Theme: THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE
Text: “And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.” – 2 Samuel 24:10.
Comment: King David had his conscience well trained in the law of God. Indeed, the Almighty God described him as “a man after mine own heart” and made him king to feed His people, the Israelites. (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) But there was a time when the devil took advantage of his human frailty and moved him to undertake a census that displeased God. (Compare 1 Chronicles 21:1; 2 Samuel 24:1) God allowed the devil to influence David because he, and by extension, the Jews, had through a lapse in behavior, given room for it. However, because he had a sensitive conscience, he quickly realised his error, confessed his sin and asked for God’s forgiveness. As it is written: “After he had counted the people David’s conscience smote him, and he said to the LORD, I have done a very wicked thing; I pray thee, LORD, remove thy servant’s guilt, for I have been very foolish.” (2 Samuel 24:1-4,10, New English Bible) That the devil moved David to do the wrong thing should teach us that no man (except Jesus Christ) is perfect and that a man reputed for wisdom and honour could also make mistakes. Compare 1 Corinthians 10:12. When a leader is involved in a grievous error, the people should not just follow blindly but help him by insisting that he should do what is right in the sight of God. – Isaiah 9:16; see also Jeremiah 5:30, 31.