1

God Punished the Prideful David

2

[II Samuel 24:10]

David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing."

3

David who became the king of Israel was richly blessed by God.
The people were so happy. David`s country became really strong.

4

When David saw his country he was really satisfied.
However, inside his heart he wanted to know how strong his army was and how many there were.

5

However, these kinds of thoughts are what God detests the most.
The reason why David`s country became strong is not because he had a large army.
But because God had helped David to win the wars.

6

David wanted to do the census because his mind of relying on God changed and he wanted to check how strong his army was.

7

David called his minister of war Joab to do this job. "General Joab, go out this instant and research every bit of our country to see how many people are there that can be used in war!"

8

Joab was shocked and said to David, "My king, God wants to make your country 100 times bigger than this! However, doing this census is not what God wants so I think it's better to not do it."

9

Yet, David who had become stubborn did not listen to the right words from Joab.
"General Joab, are you trying to teach me? Go out this instant and do the census that I have ordered you to make!" David ordered General Joab with a very displeased look on his face.

10

Because Joab did not have a choice he did the census.
Many officers went all around the country for 9 months and 20 days for the census.
God did not like this.

11

General Joab who finished his work reported to David.
"In Israel, there are eight hundred thousand men that can use the sword, and there are five hundred thousand men in Judah."

12

After the census David realize his great mistake.
"O God, I have committed a huge sin. O LORD, please forgive me. I realize now that I have done a very foolish thing against you."

13

But God sent the Prophet Gad to David and told him he still needed to be punished.
"Choose among these three. Do you want a drought in your country for seven years? Or do you want your enemy to follow you for three months? Or do you want a plague in your country for 3 days? Think carefully and answer back to the LORD who has sent me."

14

David chose the plague for 3 days.
Because of King David`s wrong doing for 3 days many Israelites died from the plague.
Because of David`s pride many people suffered.

15

David repented of his prideful action to God.
He sincerely offered his sin offerings to God.
Therefore, God received that worship and stopped the plague.

16

God can lower us or raise us up. Like David we tend to rely on ourselves rather than on God.
This is what God really doesn't like.

17

Those who believe Jesus died on the cross for us are the ones who do not rely on their own power. We should be children of faith who believe in God that He can do anything and believe in God as our only Savior and Lord.

(You can change the conclusion of this sermon best suiting to your listeners of this sermon. We want to make it clear that the provided conclusion is only a sample conclusion provided by CTM.)