1 Chronicles 21
Meaning of 1 Chronicles 21
1 Chronicles 21 is a chapter from the Old Testament in the Bible. In this chapter, the story of David’s sin in taking a census of the people of Israel and Judah is narrated.
It begins with Satan inciting David to conduct a census, an act that was forbidden because it was seen as a demonstration of lack of faith in God’s promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars. David, nevertheless, orders Joab, the commander of the army, to carry out the census. Joab objects to this act but eventually obeys the king’s command.
When the census is completed, David immediately understands that he has sinned. God is displeased and sends a prophet, Gad, to David to inform him that he must choose one of three punishments: three years of famine, three months of persecution by his enemies, or three days of pestilence. David, recognizing the severity of his sin, leaves the decision to God, stating He would rather fall into the hand of God, who is merciful, than into the hands of any human.
God then sends a plague upon Israel, killing 70,000 men. As the angel is about to destroy Jerusalem, God shows mercy and commands the angel to cease. The angel’s position was over the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David sees the angel and speaks to God, confessing his sin and pleading for the punishment to be directed at him and his family, rather than his people. God, through the prophet Gad, instructs David to build an altar to God on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David buys the land from Ornan, insisting on paying the full price and refusing Ornan’s offer to give it for free.
David then constructs the altar and offers sacrifices to God. God hears his prayer and commands the angel to put his sword back into its sheath, thus ending the plague. The chapter concludes by noting that the place David bought from Ornan later became the site for the temple constructed by Solomon, David’s son.
In short, 1 Chronicles 21 emphasizes the seriousness of David’s sin, the consequences of disobedience, God’s justice and mercy, and God’s forgiveness when humility, repentance, and sacrifices are offered.
1 Chronicles 21 kjv
1 Chronicles 21 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the King James Version (KJV) Bible. The chapter revolves around three central events – David’s sin in numbering the people, God’s punishment for this sin, and David’s atonement.
1. David’s Sin: The chapter begins with Satan inciting David to take a census of Israel, which went against God’s wishes. David commanded Joab, the commander of the army, to go throughout the tribes of Israel and count the people. Joab had reservations about this, raising objections, but ended up obeying the king’s orders.
2. God’s Punishment: God was displeased with this act of David. So He sent the prophet Gad to David to present him with three options of punishment for his sin: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before his enemies, or three days of plague. David chose the third option and God sent a great plague upon Israel.
3. David’s Atonement: When David saw the Angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword stretched over Jerusalem, he repented for his folly and pleaded with God to punish him and his family but spare the people. Then, God commanded David through the prophet Gad to erect an altar in the threshing floor of Ornan (another name for Araunah) the Jebusite. David purchased the threshing floor at full price rather than accepting it as a gift, to avoid offering a sacrifice that cost him nothing. When David sacrificed on the altar, God responded by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, thereby symbolising His acceptance of David’s repentance. The plague was also stopped after this.
So, in essence, 1 Chronicles 21 showcases the dangers of pride and disobedience towards God’s wish, the severe consequences, and the mercy of God in response to repentance and atonement. It presents King David as a human who, in spite of his great faith, could still commit a great sin, but also as a humble and repentant man who sought God’s forgiveness when he realized his mistake.
1 Chronicles 21 nkjv
1 Chronicles 21 in the New King James Version (NKJV) is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible. This chapter recounts two major events in the reign of King David. Here’s a breakdown:
1) David’s Sin in Numbering the People – Verses 1-8:
The chapter begins with Satan tempting King David to conduct a census of Israel and Judah. This was considered a sin because David’s action showed he trusted more in his military power rather than in God’s providence and protection. Joab, David’s military commander, tried to dissuade him from doing so, but David insisted. After numbering the people, David felt guilty and confessed his sin to God.
2) God’s Punishment to David – Verses 9-30:
God gave David three options for his punishment, however harsh they seemed: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from his enemies, or three days of plague in the land. David chose the three days of plague, as he preferred to place himself at the mercy of God rather than humans. The Angel of the Lord began the plague, but God, seeing the suffering, called the angel back and the destruction stopped. The place where the angel stopped was the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David was instructed by God through Gad, the prophet/seer, to set up an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan. David went to Ornan, who offered to give the land, oxen for the sacrifice, and other items for free. However, David insisted on buying it for the full price, indicating that he wouldn’t give to God that which cost him nothing.
So, David bought the land, built the altar, and offered sacrifices to God. God responded by sending fire from heaven to consume the burnt offering. At that moment, David realized that this was to be the place for the temple of God in Jerusalem. And as instructed by God, David stopped the mobile tabernacle service and concentrated all efforts on building the Temple in Jerusalem, which would eventually be accomplished by his son, Solomon.
This chapter illustrates the themes of sin, repentance, divine judgement, and God’s mercy. It also sets the stage for the construction of the Temple, a major event in Israel’s history.
1 Chronicles 21 niv
1 Chronicles 21 in the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible tells one of the events in King David’s reign. Here is a brief summary:
The chapter begins with Satan standing against Israel and inciting King David to take a census of Israel. David instructed Joab, the army commander, to go throughout the tribes of Israel and count the people. Despite Joab’s objection who thought it may bring a guilt upon Israel, David insisted, and Joab and his officials counted the people.
When David realized his mistake, he confessed to God praying for the forgiveness of his sin. God sent the prophet Gad to David with three options for his punishment: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies being swept away, or three days’ plague in the land. David chose the third option, believing that God’s mercy surpasses his wrath.
As the angel of the LORD was destroying throughout Israel, God decided to relent and instructed the angel to restrain his hand. After seeing the angel of the LORD, David and the elders fell down and worshipped God in sackcloth.
Gad returned to David and instructed him to raise an altar for the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah offered his oxen for the sacrifices and the threshing sledges and ox yokes for wood. But, King David insisted on buying it for the full price, as he was unwilling to offer sacrifices that cost him nothing.
David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of gold and built an altar there. He made sacrifices to God who answered his plea with a sign from heaven by commanding the angel to put his sword back.
The chapter ends with David’s realization that the LORD’s house (Temple) and the altar of burnt offering for Israel should be built on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. However, the construction of the Temple would take place under the reign of David’s son, Solomon.
What is 1 Chronicles 21 all about?
1 Chronicles 21 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible. The chapter tells of a story where King David takes a census of all the fighting men in Israel, which angers God and results in punishment upon Israel.
The story starts with Satan inciting David to carry out the census, which is against God’s will. The numbers from the census show that there are 1.1 million men who can wield a sword in Israel. This act of counting the fighting men was seen as a demonstration of David’s self-reliance and pride in his military power, rather than reliance on God.
After realizing his sin, David confesses to God and asks for forgiveness. However, God, through Gad (David’s seer), gives David three choices of punishment: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before his enemies, or three days of the sword of the Lord—days of plague in the land.
David, not willing to fall into human hands, choses the third option. A plague occurs, causing the death of 70,000 men. As the angel is about to destroy Jerusalem, God feels compassion for the destruction and commands the angel to stop.
David sees the angel of the Lord, and he and the elders of Israel, who were in sackcloth, fall on their faces. Following God’s instruction through Gad, David builds an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah offers his plot of land and oxen to David for free, but the king insists on paying for it. After David makes the offering, God commands the angel to put his sword back and the plague is halted.
This chapter ends with David having learned an important lesson about his pride and misuse of power, signifying the critical role of humility and reliance on God.
What does 1 Chronicles 21 teaches?
1 Chronicles 21 is a chapter in the Bible found in the Old Testament. It covers the story of David’s sinful census and its consequences. Here are the main teachings and principles from this chapter:
1. God’s Sovereignty: Even when human beings make choices that are contrary to God’s will, His ultimate plan cannot be thwarted. The story reassures readers that God ultimately retains control over everything, even during periods of disobedience and rebellion.
2. The Sin of Pride: The account starts when King David succumbs to pride and insists on conducting a census of Israel’s armies. In the context of ancient Israel, such a census was seen as an act of pride and disobedience against God, and it appears David was looking for security and validation through military power instead of depending on God.
3. Repentance & Forgiveness: After David realizes his sin, he repents and asks God for forgiveness. This shows that it’s never too late to turn back and seek God’s mercy. It reiterates God’s loving-kindness, his readiness to forgive and restore.
4. God’s Justice: David and the nation of Israel are punished for their sins, and God offers David three choices of punishment. This exemplifies God’s justice, in that sin leads to consequences and that our choices can impact others negatively.
5. Sacrificial Love & Reparation: At the end, David builds an altar and makes a sacrifice to God, demonstrating his willingness to humble himself and take action to correct his mistake. David refuses to offer God a sacrifice that cost him nothing, showing that true repentance and worship is costly and self-sacrificial.
6. Importance of Obedience: The entire episode teaches the importance of obedience to God’s commands. While God is merciful and forgiving, disobeying His commands leads to consequence.
In sum, 1 Chronicles 21 teaches about God’s sovereignty, the dangers of pride, the importance of repentance and forgiveness, the profound concept of justice and mercy, the cost of true worship and obedience to God.
A Sermon on 1 Chronicles 21
1 Chronicles 21 is a substantial chapter in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. In this chapter, an infamous story takes place in which King David incorrectly decides to take a census of the people of Israel.
One possible theme or main point of a sermon on this chapter might be “the costs of pride and disobedience”. The sermon might commence by setting out the context— David, who is generally regarded as an exceptional king— makes a secluded, catastrophic error. David’s pride leads him to conduct a census, a decision that, according to the story, disobeys God and is punished harshly.
A preacher may focus on verses 1-6 where David is tempted by Satan to take a census of Israel and Judah. The sermon may then analyze why this act was seen as a sin. Possible reasons could include a lack of faith in God’s promise to make Israel a great nation (contrary evidence to God’s promises in Genesis), or the pride involved in the act of counting the men who can “draw up for battle” (verses 5), which may allude to David’s reliance on military strength rather than God’s providence.
Next, the preacher could focus on verses 7-14. Here, God, displeased with David’s action, offers him a choice of three punishments. David chooses a terrible plague that kills 70,000 men in Israel. This part of the sermon might focus on the consequences of disobedience and pride, stressing the importance of following God’s commands.
Finally, the sermon could focus on David’s repentance in verses 15-30. In these verses, David unplugs his pride, pleads for mercy, and builds an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite – showing humility and acknowledging his sin. In the end, God responds to David’s earnest repentance: He spares Jerusalem from destruction.
This sermon might conclude with reflections on God’s grace even in the throes of punishment, and the continuous opportunity for correction, repentance, and redemption even after grave sin. It would also be a solemn reminder to listen to Godly counsel and resist the temptations of pride and self-reliance.
Key people in 1 Chronicles 21
1 Chronicles 21 involves several key people:
1. David: He is the King of Israel and the main character in this chapter. It was his decision to take a census of Israel and Judah that lead to God’s punishment. His faithful relationship with God is underlined by his realization of mistake and repentance.
2. Joab: Joab is King David’s military commander. In this chapter, he is notable for objecting to David’s order to number the people. Despite doing as commanded, he refuses to include Levi and Benjamin in the count.
3. Satan: 1 Chronicles 21 describes that Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. The action of Satan becomes a test for David, which he fails by insisting on the census.
4. Gad: Gad is a prophet who delivers God’s message to David. He gives David the choice of three different punishments for his disobedience: three years of famine, three months of devastation by enemies, or three days of pestilence.
5. Ornan the Jebusite: Ornan (also known as Araunah) is the owner of the threshing floor that David purchases to build an altar to the Lord. Even though he initially offers it for free, David insists on paying him for the land, showing his principle that he would not give to the Lord that which cost him nothing.
6. The Angel of the Lord: The Angel of the Lord brings the actual punishment upon the people. After 70,000 men have died, David pleads to God, and God commands the Angel of the Lord to relent, thus showing God’s mercy even when He is executing judgment.
All these people play significant roles in the unfolding of this chapter of 1 Chronicles.
Real world examples on 1 Chronicles 21
In 1 Chronicles 21, the story primarily features King David’s sinful act of pride and disobedience, and the subsequent divine judgement and mercy. However, relating these biblical events to the real world can be somewhat subjective, as it involves interpretation of religious and spiritual text.
Here are a few real world aspects we may infer from this chapter:
1. **The Consequences of Disobedience**: In the first part of the chapter, King David disobeyed God by counting his military forces, which was seen as a show of vanity and an over-reliance on his own power rather than God’s. The result was a harsh punishment inflicted upon the people of Israel. This can be tied to real life situations where actions or decisions taken out of pride, vanity, or disobedience have negative consequences.
2. **Exercising Leadership Responsibly**: David, being the leader, made a mistake but it was the people who suffered. Often, in our world, the decisions of those in leadership affect not just those directly involved, but entire communities or countries.
3. **The Concept of Repentance and Forgiveness**: David recognized his sin, confessed to it, and sought God’s forgiveness. Repentance is often a step to reconciliation in real-life interpersonal conflicts. Similarly, the concept of atonement for one’s wrong doing is common in legal systems around the world.
4. **Sacrifice for Redemption**: David bought a piece of land from Ornan to build an altar to God, refusing to take it for free because he didn’t want to offer something he hadn’t sacrificed for. This notion of personal sacrifice in order to make amends or pay for offences is a principle we see in everyday life situations too, especially in works of charity and acts of service.
Remember, the application of these aspects into your everyday life heavily relies on your personal beliefs, values, and interpretations.
Brief Explanation of 1 Chronicles 21
1 Chronicles 21 is a chapter in the Bible, specifically in the Old Testament. Here is a brief summary:
The chapter begins with Satan inciting David to take a census of Israel, which was considered a sin, showing a lack of faith in God’s promises. God was displeased with this and sent Gad, a prophet, to David. Gad was to deliver God’s punishment options to David for his sin. He gave David three choices — three years of famine, three months of devastation by his enemies, or three days of ‘the sword of the LORD,’ which was a severe plague.
David, acknowledging his sin and demonstrating his trust in God’s mercy, chose the three days of plague. The Angel of the Lord unleashed the plague, resulting in the death of 70,000 men from Dan to Beer-sheba but relented from destroying Jerusalem.
Finally, on God’s instructions through the prophet Gad, David built an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah (also known as Ornan) the Jebusite. David then bought this site from Araunah and offered sacrifices to God there. The plague stopped after this, and from then onwards, this place was considered the desired site for the house of God, which eventually became the location for Solomon’s temple.
Frequently asked questions for 1 Chronicles 21
1 Chronicles 21 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible where King David commits a sin by trying to count the number of his Israelites, causing God to bring a severe punishment onto the land. Here are some frequently asked questions about this chapter:
1. “Why did David order a census in 1 Chronicles 21?”
– King David ordered a census of Israel out of pride and self-sufficiency, a direct disobedience to God.
2. “What was David’s sin in 1 Chronicles 21?”
– David’s sin was that he ordered a census of Israel’s population, which showed his lack of faith and reliance on God’s promise to multiply his people.
3. “Why was the census a sin?”
– In ancient Israel, a census or a headcount of the nation implied an act of ownership. So when David conducted a census, it was perceived as him taking credit for God’s blessings rightfully attributed to God.
4. “What was God’s punishment for David’s sin?”
– God sent the prophet Gad to David, offering him three choices as punishment for his sin: three years of famine in the land, three months of fleeing before his enemies, or three days of plague. David chose the last one, after which an angel of the Lord struck down seventy thousand people in Israel.
5. “Who is the angel of the Lord in 1 Chronicles 21?”
– The identity isn’t specified in the scripture. In general, the “Angel of the Lord” often represents God Himself in the Old Testament, or it could be an angel acting directly on His behalf.
6. “What was David’s response to his sin?”
– After witnessing the plague’s devastation, David was heartbroken and admitted his sin to God. He pleaded with God to punish him and his household instead of the people, demonstrating his remorse and repentiveness.
7. “What significance does the place of the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite hold?”
– The threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, which David purchases to build an altar to God, is traditionally believed to be the site where Solomon later built the First Temple of Jerusalem. This profoundly adds to its significance.
Remember, interpretations can vary based on denomination and theological perspective.
Possible References for 1 Chronicles 21
1 Chronicles 21 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible or in the Hebrew Bible, which recounts the event known as David’s Census. Here are key references and their possible explanations:
1. 1 Chronicles 21:1 – This verse talks about Satan standing against Israel and inciting David to take a census of Israel. The reference to Satan here indicates an adversary or an opposing force that leads David to make a decision seen as against God’s will.
2. 1 Chronicles 21:7 – This verse says God was displeased with David’s census and He punished Israel, showing that the act of the census was seen as a sin in the eyes of God.
3. 1 Chronicles 21:12 – God gives David three options for the punishment to be given. This is a reflection of the serious consequences of disobeying God’s command.
4. 1 Chronicles 21:14 – This verse chronicles the punishment chosen, where the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.
5. 1 Chronicles 21:17 – In this verse, David calls on God to punish him and his family instead of the people because he was the one who sinned. This shows his remorse and his acceptance of his responsibility for the sin.
6. 1 Chronicles 21:24 – This verse recounts David offering to buy the threshing floor of Araunah at a full price to build an altar. It shows David’s commitment to giving God his very best.
7. 1 Chronicles 21:30 – The verse tells about David being afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord, showing the fear of God.
These references highlight God’s sovereignty, David’s accountability, and the consequences that can come from disobedience. It also paints a picture of David’s repentance and his humility before God, reflecting some of the themes associated with the relationship between God and humanity in the Bible.
Conclusion on 1 Chronicles 21
1 Chronicles 21 revolves around King David’s sinful act of conducting a census out of pride. This census was a violation of God’s commandment and represented David’s lack of faith, as he trusted more in his own military strength rather than in the power of God. As a consequence, God sent a plague that killed 70,000 men in Israel.
The conclusion of 1 Chronicles 21 signifies God’s mercy as well as David’s repentance and rededication to God. After seeing the plague’s destruction, David prayed, asking for God’s forgiveness and apologizing for his sin. God, showing mercy, asked David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
David purchased the site, built the altar and offered sacrifices, which pleased God and made Him stop the plague. This site then became the location for the construction of the Temple by Solomon, David’s son, indicating God’s acceptance of David’s repentance and His continuous plan for Israel.
Therefore, the conclusion of 1 Chronicles 21 is about God’s judgement upon sin, His mercy towards repentant sinners and His sovereignty in setting the stage for future events in Israel.