Strength in Numbers?

We've seen the slogan on playoff rally towels and November political campaigns. Contemporary culture would have you believe that a group's vitality is correlated to their numerical advantage. Right, think of the following behind a popular artist or clothing brand (maybe that's why pastors/politicians/influencers often take a stance of neutrality - God forbid they offend anyone and undermine their social capital). We are taught, it's not good that triumphs over evil, but big who eats small. It's not about who is right, but who is louder.

Now you'd think David would be the poster boy for the former after he cut off Goliath's head. In truth, he wasn't victorious because he was strong, he won because God was with him and God is strong. David was courageous in 1 Samuel 17 because in 1 Samuel 16 a prophet of God Almighty anointed David as the next king of Israel. He was told he was going to be king, and a fight to the death stood between him and the throne, therefore the giant must die. Strength is not found in numbers; strength is found in God.

But even the prolific king of Israel, at the end of his reign, was subject to this misconstrual...

"Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited Davis against them saying, 'Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.' So that king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, 'Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.'

But Joab replied to the king, 'May the Lord your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?'

The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel....After they had gone through the entire land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.

Joab reported the number of the fighting men to the king: In Israel there were eight hundred thousand able-bodied men who could handle a sword, and in Judah five hundred thousand.

David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting-men, and he said to the lord, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.'" - 2 Saumel 24:1-10

Let this story serve as two important reminders.

1) Value should not be measured by followers, sales, votes, or views. Your legitimacy is not tied to production dude. I've found wrapping my identity in terms of productivity leads to an unstable rollercoaster of high-highs and low-lows. A relationship with Jesus Christ alone is unwavering. It cannot be uprooted. His gift of eternal life will not be rescinded.

2) David was sensitive to God's heart. To quote my lil Bible footnote, he was easily convicted and quickly repented. Don't be dismayed whenever you turn your back on God. His grace is truly greater than any sin we could ever commit. The Lord's arms are always open and ready to receive you.