2 Samuel 24:13-17 – Strike the Shepherd
David says in verse 17: ‘Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done?’ David can see his own sin more clearly than the sin of others. And that’s the way it should be – but so often isn’t. David here is willing to take more than his fair share of the blame. How often we try and do the opposite! Ever since the first sin, when Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent, we like to look for people to put the blame on. But David does the opposite. He wants to take the blame. ‘These sheep, what have they done?’ Do you hear what he’s saying? He’s saying: Strike the shepherd, not the sheep. Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may go free. Hold it against me, not them. ‘Please let your hand be against me and against my father’s house.’
It’s an amazing request. David isn’t alone here. Years before, Moses had asked if he could be blotted out of God’s book, if the people could be forgiven instead. In effect these men were saying: Can a substitute not take the punishment instead? And can I not be that substitute? And with the New Testament in our hands we can see God’s answer. Yes, a substitute could take the punishment instead. But that substitute could not be David. It could not be Moses. It had to be the Son of God himself. The shepherd was struck, that the sheep could go free.
If you’re a Christian today, then you have a king who didn’t simply want to take your punishment. You have a king who actually did take your punishment.
Questions
- What is David willing to do?
- How does this point us to Christ?
Prayer Points
- Give thanks that Christ is our Substitute and Saviour.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.