:

The Lord calls,

We promptly answer.