1 Chronicles 21:17
And David said to God, "Was it not I who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand fall upon me and my father's house, but do not let this plague remain upon Your people."
And David said to God,
David, the second king of Israel, is known for his deep relationship with God, often seeking divine guidance. This phrase highlights his direct communication with God, a privilege and responsibility of his kingship. It reflects the biblical principle of personal accountability before God, a theme prevalent throughout the scriptures.

“Was it not I who gave the order to count the people?
David acknowledges his role in the census, which was against God's will. In the ancient Near Eastern context, censuses were often conducted for military or taxation purposes, but in Israel, they were to be commanded by God. This act of counting the people without divine instruction was seen as a lack of trust in God's provision and protection.

I am the one who has sinned and acted wickedly.
David's confession is a model of repentance, taking full responsibility for his actions. This aligns with the biblical theme of repentance, where acknowledgment of sin is the first step towards restoration. David's admission contrasts with other biblical figures who deflected blame, emphasizing the importance of personal accountability.

But these sheep, what have they done?
David refers to the people of Israel as "sheep," a common biblical metaphor for God's people, highlighting their vulnerability and need for guidance. This imagery is consistent with passages like Psalm 23, where God is depicted as a shepherd. David's plea underscores his role as a shepherd-king, responsible for the welfare of his people.

O LORD my God,
The use of "LORD" (Yahweh) signifies a personal and covenantal relationship with God. This phrase reflects the intimate and reverent relationship David has with God, acknowledging His sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant promises.

please let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house,
David offers himself and his family as a substitute for the punishment, demonstrating a willingness to bear the consequences of his actions. This self-sacrificial attitude is a type of Christ, who ultimately bore the sins of humanity. It also reflects the biblical principle of leadership, where leaders are accountable for their actions and their impact on others.

but do not let this plague remain upon Your people.”
David intercedes for the people, asking God to spare them from the consequences of his sin. This intercession is a foreshadowing of Christ's role as the ultimate intercessor. The plea for the removal of the plague highlights the theme of divine mercy and the power of prayer in seeking God's intervention.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The King of Israel who ordered the census, recognizing his sin and pleading for mercy on behalf of his people.

2. God
The sovereign Lord to whom David prays, acknowledging His authority and seeking His mercy.

3. The Census
An event initiated by David that led to God's displeasure and a subsequent plague on Israel.

4. The Plague
A divine punishment sent by God as a consequence of David's sin, affecting the people of Israel.

5. The People of Israel
Referred to as "sheep" by David, they suffer due to the king's actions, highlighting the communal impact of sin.
Teaching Points
The Weight of Leadership
Leaders bear significant responsibility for their actions, which can have widespread consequences. David's acknowledgment of his sin is a model for accountability.

The Nature of Repentance
True repentance involves recognizing one's sin, taking responsibility, and seeking God's mercy, as demonstrated by David's plea.

Intercessory Prayer
David's prayer for his people shows the power and importance of interceding for others, especially those affected by our actions.

God's Mercy and Justice
While God is just in His punishment, He is also merciful. David's appeal to God's mercy reflects a deep understanding of God's character.

Communal Impact of Sin
Sin often affects more than just the individual; it can have communal repercussions, reminding us to consider the broader impact of our actions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's response to his sin in 1 Chronicles 21:17 inform our understanding of true repentance?

2. In what ways can leaders today learn from David's example of taking responsibility for his actions?

3. How does the concept of intercessory prayer, as seen in David's plea, apply to our prayer life today?

4. What does this passage teach us about the balance between God's justice and mercy?

5. How can we be more aware of the communal impact of our personal sins, and what steps can we take to mitigate these effects?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Samuel 24
This parallel account provides additional context and details about the census and its consequences.

Psalm 51
David's prayer of repentance, illustrating his heart of contrition and desire for God's mercy.

Exodus 30:12
Instructions about taking a census, emphasizing the need for atonement to prevent a plague.

Matthew 9:36
Jesus' compassion for the people, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd, similar to David's view of the Israelites.

1 Peter 5:2-3
Encouragement for leaders to shepherd God's flock willingly and humbly, contrasting with David's initial failure.
Conviction of Personal SinR. Tuck 1 Chronicles 21:17
Sin Taken HomeJ.R. Thomson 1 Chronicles 21:17
Census ReflectionsW. Bramley Moore, M. A.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
David Numbering IsraelHomilist1 Chronicles 21:1-30
David's Self-ConfidenceR. D. B. Rawnsley.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
David's Sin and RepentanceClergyman's Magazine1 Chronicles 21:1-30
Man, Through God, Arresting the Great EvilsHomilist1 Chronicles 21:1-30
Sinful CountingJ. Parker, D. D.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
The Impotence of NumbersHarry Jones.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
Under a SpellW. Birch.1 Chronicles 21:1-30
Effects of David's SinF. Whitfield 1 Chronicles 21:7-18, 29, 30
The Arrested HandW. Clarkson 1 Chronicles 21:14-27
People
Araunah, Benjamin, Dan, David, Gad, Gibeon, Israelites, Joab, Levi, Ornan
Places
Beersheba, Dan, Gath, Gibeon, Jerusalem
Topics
Afflicted, Command, Commanded, Count, Counted, David, Disease, Evil, Fall, Family, Father's, Fighting, Flock, Household, Indeed, Isn't, Lifted, Numbered, O, Order, Ordered, Plague, Plagued, Please, Sheep, Sin, Sinned, Smitten, Wickedly, Wrong, Yea
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Chronicles 21:17

     5901   loneliness
     6624   confession, of sin

1 Chronicles 21:9-26

     4843   plague

1 Chronicles 21:14-17

     1135   God, suffering of
     5295   destruction

1 Chronicles 21:15-26

     4524   threshing-floor

Library
"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh,
Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." For what purpose do we meet thus together? I would we knew it,--then it might be to some better purpose. In all other things we are rational, and do nothing of moment without some end and purpose. But, alas! in this matter of greatest moment, our going about divine ordinances, we have scarce any distinct or deliberate
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
CLEARLY EXPLAINED, AND LARGELY IMPROVED, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL BELIEVERS. 1 John 2:1--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." By JOHN BUNYAN, Author of "The Pilgrim's Progress." London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms, in the Poultry, 1689. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This is one of the most interesting of Bunyan's treatises, to edit which required the Bible at my right hand, and a law dictionary on my left. It was very frequently republished;
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Hardening in the Sacred Scripture.
"He hath hardened their heart."-- John xii. 40. The Scripture teaches positively that the hardening and "darkening of their foolish heart" is a divine, intentional act. This is plainly evident from God's charge to Moses concerning the king of Egypt: "Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh shall not harken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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