1 Chronicles 21

I'm John Stange.

And today we're in 1 Chronicles 21, David's census and God's mercy.

1 Chronicles 21 records one of David's most serious failures as king.

After years of military victories and growing national strength, David ordered a census of Israel's fighting men.

His decision displeased God and brought devastating consequences upon the nation.

Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice through his death on the cross.

Hebrews 10.14 says, Because of Christ, everyone who trusts in him receives forgiveness and reconciliation with God.

So 1 Chronicles 21 reminds us that sin is serious, that our decisions can affect others, and that God deserves our complete trust.

I want to know how many people are there.

And although it's not stated clearly, we can infer from the text, both in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, that it's likely that David wanted to know his military strength.

How many armed people, soldiers do we have? Because that's the count that Joab returns back to David.

And again, the text doesn't tell us What was David after? Because there's nothing wrong in taking a census.

So it wasn't just the act of taking census, but God was looking at David's heart.

Why are you doing this? And God was angry.

So you see, we look at this later, 1 Chronicles 21, 1 says that Satan instigated David to do this.

David was responsible and God had to bring judgment.

And here she pours out her fragrance, her oil at the feet of Jesus and lays both her treasure and her dignity at his feet.

And then we looked at 1 Chronicles 21, King David, the story where he's at the threshing floor and he is offered an opportunity to worship Jesus and build an offering to him, to God, and for it to cost him nothing.

And we hear that famous line, I will not offer to God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.

I love that line.