It is probably true of all children, but mine on occasion want to know the reason why something is not allowed. There could be any number of reasons, from an arbitrary dislike, to reasons we might be willing to share, to reasons which we are not yet willing to share (but perhaps when they are older). Whether we are willing to offer the reason or not, obedience is not contingent on understanding the reasons for things. That is as true for childhood rules as it is for God’s rules.
We run smack into this truth with the final postscript of 2 Samuel 24, which centres around a census. The census itself was ordained as a means for God to punish Israel, but no reason is given why. David sinned in calling for the census, but no reason is given why. We can only assume. This passage reminds us that God’s ways are far above ours, and that includes the rules he gives. Sometimes, it is enough to simply accept the rules, and turn to Christ when we fail to keep them.
The final chapter of 2 Samuel introduces a sinful census. But there was more going on than just a sinful census. God’s disciplining hand was in action behind it. For some reason, unstated in the text, “the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel” (v.1).
Speculation includes that this was due to the same factors that resulted in a famine, due to the breach of covenant against the Gibeonites (see ch.21), or that it was tied up in some way with Israel’s embrace of Absalom in his uprising against David. The reality is, we simply do not know. It isn’t stated.
God uses means to bring about punishment on Israel. So, according to the text, God “incited David against them, saying, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.’” (v.1). God is not the author of sin (James 1:13-15), but God clearly ordained and used the sinful act to occur for his holy purposes. There is a lot of detailed theology and philosophy behind this. But it is clear; God is not at fault here. Israel is. And David will be at fault, and God will use this for his purposes without tainting himself with sin.
So David commanded Joab, head of the armed forces, to conduct a census over Israel, so David would know the number of people he ruled over (v.2). There seemed to be no reason why, and Joab objected (v.3).
Again, we do not know why David wanted the census. Nor why Joab objected! Perhaps David wanted to know the troops he could muster, and was sinfully relying on chariots and horses rather than God (Ps 20:7). Perhaps he had plans to expand his kingdom, beyond that which God intended. Perhaps it was because in the past, a census had required a ransom payment to God to avert disaster, and David did not arrange it (cf. Ex. 30:11-12). Perhaps Joab worried about this, or worried that a tax assessment would soon follow! We do not know.
Sadly for Israel, David’s will prevailed (v.4). So Joab and the commanders of his army engaged in the difficult task of conducting a census of Israel. Beginning in the south, the counters made their way counterclockwise through towns and villages of Israel, tallying up the heads until they arrived at Beersheba (vv.5-7).
This was not a quick affair, like our census nights. The journey took nearly ten months (v.8). Finally, Joab had counted the number of men eligible for service in Judah (the south) and the northern tribes, and reported it to David in Jerusalem (v.9).
David had his numbers. But the price would not be worth it.
Much of what occurs is purely factual, and is told to us to set up for the events in verses to come. But it does confront us with the issue of “knowing” and when it is appropriate to know, or not.
David’s census was sinful, yet the reason is unclear to us. Do we need to know? Israel had clearly sinned and provoked God’s anger against them. Yet the reason is unclear to us. Do we need to know?
God chose to ordain David to call a census in a sinful way, so that God could punish Israel’s sin. Do we need to know why?
We like to have all the answers. We like to understand everything. David certainly wanted to know the number of fighting men he had, for his own purposes.
There are times when God reveals things to us, or reveals his will. And there are times when he does not. God does not need to explain himself to us. We worship and answer to him, not the other way around.
This text reminds us that God’s ways are greater than ours. We do not always need to know the reasons why. Instead, we should trust in God’s greatness, listen to what he commands, and do it. And turn to his provision, Christ, when we fail to obey.
