David
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his rebellious conduct to David. Those who witnessed his abusive
course urged David not to spare his life, because he cursed the Lord’s
anointed. But David rebuked them. He not only spared the life of
Shimei, but mercifully forgave him. Had David possessed a revengeful
spirit, he could readily have gratified it, by putting the offender to
death.
Israel prospered and increased in numbers under David’s rule, and,
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as they became strong, and had increased in wealth and greatness, they
became exalted and proud. They forgot the Giver of all their mercies,
and were fast losing their peculiar and holy character, which separated
them from the nations around them.
David, in his prosperity, did not preserve that humility of charac-
ter and trust in God which characterized the earlier part of his life.
He looked upon the accessions to the kingdom with pride, and con-
trasted their then prosperous condition with their few numbers and
little strength when he ascended the throne, taking glory to himself.
He gratified his ambitious feelings in yielding to the temptations of the
Devil to number Israel, that he might compare their former weakness
to their then prosperous state under his rule. This was displeasing to
God, and contrary to his express command. It would lead Israel to rely
upon their strength of numbers, instead of the living God.
The work of numbering Israel is not fully completed before David
feels convicted that he has committed a great sin against God. He sees
his error, and humbles himself before God, confessing his great sin
in foolishly numbering the people. But his repentance came too late.
The word had already gone forth from the Lord to his faithful prophet,
to carry a message to David, and offer him his choice of punishments
for his transgression. David still shows that he has confidence in God.
He chooses to fall into the hands of a merciful God, rather than be left
to the cruel mercies of wicked men.
Swift destruction followed. Seventy thousand were destroyed
by pestilence. David and the elders of Israel were in the deepest
humiliation, mourning before the Lord. As the angel of the Lord
was on his way to destroy Jerusalem, God bids him to stay his work
of death. A pitiful God loves his people still, notwithstanding their
rebellion. The angel clad in warlike garments, with a drawn sword in
his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem, is revealed to David, and to
those who were with him. David is terribly afraid, yet he cries out in
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