Daily Thought

David had sinned again in human weakness. Yet how faithful is the record that scripture gives of human experience so we can identify with the lives recorded and with their God.

David suffered from the sin of pride; ‘that I may know the number of the people’, v. 2. Greatness that gloats in its achievements is displeasing to God. Joab recognized this and for once gave useful advice to the king. He was a good counsellor, but his counsel went unheeded, and the deed was done. The extent of the kingdom was far-reaching. Joab’s words are interesting; ‘Now the Lord thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be’, v. 3. It was God’s business. Pride was out of place.

‘David’s heart smote him’. Tender of conscience, he did not need Nathan to tell him it was wrong. When he lusted after Bathsheba and fell, he needed his eyes to be opened to his wrong. But he readily recognized his sin, and confessed it. ‘I have done very foolishly’, he said. The accusing voice of conscience spoke. Perhaps this was a sign of his spiritual maturity; he had become more sensitive to sin. In the life of prayer and communion with God, there has to be a growing sensitivity to sin.

David truly humbled himself. His request for the measure of retribution that cast him wholly upon God proved this. The prayer of the humble is his delight. Humble confession of sin, the contrite heart of repentance, will never go unheeded. The whole nation paid the price for his sin; this could not be avoided. But repentance brought forgiveness. In building our life of prayer, we have to learn that God hates pride and self-assertion. This was the primitive sin of the devil. ‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time’, 1 Pet. 5. 6.

Sacrifice was the only basis for restitution. David would not make his approach to God by an easy way. For him, the costly basis of the offering was the only way. In our life of prayer today, surely, we need to be at the cross. It was there sins were atoned for, and pardon found. In that one sacrifice all has been paid. Forgiveness and peace are there.