2 Samuel 24:1-10 – Conscience and decision making

This is an account of David’s pride by taking a census of the number of men he had. He ordered Joab to register the men of Judah and Israel from Dan to Beersheba. He wanted to know the number of men he had. Joab, however, felt that what David wanted to do did not seem right. But David was not persuaded, so Joab and his commander went out and had the people counted. They found that they had 500,000 men in Judah and 800,000 men from Israel.

What he did angered the Lord, and he realized almost immediately that he had sinned against the Lord. What led David to take the census? According to 1 Chronicles 21:1 “Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.” Here we are told that the Lord incited David to do so. Putting together the two passages, we conclude that it was Satan, who permitted by God, incited David. We need to know that Satan can do nothing to us or make us do anything without God’s permission.

Immediately after the census, David was troubled. He quickly confessed to the Lord saying. “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” There was nothing wrong with taking a census, but it was the attitude of David that was unacceptable. Instead of trusting the Lord, he was leaning on the men that he had.

What is positive about David was his quickened conscience. Some people can be doing something wrong and their untrained conscience could not detect it, hence they would not respond. But not so for David, he responded immediately when his conscience was quickened. Almost immediately he confessed his wrong and asked for forgiveness. Conscience is God’s given guide to help us in decision making. When our conscience is rightly informed and educated by the Word of God, we will be able to make the right decisions. Let us study the Word to show ourselves approved workmen of God, that have the aptitude to make the right decisions.