Why is David guilty? 2 Samuel 24:1

If God laid it on David’s heart to number Israel,why is he guilty?

2 Samuel 24:1

1: Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

To begin with God is righteous and just.  Therefore there must be a righteous reason.  The King is in a position of service and responsibility over the people.  If the King causes by command for the people to sin then all suffer the consequences and the people if they sin they cause consequences for the whole nation including the King.  Many examples of this.  If the King acts unjustly or not at all to correct a sin of the people then the whole nation has consequences.

In the case where David sinned with Bathsheba, he and she was confronted and affected by the consequences, the death of the child.

In the case where Davids son took his daughter, and Absolom avenged her by killing him. David and the whole nation suffered the consequences because David did not address the sin.

I think the key here is David had become lax in his reign in the later years.  It does not say the anger of the Lord was aroused against David, but Israel.  He did not send a “Distressing Spirit” on David as God did for King Saul for his sin. ( 1 Sam. 16:14 ) but God moved David against them, Israel.  He caused David to take an action that the whole nation would be punished for.  There is no way they could say or argue that their punishment was not justified.  Also God brought back to Davids understanding his responsibility to the Nation as king and his responsibility to act as king in dispensing justice.

God disiplines the son He loves.  His perfect will is accomplished, yet while it was the will of God that David be tested this way to bring him back to an understanding of his position and responsibility and role, He used another of His created beings to accomplish His will.  1 Chronicles 21:1 Tells again the same story but the how instead of the Who.

1 Chr. 21:1 Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

For a similar instance see 1 Kings 22:19 – 23

David’s heart was condemned in 2Sam. 24:10.  Look at the three punishments he was to choose from.  They all affected the nation that he was King over, not directed at him as with Bathsheba.  His answer shows that he still was thinking about himself and not the nation.

 2 Sam. 24:14 … do not let me fall into the hand of man.

Then the angel began destroying the people 2 Sam. 24:16.

Then David got it.  In 2 Sam. 24:17 …I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done?….

And he began service to God again for Israel as their king.  2 Sam.24: 18-25