A Momentary Lapse in Trust

(2 Samuel 24:1-25 ; 1 Chronicles 21:1-21)

In the passages for this lesson, we see the account of David’s sin in numbering the people. These passages do not present a contradiction as many teach. The answer is seen when we look at the example from the first two chapters of Job. God is working through Satan. It was Satan that was doing the things to God, but God takes credit for it because he was allowing it (Job 2:3). A similar thing is going on here.

What is important for us to see in this lesson is that David has a lapse in trust. This is seen when we look at the voice of reason, Joab. Joab tells David that God makes Israel seem to be larger in battle that what they really are. But David wants to know the number. David with the help of Satan has a lapse of trust. He forgets about the power of God and is focused on the numbers instead.

Below we will look at a famous passage on trust and an example from David’s past to show that he had trusted God before.

David’s example with Proverbs 3:5-6

For this example, we will look at the passage where David killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-49)

1)  We must trust in the Lord (Verses 33-36)

• David had placed his trust in the Lord as a youth and he was doing it once again with Goliath

2)  If you know for sure then there would be no faith (Verses 38-39)

• David had not proved the modern weapons of the time, but he had faith that his weapons would do the job with God behind them.

3)  When God does comes through, it cannot be explained (Verses 48-49)

• The only way to explain why how David killed Goliath was God.
• This is why we do not need to know or understand everything, if we trust in the Lord, lean not unto our own understanding, then God can get the glory.

David’s lapse of trust was only temporary. He quickly repented and God gave him 3 options for punishment. David put himself in the hands of the Lord verses the hands of man (1 Chronicles 21:13).

When God was punishing Israel, he stopped short in Jerusalem. He instructed David to offer a sacrifice at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David buys this spot from Ornan and it becomes the temple mount. Even in our lapse of trust God can still accomplish his purposes.