MFM Daily Devotional 30th September 2026 – David: The Census

Today, we look at another error David made conducting a census. On the surface level, it doesn’t look like a very bad thing to conduct a census. So, why did the Bible describe it as a sin?

The first thing to note is that the Lord was angry with Israel, and He allowed the devil to push David to do this. God did not instruct David to number the people; even Joab, his army general, was strongly against the idea, but David insisted.

This sin may be rooted in pride. David wanted to know the size of his army so he could boast in his own strength. Exodus 30:11-16 outlines the conditions for a census. Everyone who was numbered had to pay half a shekel as ransom for their souls. Most likely, this condition was not met, hence, the plague among the people that led to the death of seventy thousand. After carrying out the census, David knew he had committed a sin. He asked for the Lord’s mercy in taking away his sin. In response, God gave him three options for punishment. He chose to fall into the hand of the Lord, knowing that He is merciful.Religion & Belief

According to God’s instruction through Gad the seer, David offered a sacrifice for atonement on the threshing floor of Araunah and the plague stopped. He refused to offer a sacrifice that did not cost him anything; he insisted on buying the land and all the instruments of the sacrifice from Araunah. This showed the level of reverence he had for God.

Beloved, we behave many times like David; doing things impulsively simply because they please us, whether or not God approves. God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us avoid falling into errors like this. The problem arises when we begin to think we know better and we go against what God has approved for us. The results of going ahead of God are always disastrous. We need the mercy of God for every step of our journey; the earlier we realise this, the better our lives become.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

1. ⁠O Lord, my Father, make me totally dependent on You, in the name of Jesus.
2. O Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, keep me from falling into error, in the name of Jesus.
3. ⁠O Lord, let Your words light up my path, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING

1.  I refuse to succumb to every temptation to trust in myself, in the name of Jesus.
2. I submit my thoughts and imaginations to the lordship of Christ, in the name of Jesus.
3. Blood of Jesus, purge my heart of every thought of pride , in the name of Jesus.
4. O Lord, deliver me from falling; keep me standing till the very end, in the name of Jesus.