Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel, so he made David decide to take a census.
It was the Lord in 2 Samuel 24:1. In reality, it was probably both (Job 1:6-12). In any event, appearances are deceiving.
Joab… reported to King David the total number of men capable of military service: 1,100,000 in Israel and 470,000 in Judah.
Already the distinction is made between the two groups. Military power is what counts here. To think that all these started with 3 (Genesis 21:1-7), then 70 (Genesis 46:27) to become once again a handful (Ezra 2).
God was displeased with what had been done, so he punished Israel. David said to God, “I have committed a terrible sin in doing this! Please forgive me. I have acted foolishly.”
Then the Lord said to Gad, David’s prophet, “Go and tell David that I am giving him three choices. I will do whichever he chooses.”
I believe this is the only recorded place where such a choice is offered. Sin forgiven – but there are consequences…
David replied to Gad, “I am in a desperate situation! But I don’t want to be punished by people. Let the Lord himself be the one to punish me, because he is merciful.”
So the Lord sent an epidemic on the people of Israel, and seventy thousand of them died. Then he sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but he changed his mind and said to the angel, “Stop! That’s enough!” The angel was standing by the threshing place of Araunah, a Jebusite.
That was the right decision! God indeed showed mercy.
David saw the angel standing in midair, holding his sword in his hand, ready to destroy Jerusalem. Then David and the leaders of the people—all of whom were wearing sackcloth—bowed low, with their faces touching the ground.
That must have been a terrifying sight. A bit of a foretaste of what is to come (Revelation).
David prayed, “O God, I am the one who did wrong. I am the one who ordered the census. What have these poor people done? Lord, my God, punish me and my family, and spare your people.”
In reality, David was just the visible face of the epidemic but the real cause was elsewhere. Appearances are deceiving. It always behooves us to dig deeper…