Even though 2020 has included many challenges in the United States of America, and the world, the US is conducting a census of her 330 million citizens. Countries take such information for numerous reasons from planning on tax revenues to assessing potential economic strengths and weaknesses. Knowing the population helps numerous facets of society stay organized.
But, could there be a census taken for ungodly reasons? Yes. Consider how this story of in the life of David begins...
"Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel," (1 Chronicles 21:1). Satan, that ancient serpent and enemy of God, determined to tempt David to sin by taking a census in Israel. Joab, the commander of David's army, found the move command to be morally wrong, "Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David ... but he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab," (1 Chronicles 21:5-6). God Himself declared this census to be sinful, "God was displeased with this thing," (1 Chronicles 21:7). But, lest we think that any time a leader takes a census he or she has led the country to sin, consider that a few chapters later David takes another census. Near the end of David's life, he takes a census of the Levites and found there were 38,000 men (1 Chronicles 23:3-4). After the first census, God was so angry He sent a plague on Israel. After the second census, there is no judgment. If anything there is blessing because Solomon ascends to the throne peacefully, builds the temple, and ushers in the golden age in the history of ancient Israel.
So, what was different between the first census and the second? Why was one census good, and the other bad?
First, let's consider the evidence to see whether we can determine David's motive in taking each of these counts. In 1 Chronicles 21, the command went to Joab and the commanders of the army. Then, they came back and reported a total of 1.5 million men "who drew the sword" (1 Chronicles 21:5). Thus, this was a census to assess Israel's fighting ability. How strong was Israel's army? It was 1.5 million men strong. Solomon would later teach his son, "the horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD," (Proverbs 21:31). Even David had sang, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God," (Psalm 20:7). So, what was wrong with David's first census? The strength of Israel's army did not and should not be assessed by the number of soldiers, but by the strength of her God. David's census insulted the strength of God to provide salvation. David said with this command, "my might and my soldiers will save us." There was a proud, self-glorifying, man-trusting, ugly motive behind this census.
But, consider the motive behind the second census. David took a count of the Levites in order to help Solomon be prepared and organized for constructing the temple of God. When there were 38,000 Levites counted David appointed different teams to lead worship in Israel:
- 24,000 assigned to the world of the temple
- 6,000 officers and judges
- 4,000 gatekeepers
- 4,000 singers and musicians
This totaled the 38,000 Levites David counted. So, David's motive for the second census was to help Solomon lead in building the temple, so that Israel could worship God in Jerusalem. Over the next several chapters, the inspired chronicler details how David organized the priests, the singers, and the gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 23-26).
So, taking a census is not evil. Being organized is not evil. Planning well is not evil (remember Nehemiah?). But, taking a census can be wicked when it is done to glorify oneself, or to trust in one's own might instead of God's strength.
Now, most of us are not kings, let alone anointed kings over God's covenant people. So, what's the application for us today? First, aren't you glad that Jesus did not take a count of the angels at his command when the soldiers came against him? Aren't you glad he shouted at Peter, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:52-53). Our salvation rested in Jesus trusting His Father faithfully to the end, rather than trusting the might of his army to conquer his enemies. Jesus conquered Satan, sin, and death by trusting.
Another application for us today who follow Jesus has to do with motive. Day in and day out much of the activity of each census may have been very similar. David may even have used some of the same people to perform the task. Activities such as traveling from town to town, taking meticulous notes, making calculations, and submitting reports - these activities likely occurred during both counts of the population. Yet, one activity was evil, and the other was not. Likewise, our motives matter today. We may be doing something that appears quite normal, but when it is for the wrong reasons, God knows. Do you check your bank account daily because you need to make sure that a check successfully cleared or because you trust more in the amount in there than God? Do you check the number of friends you have on Facebook or followers on social media out of concern for the glory of God or for your own name? Christian, ask God to help you guard your heart because we can indeed sin against God in very ordinary activities. And remember 70,000 people lost their lives due to David's sinful leadership in the first census (1 Chronicles 21:14). Let us not tolerate sins of wicked motives as small and minor matters, especially when we are in positions of leadership.
Finally, consider Joab in the story. Joab tried to stop David from sinning, and refused to go entirely along with David's command because he knew it was wrong. Do you have a friend like that? Someone who will try to talk you out of doing something for the wrong reasons? Are you that kind of friend to someone? Do you know your friends well enough to tell when they are doing something for the wrong reasons and do you have the courage to call them out on it?
May we all take to the Bible God has given to us so that our motives may be laid bare before God. May we also trust other Christians enough to allow them to speak into our lives, and may we love our fellow believers enough to speak into theirs.
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