2 Samuel 24

There is forgiveness with you. If pardon of sin were not possible, then it were not to be prayed for, but it has been prayed for (2 Samuel 24:10), I beseech you, O Lord, take away my iniquity; and Christ bids us pray for it, Forgive us our trespasses. That is possible which God…

Though it is true that he cannot turn the stream and current of our affections backward — God alone can turn this Jordan back — yet he can drive them faster and cause them to swell above their natural channels, so that the affections blown up by him shall have the strength of te…

And God sometimes gives to Satan power over the sons and daughters of Abraham (Luke 13) even as well as others, and as their bodies to be vexed by him, so their spirits; and as to provoke them to sin, so much more to terrify for sin — there being more of punishment than of sin i…

The like we read of 2 Samuel 12.14, when David had committed those grievous sins of adultery and murder, a part of his punishment was the death of his child. When he numbered the people, the plague lit on them, 2 Samuel 24. Now we must not too curiously pry into the reason of th…

Charity [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] is kind: Love hath not only a smooth tongue, but a kind heart. David's heart was fired with love to God, and he would not offer that to God which cost him nothing, 2 Samuel 24.24. Love is not only full of Benevolence, but Beneficence.

(Exodus 7:3) God is said to harden Pharaoh's heart. (2 Samuel 24:1) The Lord moved David to number the people. (2 Thessalonians 2:11) God sent strong delusions that men might believe lies.

So is the world — all nations — taken (Mark 14:9-10), and the word "world" (Mark 16:15). Second, taking away of sin is the actual, free, complete pardoning of sin, so that Judas's sin is sought and not found (Jeremiah 50:20), as (2 Samuel 24:10), David having numbered the people…

When we bring the strength of our hearts, the fat of our strength, this God accepts, and then we offer to him as to a Prince. Notable was that speech of David (2 Samuel 24:24): I will not offer to God, a sacrifice of that which will cost me nothing. A man offered royally to the…

For it was not by chance that he was moved to number the people, but it came to pass by the fault of Israel, whom the Lord meant by that means justly to chasten. The wrath of the Lord, says the text, was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to number the peopl…

His hand was heavy upon me, that is, the afflicting hand of God was heavy upon me. Let us fall into the hand of God (David chose that, 2 Samuel 24:14), that is, into the afflicting hand of God, rather than into the hands of men. It is put thirdly for a revenging hand, for a wrat…

[illegible] A whole city may be punished for the wickedness of one man; indeed we read of David, though so good a man, yet when he numbered the people (a small sin in comparison with the sins of some others in our days) God was provoked to send such a dreadful plague, not on him…

He was wounded for our transgressions. As David said, Lo I have sinned, but these sheep, what have they done? (2 Samuel 24:17) So we have sinned, but this Lamb of God, what had he done?

See it in Christ's instance (Matthew 4:1): It is said, "He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the Devil"; that is, led by the Good and Holy Spirit, to be tempted by the evil spirit. So (2 Samuel 24:1) compared with (1 Chronicles 21:1): God moved David…

Kings do not give trifles. Araunah gave like a king to a king (2 Samuel 24:23). He was of the blood-royal of the Jebusites, and he gave worthy of his extraction: and so Christ will give like a King.

It concerns princes to be instructed (Psalm 2:10): Be wise now therefore, you kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Few speak plainly and sincerely to them, as Nathan to David (2 Samuel 12:7): You are the man; and God to David (2 Samuel 24:13): Shall seven years of fami…

He dispenses all things with respect to our eternal welfare. But I am afraid of myself, I have provoked the Lord to leave me to myself; but the Lord will pardon weaknesses when they are confessed; (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is just and faithful to forgive them, spea…

Fourthly, consider, it is a falling into the hands of the living God himself, and not of any creature. Indeed we read, David chose rather to fall into the hands of the Lord, than into the hands of men (2 Samuel 24:14). It is true, when there is repentance, and hopes of obtaining…

Thus the sinner is yet drawn aside to follow his sinful courses: conscience therefore makes after him, lays violent hands upon him, and holds him faster than ever; he becomes now an accuser of him, who was only a friendly admonisher before; a swift witness, indeed, a thousand wi…

Is it not pity the fire on God's altar should go out for want of pouring on a little golden oil? David would not offer that to God which cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24). 2. Encourage God's ministers by your fruitfulness under their labors; when ministers are upon the Mount, le…

All that I shall say from this, is to enteat you (Christian) to have a care of this kinde of pride. You know what Joah said to David, when he perceived his heart lift up with the strength of his Kingdom, and therefore would have the people numbered; The Lord God adde unto your p…

It is sinful doctrine to say that Christ takes away this sense of sin. For first, this is the very true tenderness and gracious smitings of heart under any guiltiness: As 1 Samuel 24:5; 2 Samuel 24:10. David's heart smote him after he had cut off the lap of Saul's garment, and n…

2 kings 24:25. without cause or merit or any means of procurement, 1 Samuel 19:5. 2 Samuel 24:24. Psalm 69:4.

Saul's seven sons were put to death for their father's bloody cruelty (2 Samuel 21:8–14). For the sin of David, seventy thousand of the people were destroyed by an angel, concerning whom he said, "It is I who have sinned and done evil; these sheep, what have they done?" (2 Samue…

Thus the soul becomes to be like Paul in another case, Philippians 1:23. He considered his own advantage on the one side by his dissolution, and the profit of the churches by his abiding in the flesh on the other; and taking in these various thoughts, he cries out he is in a str…

These things chiefly make sin vile; the folly, the unkindness, and the dishonesty of sin. First, folly will shame a man much (2 Samuel 24:10; Deuteronomy 32:6). Now when a man sees he has sinned against a good God, he sees himself a notorious fool; foolish creature I, thus to si…

But afterward he rises up to some sense, then he falls to prayer (verse 12), then he begins to look up, and can pray to God to guide him by his counsel, and then receive him to glory; and then it is good for him to draw near to God: but he rises not up to matter of conference wi…