Bible Discussion Thread

I would expect David's decision was reminiscent of the census that Moses conducted in the Book of Numbers prior to Joshua's sanguinary assault upon Canaan. David was probably planning to extend the lands conquered by Joshua (and promised to him in the Book of Joshua), but the Lord took offense, instead attacking Israel with a plague. When the Lord came in the flesh, he was named after Joshua, but was a man of peace and preached love and brotherhood of men, not war. Perhaps that is our message to be gleaned for these scriptures. Maybe it is time to "beat our swords into plowshares", to get our own national houses in order and stop trying to expand into others'.

To often it is not the act of repetitiveness that causes our pain. But the act of pride. David realized his error in numbering the men immediately. We need not depend on our own might when we belong to God. The battle is not ours to glory in but it is that God has delivered us. So we give the glory to God in spite of our on military might.