For some reason, David decided to take a census. Who knows what was going on in his head, but God wasn’t having it, because it was against God to count the people. David sent Joab to have the count done, but Joab warned him that it would cause a trespass against Israel. David overruled him and sent him out anyway, but Joab didn’t count two of the tribes; he was probably thinking that if the count weren’t accurate, it would keep it from angering God. However, it was the act of counting that was the sin, not the actual number. Through God’s seer, Gad, God gave David his choice of three different options for his discipline, but they were all terrible. He didn’t want to fall into the hands of man, so he chose destruction by the hands of God’s angels because David knew God was merciful. That day, over seventy thousand men died. David saw the angel and, in fear of him, he bought a threshing floor, built an altar, and prepared a sacrifice to God. God stopped further destruction. We should try our best to do what’s right in the eyes of God because there can be consequences for our actions. Imagine how bad David felt that his sin caused other people to die. We should consider how our actions might harm others and refrain from them. It’s better to follow God’s commands than to need to repent. Learn from David’s mistake.
And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof. 1 Chronicles 21:26-27
