In First Chronicles, chapter twenty-one, verse seven, the people of Israel were likely in sympathy with David’s sinful desire to number the people. Joab knew that numbering the people was a great sin that would bring guilt upon all of Israel. Presumably, therefore, people were guilty of favoring the numbering of Israel. Through their spirit of national pride, they participated in David’s sin and became subject to judgment.
The action of David causes others to suffer. Since it was done without any color of necessity and out of mere curiosity and ostentation, as David’s conscience afterward told him, which smote him, as is related to Second Samuel twenty-four, verse ten. Undoubtedly, God smote Israel because Israel concurred with David in the act of numbering the people and approved of it, as well as because of all their other sins.
David may not have realized the great sin he created by his decision to go and number the people. This activity from him makes it seem as though it was the amount of people that gained the victories over the enemies he faced in the battles of the past. The wrongdoing sent a message to the people that made them believe it was the amount of people who won those wars instead of God. David allowed pride to build up in the people of Israel, which is a sin against God. The danger of experiencing something good, such as victory over your enemies, is the aftermath of celebrating and participating in an activity that may be sinful.
Today, many people may experience a blessing from God. Either receiving healing in their body or a financial breakthrough. Sometimes, the decision to celebrate may be fatal because people get careless and may get involved in doing things contrary to God’s Word, where believers must be careful not to do something as David did.