2 Samuel 23 recounts those who fought in David’s army and some of their battles.

In 2 Samuel 24 God is angry with Israel and tells David to count the people. Joab tries to change David’s mind but he remains firm. A census is taken of all the people. For some reason David believes this is a sin against God. God give David three options of how to pay for the sin. David chooses three days of pestilence. God sends the pestilence on Israel but spares Jerusalem. David erects and altar to God following His directions and offers burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. The plague is averted.

I am not certain what to think about this passage. Did God cause David to sin by counting the people? I couldn’t find a command not to do a census. The idea of being able to choose the punishment is certainly interesting. Then God decides not to harm anymore people but David thinks he is asking God not to do these things. God certainly causes us to act in order for His purpose to be accomplished. Perhaps this is the case in this story.

In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul exhorts the people to remember how the people of Israel behaved while they were in the wilderness and the punishments they receive. He tells them to remember these examples and keep from doing the same things. Paul encourages the people not to worship idols. He continues to speak about doing what needs to be done to protect another’s conscience. If others believe that eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols is tantamount to worshiping idols then don’t do it.

Often, we may know that the thing we are doing is not wrong in God’s sight, but it may still offend another believer or confuse a non-believer. Paul encourages us to show self-control and not to engage in that activity if it keeps others from practicing faith.