An angelic messenger from God again brought death to many people throughout all Israel (cf. Exod. 12:23). The Angel of the Lord may have been the preincarnate Christ, but he could have simply been an angelic messenger whom God sent.326Evidently God gave David the ability to see the angel who was killing the people as the angel entered Jerusalem prepared to kill more innocent victims of David's sin there (v. 17; cf. 2 Kings 6:17). David asked God to have mercy on the people since he was the sinner responsible for the punishment. He failed to appreciate the extent of the effects of his act when he ordered the census. Note David's shepherd heart in his reference to his people as "sheep"(v. 17).
"His is even willing to suffer (die?) for the sake of the sheep (v. 17)!"327
"Wanting more land and more people to rule, David finds himself with 70,000 fewer subjects."328
"Sin is really a selfish act. It's all about bringing ourselves pleasure caring little about the toll it will take on someone else."329
