Summary: 2 Samuel 24 brings tension between our understanding of judgment and God’s perfect union of justice and mercy. God encourages David to take a census of the people, and although David’s advisors try to convince him otherwise, David follows through and tallies the people. The census results in God’s judgment. As a result, a three-day plague kills 70,000 Israelites. However, God’s mercy overcomes His own justice in the specific place where David is instructed to build a permanent altar—drawing our eyes towards the fulfilled promise of the cross. Although we are easily stunned by God’s judgment, we can be as equally stunned at His great mercy.
