Torah Portion DEVARIM – Devarim (Deuteronomy) 1:1-3:22 Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27
“So Adonai sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time, so that 70,000 men of the people died from Dan to Beersheba.” 2 Samuel 24:15 TLV
Shabbat shalom, dearly beloved:
When reading the story of 2 Samuel 24, it is hard not to shudder. King David had decided to number the fighting men of Israel. Yoav, his army chief of staff, opposed it vehemently, but the king was determined.
“But Joab said to the king, “May Adonai your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my Lord, the king look on! But why does my Lord the king desire such a thing?” 2 Samuel 24:3 TLV
The desire of Israel brought about a terrible divine punishment; 70,000 people died in a plague sent by the destroying angel of YHVH, which stopped right over Jerusalem. He stood with his outstretched sword over the mount that used to be the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, which is Mount Moriah and the Temple Mount today.
“When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Adonai relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, ‘Enough! Now withdraw your hand.” The angel of Adonai was then by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 2 Samuel 24:16 TLV
King David knew that it was his sin that cost the lives of 70,000 people.
“When David saw the angel that was striking down the people, he spoke to Adonai, saying, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong! But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.” 2 Samuel 24:17 TLV.
Eventually, he bought the threshing floor and offered burnt offerings to YHVH in order to entreat His Divine Mercy and forgiveness.
“But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you at a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to Adonai my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 shekels of silver. Then David built there an altar to Adonai and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So Adonai was moved by the prayer of entreaty for the land and restrained the plague from Israel.” 2 Samuel 24:24-25 TLV
What a roller coaster of events! Can you imagine 70,000 people dying within 3 days because of a plague? Of course, we all remember COVID-19, don’t we, and many others, like SARS, that killed thousands of people. We might remember the panic and the sense of helplessness, the mandatory face masks, the non-vaccine injection that caused so much harm to many, and on top of it all, the businesses and churches that closed down and never recovered until today. Plagues bring about considerable distress in addition to the deaths.
But I asked Yah, how can it be that because one king (or one president or prime minister) sins, so many thousands of people are punished by a benevolent, merciful, and good God? I was honestly puzzled! How are we to relate to this passage of scripture?
Then my eyes fell on the first verse of the whole chapter. The answer is there in plain sight.
“Now the anger of Adonai again flared up against Israel, so He incited David against them, saying, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.’” 2 Samuel 24:1 TLV
YHVH was angry with Israel. He wanted to punish the people for their ongoing idolatry and immorality. He Himself “incited” David to sin. Therefore, this entire event was not a judgment against the king only, but against the people of Israel. They were not innocent before Yah.
Also, today, when we see rulers or presidents making costly mistakes and committing serious sins against their people, please remember that the sin of the nation opens the doors for calamities.
This eternal scripture is as important today as when it was spoken by the mouth of YHVH to His People Israel:
“When My people, over whom My Name is called, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 TLV
It does not say, “when the king, president, prime minister, etc., humbles himself and prays.” Rather, it says “if My People.” He is always looking to see that His covenanted people have a repentant heart towards Him. It is time to stop pointing fingers at rulers and presidents and take our position. We, the people, His people, need to live a life pleasing unto Him. Then we will have the power to bless our nation and influence the kind of leaders that we get, and even their politics, not only by voting in the polls, but also by voting on our knees with our humble prayers, and with our feet by choosing a holy walk that pleases Yah.
“For exaltation comes not from the east nor from the west, nor even from the desert. For God is the Judge: He lowers one and lifts up another.” Psalms 75:7-8 TLV
King David was incited by Elohim to count the people. He was angry because of the idolatry, immorality, and corruption within the people in the nation. In the same way, if “we the people” walk in a manner pleasing to Him, He will turn the heart of our leaders to do us good.
“A king’s heart is like a stream of water in the hand of Adonai; he directs it wherever He wants.” Proverbs 21:1 TLV
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