There came a point in David’s reign where, “satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” [1 Ch 21:1] And so, having been prodded on by satan, who wished to get the advantage over Israel, it came to pass that,
“David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.” [1 Ch 21:2]
Evidently, this was done with ill intent, perhaps out of pride, in an attempt to boast: similar to Nebuchadnezzar who said, looking over Babylon, the kingdom he thought to be his and exist because of him, “is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” [Dan 4:30] For we see Joab’s response to David:
“And Joab answered, The LORD make His people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then doth my lord require this thing? Why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?” [1 Ch 21:3]
However fervent, Joab’s plea was unheard; for we read, “nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab.” [1 Ch 21:4] And though after all was said and done and the people were numbered by Joab, “and David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people,” and even said to The LORD, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done,” [2 Sam 24:10] yet even so, The LORD saw it necessary to punish Israel. And so, let us read God’s word, which He spoke to David through the prophet Gad,
“‘Thus saith The LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.’ So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, ‘shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? Or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? Or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? Now advise and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.’” [2 Sam 24:12-13]
David, knowing The LORD to be far more merciful than man, (for, “it is of The LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” [Lam 3:22-23]), said, “I am in a great strait: let us now fall into the hand of The LORD; for His mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.” [2 Sam 24:14] And so it came to pass that,
“The LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.” [2 Sam 24:15]
What is of particular note for us today, is found especially in David’s response to The LORD after this happened. David said to God, “lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? Let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.” [2 Sam 24:17] For the married man, for the man in authority over a wife, or over others, this is a very grave comment. For it reveals to us that those we are over, whether it be a wife or children or employees, will be affected by our actions. Our sins will not go without consequence: they shall affect us, and our wives. If we love our wives, this ought to provoke us to live our lives in honesty and holiness before God; to be fervently clinging to Christ, desperate for His grace, for His Holy Spirit, earnestly pursuing righteousness so that the fruit which comes from our life is pleasant and sweet, not bitter and harsh. The consequences to and evil life will affect a man’s wife and his children, and so a life of fervent devotion and obedience to Christ ought to be sought after, as to avoid unnecessary pain and tribulation. As David felt, so too may we feel, if for the foolishness and stupidness of our sins, our families must suffer. And so therein is a serious warning: for the punishment of our sins will not be solely directed at us; but as David’s situation shows us – will also affect our wives, those whom God has placed under our care.
This same pattern is found elsewhere in the history of Israel’s kings. We read in Chronicles, regarding that wicked king, Ahaz,
“For The LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against The LORD.” [2 Ch 28:19]
Notice how The LORD, even though it was “because of Ahaz,” chose to “[bring] Judah low.” It was because Ahaz was in rebellion against The LORD, that The LORD “made Judah naked.” For the wickedness of their leader, Judah no longer had a covering. Because Ahaz was in rebellion against God, living in sin, his people would suffer just like David’s suffered for his error. Even as it is said of a man, that “the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity,” [Psa 125:3] even so we see through David’s example and Ahaz’s, that sin also leaves those underneath our covering/authority open to attack as well. Ahaz caused his people to be naked. He, as their covering, was foolishly living in rebellion and sin; and thus, his people suffered.
In the same way, a husband is to be a covering for his wife. For Paul tells us, “but I would have you to know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man…” [1 Cor 11:3] And further, Paul says that because “the woman [is] of the man,” and, “woman [was created] for the man,” therefore, “for this cause ought the woman to have authority on her head because of the angels.” [1 Cor 11:8-10] In context, Paul speaks of coverings; using an outward symbol of Corinthian culture to make a spiritual point. Even as a woman with no head covering in that culture signified to those without she was single, and without an authoritative covering – that is, an husband – a woman with no husband is without that covering, without that protection, and open to spiritual attack, as Paul says, “because of the angels.” Therefore, we as husbands ought to devote ourselves exceedingly to seeking Christ, that we might not make that same foolish mistake that Ahaz made and so leave our wives “naked” as it were, open to spiritual attack.
We must, as is exhorted in Philippians, motivated by love, seek that which is excellent, which is of more value, which is virtuous, valuable, so that the relationship is bettered. In Philippians, Paul prays for the believers, writing by The Spirit,
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” [Phil 1:9-10]
Notice how Paul prays for their love to increase so that they might approve, or test/prove, what things are excellent, or of greater value, and so that they might be “sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” Paul prays that the Philippians be granted a greater love for Jesus, so that in their day-to-day lives they would be discerning and test to see which things are of the best value, which things are excellent, and so cling to those, as it is said, “abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” [Rom 12:9] A greater love for Christ will provoke a man to choose better things in his life so that he would be purer for Him, better for Him, more like Him. Likewise, a man’s love for his wife ought to provoke him to do some things and reject others for the sake of the relationship. So that his marriage is made better, he will forsake some things and acquire others – motivated by a great love for his wife.
And so, we must do the same. That is, in context, we must passionately cling to and pursue Jesus and a right relationship, as well as genuinely walking daily with Him, so that our marriages are bettered. One of the greatest proofs of our love for our wives is our devotion and obedience to Christ: just as it is regarding the brethren – for it is written, “by this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.” [1 Jn 5:2] For if we drift from Jesus and live in sin, we have seen already, how that those consequences may be transferred to our wives as well, and how their lives may be worsened for our lack of zeal and spiritual purity. So then, let us cling to Jesus; let us pursue Him; let us obey Him; let us maintain a devoted life to Him, living in holiness and righteousness, lest our wives suffer.