Passage Read: Exodus 27-30
Meditation Verses: 30:12-16
Thought
Apparently, this is the command that David ran afoul of when he numbered the people. David was given a choice of three consequences, when he took responsibility for the error in the census, and the consequence selected was a plague, which was in line with this instruction. There was nothing wrong with counting the people, but when counted, they were supposed to give a ransom, a half shekel, rich and poor the same. When counted, they were supposed to acknowledge that they lived by the mercy of God and give a half-shekel in exchange for their life. The rich were not to give more, as if their life was worth more, and the poor not less, as if their life counted less. All were alike before God. This was to be both a leveling of the people before one another, and a humbling of the people before God. No one was to boast as a result, but all glory was to be God's alone. The money was to go to the Tabernacle, for its upkeep and service, and serve as a reminder to the Lord of the people, as if each coin carried the identity of the one who gave it and served to keep the Lord's attention on that person.
Application
The census could be a very good thing, when done right, good for the Tabernacle and for every person. When you is not practiced this way these days, this concept of a census is a good reminder to me that I am no more valuable before God them any other person, though I may become more precious to Him by my faith and obedience. I do not have anything intrinsic to myself that makes me better or more valuable than anyone else. It is also a good reminder that my life is a gift from God, to whom I owe gratitude, especially in light of my failure to live perfectly in His likeness. He has every right to condemn me to Hell for my sin, but He made know to me the Gospel of His Son, and saved me by it. By creation and by salvation, I owe God my life, everything. The blood of His Son makes full atonement for me, so I no longer need to give a coin here and an animal there. But I need the regular reminder of His sacrifice for me and of all I owe Him, whether through the reading of His Word, or through the fellowship with other believers or through the sharing in the bread and cup of communion.