32. David displeases the Lord by taking a census ( 2Samuel 24:1 – 25)

The book of Samuel concludes with David’s failure, exposing the limitations of a human king who, being sinful himself, cannot save his people from their own sin. Israel needed a sinless and unblemished leader—one who could deliver them from their inherent sinfulness that continually provoked God’s wrath.

👉 Read 2Samuel 24:1-25

Q1. Who triggered David to take a census? (Also look at 1 Chronicles 21:1)

God. The author of Chronicles said, Satan instigated David to sin. 

If Satan triggered him to sin, God must have allowed it as in the case of Job. Regardless of who triggered him, the seed of sin was in David’s heart.

Verse 1 reveals that God’s wrath was once again directed against Israel, not David. Yet rather than bringing immediate punishment upon the people, God allowed their leader to act in a way that would expose both his and their guilt. The word again recalls Israel’s long history of rebellion and failure, when their persistent sin repeatedly provoked the Lord’s judgment.

Even the valiant warrior David—who had delivered Israel from many enemies—could not deliver them from the Lord’s righteous anger. Because David himself was imperfect and sinful, he became the very instrument through which judgment fell. This episode exposes the limits of even the greatest human leader and reveals humanity’s deeper need: only a sinless and perfect leader can bear divine wrath and bring lasting salvation for God’s people.

Q2. Why was his taking a census wrong? (v2-3)

David wanted to enjoy and trust in the number of his army rather than God’s power.

Also, in those days, taking a census of the all towns took a lot of time and resources. Verses 5 – 8 describe how long and burdensome task was it. That’s why Joab and military leaders objected it.

Q3. The census took (               ) months. The total number of warriors was (                  ). David later felt guilty and confessed, ‘I have sinned (           ), please (            ) the guilt of your servant.’ The Lord sent the prophet (         ) and offered three options of punishment. David chose the plague punishment, (             ) were killed. 

The census took (  nine and 2/3 ) months. The total number of warriors was (  800,000  ). David later felt guilty and confessed, ‘I have sinned ( greatly  ), please ( remove   ) the guilt of your servant.’ The Lord sent the prophet (  Gad   ) and offered three options of punishment. David chose the plague punishment, (  70,000   ) were killed. 

‘David felt guilty.’ In Hebrew expression, ‘his heart smote him.’ David didn’t break any of the law. However, he knew it was not pleasing the Lord.

“Remove the guilt of your servant.”

The Hebrew phrase literally means, “Please cause my guilt to pass away”—not merely to overlook sin, but to lift away its moral and relational burden. The word עָוֹן (ʿāwōn, “iniquity, guilt”) conveys the image of something twisted or distorted, pointing to a heart bent away from what is right. David was asking God to remove the heavy weight of guilt that pressed upon his conscience.

Sometimes, even after hearing that our sins are forgiven, the feeling of guilt still lingers. It continues to weigh us down, robbing us of freedom. But when we truly realize and believe that Jesus paid the full penalty for our sin, the burden of guilt is lifted. Genuine forgiveness cannot exist without a cost—not only because God’s justice demands payment, but because our own dignity and pride resist unearned grace. That is why Jesus was crucified: to bear the cost Himself, so that both God’s righteousness and our restoration could be fully realized.

Q4. Why did David pick the punishment of plague?

He wanted to fall in God’s hands. He relied on God’s mercy. He knew that God would stop the punishment.

Even when God is angry at you, come closer to Him. 

It is striking that David was allowed to choose how his people would suffer the penalty of his sin—and, in fact, of their own sins. At first glance, it seems that the people were struck down merely because of David’s wrongdoing. Yet Scripture distinguishes between David’s sin and Israel’s sin. The Lord’s anger had already been kindled against Israel (2 Sam 24:1), and David’s failure became the means by which God’s judgment was carried out. Thus, Israel was punished for its collective disobedience, while David’s personal sin served as the instrument that brought the judgment to light.

From David’s side, his transgression was rooted in self-reliance—trusting the size of his army instead of the Lord. The consequence for that sin was deeply internal: his heart was stricken with guilt, and he suffered profound anguish as he watched his people die from the plague. In this way, two kinds of sin and two kinds of punishment—Israel’s national guilt and David’s personal pride—are intricately interwoven within a single narrative.

At the same time, we can infer that if David had remained steadfast in faith and humility, the people might have been spared. His weakness became the occasion for their suffering—but his repentance also became the means by which mercy was restored.

Q5. As the angel was about to struck (                  ), God told him, “that’s (           )! Stop now.” When David saw his people being destroyed, he said to the Lord, “Look, it is (     ) who have sinned. As for these (         ) – what have they done? Attack (     ) and (               ).”

As the angel was about to struck ( Jerusalem  ), God told him, “that’s ( enough )! Stop now.” When David saw his people being destroyed, he said to the Lord, “Look, it is ( I ) who have sinned. As for these ( sheep ) – what have they done? Attack ( me ) and ( my family ).”

He meant, ‘they don’t know anything, they are just sheep under my care. All is my fault and punish me.’ This resembles with Jesus saying, ‘They don’t know what they are doing. Forgive their sins.’ 

Q6. (              ) told David to offer sacrifice to God on (                                                ). Araunah wanted to provide the field and sacrifice animals, but David refused his offer and paid (                           ). Why did he refuse?

(  Gad  ) told David to offer sacrifice to God on (  the threshing floor of Araunah  ). Araunah wanted to provide the field and sacrifice animals, but David refused his offer and paid ( fifty pieces of silver  ). 

God desired to stop the plague, while David wished to bear the punishment himself instead of his people. Surely, God did not intend to harm anyone in David’s family. Therefore, the Lord commanded that a sacrifice of atonement be offered.

In verses 20–24, the extended dialogue shows that David insisted on paying for the offering. He had to bear the cost because it was his own sacrifice—without cost, the offering would lose its meaning. This act also served to remove the guilt of his sin.

Notice the order of restoration:

1. David’s sacrifice restored his relationship with the Lord.

2. Then David prayed for the people, and

3. The Lord answered his prayer, removing the plague from Israel.

Why did the Lord not command Israel to offer a sin offering? Their hearts were unrepentant and blind to their sin; a sacrifice without remorse would be meaningless. But David recognized his sin, humbled himself, and willing to accept a punishment. Through one repentant, restored, devoted man, God showed mercy and restored the whole nation.

Though we are sinful, we are protected from God's wrath because of our King Jesus.

"She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matt 1:21