I. Pride Brings Self-reliance (2)

“The High Cost of Pride” 2 Sam. 24

During the Battle of the Wilderness, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. He came to a parapet and gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and that he should duck while passing it. “Nonsense,” snapped the general. “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist—.” then he fell to the ground, fatally wounded.

Pride is one of the most reoccurring and damaging sins. C.S. Lewis once said that “Pride has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began!” We are a Prideful people. Benjamin Franklin once said “Even if I could overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”

Pride robs God’s glory and keeps us from relying on him. We all struggle with pride and in this text we see the great suffering that pride brings.

CPS: Sin always has consequences, even confessed sin. We need to guard ourselves from pride and rely on God least we suffer great loss.

I. Pride Brings Self-reliance (2)

Pride is the deep pleasure or satisfaction that is derived from our own achievements. Pride ascribes God’s glory to man. But Isaiah 42:8 says “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another.” Pride is a breeding ground for self-reliance.

David took a census so that he could know how many fighting men were in Israel. Taking a census is not a sin, throughout Israel’s history censuses had been taken before. But, a census that praised men would never glorify God. (WW)

God brought David victory after victory, and in this text, David is no longer a youth but an older man. Somewhere along the way pride had crept in and David was no longer trusting God but trusting his own might. One preacher said David desired to bask in his own success.

The 1st verse often causes trouble for interpreters, 2 Sam. 24:1 “Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” We must look for other texts that will shed light on the scene. 1 Chron. 21 is the parallel to our text. The first verse reads, “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.” God is not the author of confusion or sin. But, there is a tempter who is the enemy of God and man; his great desire is to sift us like wheat. One preacher said, “It was Satan who precipitated it, David performed it, and God permitted it.”

We are responsible for our sin, and the Pride of life is as old as the fall. Satan uses it often to tempt us as he did David. He wants us to rely on ourselves instead of God who gives us life, breathe, and all things.

Pride is easy to fall victim to, we take our eyes off God for one moment and we become puffed up. In our own estimation, we become the best thing since sliced bread but to everyone around us we look foolish! Pride stinks and God detests it!

When I was a kid dad took me fishing on the Fort Clinch pier and I caught the biggest Angel fish I have ever seen. It had to be a record! I was 9 or 10 and so proud of my great accomplishment that I put that Angel Fish under my arm and walked up and down that pier showing it off to everyone. I had a strut that would make Tom Turkey Jealous. By the end of the day the fish was dry and stiff as card board. Dad says he didn't know who smelled worse me or the fish. People held their nose and turned their heads as I showed off before them. Perhaps for years, people remembered and talked about the time that smelly little boy walked up and down the pier with that dead fish under his arm.

To God, sin is detestable, and its odor is not pleasing.. David’s Pride puffed him up and began to rely on himself and when we rely on ourselves nothing but trouble follows.

II. Pride Brings Suffering (15)

The Bible teaches us that the wages of sin is death! There are always consequences to sin, even confessed sin. Perhaps before we sin we should weigh the costs then ask ourselves if are willing to pay the price.

David confessed his sin in verse 10, “Now David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” The bible teaches us that when we confess our sin Jesus will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness! However, every decision on earth has its consequences.

God sent the Prophet Gad to deliver the news to David, there would be consequences. David was given 3 choices, 7 years of famine, 90 days of fleeing for his life, or three days of pestilence. David chooses to entrust himself to God’s hand.

God send pestilence upon the men of Israel. Pestilence is the Hebrew noun dě·ḇěr, it means disease or plague. It’s a sickness that causes widespread death. Because of David’s pride 70,000 people died. Note the Irony, David wanted to number his forces so he could bask in his power. But God diminished his forces by 70,000! Pride precedes a great fall! Pro. 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.”

Sin causes suffering and our sin effects those around us. You may not think that pride is a serious thing; you may simply say that “sin is sin.” However, David confessed “I have sinned greatly.” Greatly is the Hebrew noun meʾōḏ, it means very greatly. It’s the idea of a very high point, or degree on a scale. Pride proves to be a great sin and it produced greater sorrow and tragedy in David’s life than his adultery.

In his affair with Bathseba and the murder of Uriah David says (2 Sam. 12:13 ) “I have sinned against the Lord. David acted hastily, he was suddenly overwhelmed with desire for Bathsheba but in his census he carried it out with cool and calculated precision.

From a human point of view, numbering the people does not seem a greater sin than adultery and murder; yet from God’s point of view, taking the census was a sin greater in its disobedience and consequence. (WW)

When Jesus was on the earth, He was forgiving toward the publicans and sinners but severe with the proud and rebellious. Both sins are serious and we should not be involved in either one, but we dare not underestimate the awful results of pride and stubborn disobedience! (WW)

We know about Pride, Suffering, and Pestilence. I believe with all my heart that Covid-19 was judgment sent from God because of the prideful self-reliance of the world. People are trusting in everything but God and 6.6 million people have died.

David was aware of his sin, David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people, but sin always has its consequences. Pride brings suffering, and I am convinced that suffering on earth is meant to bring repentance and faith. I thought that Covid-19 would turn the hearts of man to God but it hasn't. Church’s are empty and people have no desire for a relationship with God!

The difference between David and us is that He acknowledged his sin and returned to the Lord! Pride brings self reliance and suffering, and it demands sacrifice!

III. Pride Demands Sacrifice (25)

Sin demands sacrifice! (Heb. 9:22), without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Sin brings judgment, but God’s desire is for none to perish. God did not want David to fall into sin and he doesn’t want us to fall into sin. God gave David many chances to change his mind about the census.

God’s Patience: Being rich in mercy and slow to anger God gave David 9 months and 20 days to change his mind. But David continued in his Pride.

Joab’ Counsel: Joab, the commander of the Army asked “why do you delight in this thing.” In 1 Chron. 21:3 “Joab said, Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” Even Joab knew this was not a good idea and there was going to be consequences.

The Word’s Warning: David had the Word of God to warn him, there was the record of the exodus and Moses’ census. READ EXODUS 30:11-16 . There was redemption money required by the people. This money was a reminder that they were God’s purchased possessions and that a plague would strike the people if it were not paid. God Himself warned David and spoke against his Pride… HEY DAVID YOU WERE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE!

God is patient with us, giving us the span of our life to repent and trust Him. He often sends wise counsel through a trusted friend or brother in Christ. And we have the Word of God and the Cross to remind us that we are God’s purchased possession! PAID FOR BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS!

As pestilence crossed the land, and men were dying, death entered Jerusalem but God stayed His hand as the angel of the Lord stood at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

David pled with God, 2 Sam. 24:17 ““Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong; but these sheep, what have they done? Please let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.” God hears our pleas, and He responds to repentance and faith! God sent Gad and instructed David to build an alter on the threshing floor where the Angel of the Lord had stood. Araunah the Jebusite offered to give the threshing floor to David and the offering, but the King would not offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing. David built the alter and offered a sacrifice!

Sin demands justice and blood is the only currency God takes. It was Jesus (the Angel of the Lord) who stood on that holy piece of property where David built the alter. It was there thaty David’s son Solomon would build the temple, there countless sacrifices were offered. But there is only one sacrifice that is eternally accepted by God, nearly a thousand years later Jesus would die on that same mountain top for the sins of the world; the redemption money owed by God’s people.

Application: Pride brings self-reliance and suffering! Pride demands a sacrifice to be made and Jesus is that sacrifice! God is calling you to repent and I pray that you will before it’s too late?

In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea, just off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction—or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.