(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)
(1 Chronicles 27:1-24) Now this is the number of the sons of Israel, the heads of fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all the affairs of the divisions which came in and went out month by month throughout the months of the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand:
2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division for the first month; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 3 He was from the sons of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. 4 Dodai the Ahohite and his division was in charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth being the chief officer; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 5 The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6 This Benaiah was the mighty man of the thirty, and was in charge of thirty; and over his division was his son Ammizabad. 7 The fourth, for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 8 The fifth, for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 9 The sixth, for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh, for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth, for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth, for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjaminites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth, for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
16 Now in charge of the tribes of Israel: chief officer for the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David did not count those twenty years of age and under, because the Lord had said He would multiply Israel as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to count them, but did not finish; and because of this, wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not included in the account of the chronicles of King David.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
2 Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division for the first month; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 3 He was from the sons of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month. 4 Dodai the Ahohite and his division was in charge of the division for the second month, Mikloth being the chief officer; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 5 The third commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, as chief; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6 This Benaiah was the mighty man of the thirty, and was in charge of thirty; and over his division was his son Ammizabad. 7 The fourth, for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 8 The fifth, for the fifth month was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 9 The sixth, for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10 The seventh, for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11 The eighth, for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12 The ninth, for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite of the Benjaminites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13 The tenth, for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite of the Zerahites; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite of the sons of Ephraim; and in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite of Othniel; and in his division were twenty-four thousand.
16 Now in charge of the tribes of Israel: chief officer for the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah; 17 for Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok; 18 for Judah, Elihu, one of David’s brothers; for Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19 for Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel; 20 for the sons of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21 for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22 for Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel. 23 But David did not count those twenty years of age and under, because the Lord had said He would multiply Israel as the stars of heaven. 24 Joab the son of Zeruiah had begun to count them, but did not finish; and because of this, wrath came upon Israel, and the number was not included in the account of the chronicles of King David.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Chapter 21 told us that Satan incited David to count the people, and here we have follow up details around this event. From chapter 21, we could see that David had momentarily put his focus on the strength of man, rather than on God. He wanted to skew the numbers by having Joab also count the tribes of Levi and Benjamin. (Joab had refused to do this.) And in this chapter, we see that David had also tried to skew the numbers by NOT counting those under 20 years of age. So taking the census was not the actual sin, but skewing the numbers was.
It might have sounded "good" when David tried to justify this action by saying, "Because of God's promise to multiply Israel..." But by not having an accurate account, he could brag, saying that, yes, here is the number, but it is even MORE than THAT because we didn't number everyone. This was not just pride, it was also lying. No matter how one explains it, in that moment, David wanted to use that number to show the nations that they were to be feared, as a force to be reckoned with.
Meanwhile, David knew full well even from just personal experience, and we know full well, that God doesn't need many people to do something big. God is big! God is all-powerful. God is to be feared! And God wants us to always be relying on Him and His strength. When we are weak, we are strong.
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