Take Away the Guilt (May 8)

Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly by dong this.  Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant.  I have done a very foolish thing."
                            1 Chronicles 21:8 NIV

We read about David's census that was not commanded by the Lord, nor was it carried out in a manner to bring glory to the Lord.  A census is to gain knowledge about the kingdom.  Previously they were done in preparation for war.  This census is not clearly done for the purpose of war.  Perhaps this census was done so that David could realize how great his kindom is.  In other words, perhaps it was done for pride, David's pride.

Think of the power of the king's word, he was able to deflect, resist and ignore Joab's concerns.  As a leader, especially as a leader with great power, it is important to establish a close network of individuals to guide, direct, and express honest opinions about the actions that you, as a leader, are considering.

Proverbs tell us something about pride in the Lord's eyes:
the Lord hates pride, Proverbs 8; pride comes with disgrace, Proverbs 11; Pride breeds quarrels, Proverbs 13; Pride goes before destruction, Proverbs 16; and Pride brings a man low, Proverbs 29.

Perhaps when David was confronted with his foolish census, he might have realized that pride was the motivating factor.  Pride to potentially bring glory to himself rather than to God.  As a result, David felt that he had sinned greatly and asked the Lord to take away guilt.

Remember, with Bathsheba, the sin was a sin of passion. David, at that time, said only that he had sinned. 

What kinds of foolish things have you done?  Did you listen to the council of others?  Would you repeat the action now?

Pray for the Spirit to guide your path away from those foolish things.

Give thanks to all the Mom's this Mother's Day, pray for mothers as they do the work the Lord has given them that they have great joy and fruits of the Spirit in their tasks.

In Christ,

David P