King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Chapters: II Samuel 23-24, Psalms 97-99
Message: II Samuel: David Orders A Census
Hello My Friend,
I do not know about you, but this week is dragging and since I took Tuesday off from work it makes it even longer because every day feels like Friday. However, my mornings do not seem to drag, by the time I get my husband off to work half of my just Jesus and me time is gone and I am running late to get out the door for work. It is strange, but while I like that I can set my own hours, a set schedule keeps me more accountable. It is a reminder as to why God gave us His Word, we can follow Him based on our own understanding and sort of get by, but knowing it keeps us more accountable. As we continue in the reading of II Samuel we learn that regardless of who we are God judges all with the same just judgment. Jesus, said it this way, [John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.]
I suppose we could learn a lot based on ones appearance, but the only way we can learn about someone is watching them in action. Those who truly love God, while they are not without sin they are faithful and repentant, even if they mess up a thousand times a day. They are not fake in their faith, they are simple, trusting in the LORD to preserve their souls and it shows through their faithfulness, [Psalms 97:10-12 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.]
Righteous judgment is not about pointing out each others sins it is discerning right from wrong and acting upon it the way that Jesus would. David, has been reflecting on his life after everything with Absalom and the decisions he made, and goes on to recall how God has been there for him through it all, [2 Samuel 23:1-4 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.]
This is the problem with all of our nations right now, including once God fearing nations, they stopped fearing God and that trickled down to the people. It is a proven fact that a nation who fears God is truly blessed, but when the nations leaders turn on Him there is utter chaos. David, understood this and even points out that people in his own family had not feared God.
[2 Samuel 23:5-7 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. 6 But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.]
David, felt that he was partially to blame for Absalom and Amnon turning out the way they did, after all, while their mother’s ought to have been fearing God as well, David was their biggest influence. It probably grieved him tremendously, but he also understood that salvation was not a group effort, it came down to each individual, even his own children were subject to Satan. It may seem strange to us, but part of God’s just judgment is Satan, which is why he is still around. God, uses him to afflict those whom have fallen and He has even been known to use him to prove His faithful, [Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.]
One can train up children in the fear of God, but each and every person must work out their salvation with God on their own, [Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.]
God’s good pleasure, now that is something that we sometimes have a hard time comprehending, while we can understand blessings from obedience and even chastening from disobedience it is sometimes hard to comprehend blessings through sorrow. If there is one thing I have learned it is that no matter how many times I fail at following His will He is merciful and patient to guide me back in the right direction.
[Psalms 98:1-4,8-9 A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.]
Yes, salvation was granted by God through grace in their faith in the LORD even before Christ’s passion. How was this possible? They believed in the same promise that we do, [Romans 4:13-14,20-22 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.]
David, knew he did not have for the most part a Godly and prosperous kingdom on his own, it took several Godly and faithful men and women to do that. Now, a second account is given to the leaders of David’s army, of whom are called his mighty men, the God fearing men who did help him on his journey.
[2 Samuel 23:8-10 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.]
Do you see how David knew that every victory came from God? The same is true today, and I certainly know that no good thing can be accomplished without Christ. I will even go as far as to say that bad things cannot be overcome without Christ. David, goes on to recollect his mighty men.
[2 Samuel 23:14-17 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem. 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.]
David’s hero’s were the ones who risked their lives to get him water from that well. When we come to understand that people’s souls are more important than what we desire that is when we count any loss as but dung, [Philippians 3:8-9 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:]
While Abishai was still noted as a mighty and honorable man, although noted that he was not one of the most honorable, but notice who it was that was included in the lineup, [2 Samuel 23:18-20,22-23,39 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. 19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three. 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard. 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.]
Completing the list was none other that Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba’s husband, and the one David had placed in the most dangerous part of the war that was going on between Israel and Amnon and Syria. David, saw the need to include Uriah in the list of his mighty men, no doubt because we was a very honorable man. We can rejoice in God’s judgments because they are just and make our heart pure as we renew our fear in Him, [Psalms 99:1-5 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. 2 The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. 3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. 4 The king’s strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.]
David, had his share of judgments placed upon him, but he knew that he was still loved by God because of the covenant that He made with him. Perhaps one of the greatest testimonies that shows salvation has always been about grace and not of works is when David had to choose righteous judgment himself. It all began when David decided to call for a census of Israel and Judah.
[2 Samuel 24:1-4 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. 2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. 3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? 4 Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.]
We can speculate as to what it was that angered God, but I imagine that part of it was due to their revolt on David. Well, the Law in regards to a census states, [Exodus 30:12-13 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.]
Since David broke that Law by the people not paying the amount owed and I suspect they did not know this, yet righteous judgment was required. And as we can see the judgment would be a plague or disease that would spread among the people, but God gave David a choice, he would have to decide the judgment.
[2 Samuel 24:8-12 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9 And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, 12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.]
How would you like to decide what the punishment would be? He had one of three choices, [2 Samuel 24:13-15 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. 14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. 15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.]
Those three choices in the judgment were seven years of famine, three months of being chased by an enemy, or three days of a plague. Well, since he did not want the nation to suffer seven years of famine and he did not want to be chased for three months, so he chose the plague. What David did not anticipate was how many would die in those three days, in fact within only a day seventy thousand men died.
[2 Samuel 24:16-18 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house. 18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.]
Can you imagine just how many would have died if the disease continued for three days? Do you think that God enjoys seeing so many people end up in hell? He does not and would save them all if they had only repented, but righteous judgment means that God is no respecter of persons, [Romans 2:9-12 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;]
At this point, seeing that angel about to strike more people David, begged God to put the judgment upon him and his family, but spare the people, whom he considered as being innocent. That was when Gad told him what to do. Since David sinned he had broken that one on one connection with God and therefore He sent Gad to let him know that. Even the saved must come to God confessing their sin if they want to reconnect with Him, [1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.]
David, and his men immediately went to Araunah’s home and when he saw the king and all these people coming toward him he did not know what to think, [2 Samuel 24:20-22 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.]
It is no wonder why he bowed down as he seen all these men and the king charging toward him. When he discovered what he wanted, Araunah eagerly gave him what he needed, but David refused to accept it as a gift, [2 Samuel 24:23-25 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.]
This is exactly the place where Abraham stood when he was about to offer Isaac, [Genesis 22:7-12 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.]
Salvation is never free, it is always bought with a blood sacrifice. The animal sacrifices never made salvation permanent because they never actually removed the sin, but what they did do was remove God’s anger toward the sinner and gave redemption to them through their admission of sin. We could question God’s methods, but what good would that do, the only thing that it would do is reveal the truth that perhaps we did not believe with all our heart that Jesus is the only way. This is God’s world, He created it and will do with it what He will and He does not need our permission or support.
[Psalms 97:1-6,8 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. 3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. 4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. 5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. 8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.]
Look up in the sky, the sunsets, the rainbow after the rain, the stars shining bright on a clear night, and you will see God. Those who refuse to see that God is the maker and keeper of these things are nothing, but reprobates, [Romans 1:20-21 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Every day I am amazed that no matter how many mistakes I make You still love me, You have not forsaken me, and I still have a place in heaven with You. Your judgments are righteous and we should rejoice in them because they are what conform us into an image that resembles Your Son. Lord, continue to lead me and guide me, keep me in Your Word, learning, understanding, and conforming to Your Son until You bring me home. Let my life be an example of not only Your mercies and grace, but of Your righteous judgments that keep me out of Satan’s hands and in Your will. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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