#FaithrootsPodcast 1 Chronicles 21:1 -22:1
Tempted 1 Chronicles 21:1-22:1
The census (v1-5)
- An/The opponent, Satan (v1)
2 Samuel 24 makes God the source of the provocation for a census.
“Satan … ‘Adversary,’ without the article, than than God is the instigator of David’s census. Such a figure does not appear elsewhere in Chronicles(or Ezra-Nehemiah): indeed only in Job 1-2 and Zech 3:1 does a somewhat similar figure appear. In both of these cases, however, the definite article is attached…so that the text of Chronicles probably reflects the final stage in the OT’s development of a figure of Yahweh’s heavenly council who not only brings charges against his people but actually incites them to evil. Since such a figure does not appear elsewhere in Chronicles, it probably reflects the commonly held piety of the day, which hesitated to speak of God as the direct cause of evil.”[1]
Leithart thinks that it should be translated “an adversary” and refers to God causing an enemy army to attack. Though this seems to be a minority position.[2]
- Joab instructed. He questions David (v2-3)
Leithart suggests that the problem isn’t the military census itself but a failure to follow the protocol of Exodus 30.[3]
The primary issues seems to be that God hasn’t authorized this and it suggests a lack of trust in God.
- David overrules (v4-5)
NB there seems to be a difference in the counting between 2 Samuel 24 which suggests a total of 1.3 million and in 1 Chronicles which gives a total of 1.1 million. It is possible that 2 Samuel has estimated the inclusion of Levi and Benjamin. This would imply that Joab had counted/assessed the strength of those tribes but withheld them from his assessment of the overall army, considering them not to be available for regular military duty.[4]
Revulsion (v6-8)
- To Joab – who excludes Levi and Benjamin (v6)
- To God – who punishes
- Even to David -who repents
Judgement (v9-14)
- David is given three options (v9-12)
- He prefers to fall into God’s hand. (v 13)
- So the punishment is plague (v14)
Mercy and sacrifice (v15-28)
- The Angel of the Lord is about to destroy Jerusalem. God however tells him to stop (v15)
- David and Jerusalem see this as a vision (v16)
- Aranuah’s threshing floor (v17-18)
- Negotiating up! It is offered for free (v22-23)
- But David says (v24)
“ I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”
- The price is paid (v26)
- The punishment ends (v27-28)
Consequences (v29-22:1)
-David’s fear of the angel limits his ability to come into God’s presence (v29-30)
David decides that the Tabernacle should be transferred to Jerusalem (22:1)
Learning from David
- Trust, doubt and crossing boundaries. David echoes Adam in Eden
- David as example, no place for cheap grace
- David as type, no place for cheap grace
Discussion
- Who do you think is behind David’s decision to call the census?
- Can you think of examples where we can do something that in and of itself is okay but because we approach it in the wrong way or for the wrong motives becomes sin?
- How might we seek to offer what belongs to others as our sacrifice/worship to God? Why is that a problem?
- In what ways might we be tempted to offer worship that costs us nothing?
- How does this Bible passage help us to better understand the doctrine of atonement?
[1] Braun 1 Chronicles, 216-217. Note I find this explanation problematic. If we assume that the Satan is a literary device introduced late into the picture then this blows apart the theory that other books such as Daniel, parts of Isaiah and even Deuteronomy were post-Exilic as those books do not seem to need such a figure to resolve any pietistic concerns.
[2] Leithart, 1 &2 Chronicles, 71.
[3] Leithart, 1&2 Chronicles 72.
[4] Selman suggests that if Levi was excluded “for traditional reasons” then the exclusion of Benjamin may reflect the presence of the Ark and the Tabernacle in their territory. Selman, 1 Chronicles, 215.
Faithroots 