A famine spread throughout the land of Israel because of Saul's destruction of the Gibeonites.  Earlier, Joshua had made a covenant with the Gibeonites, which was in direct violation of God's orders not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land.  Even though it was proven that the Gibeonites tricked Joshua into making the treaty, Joshua still honored the covenant made with man and not the covenant made with God. (Joshua 9)

In many cases today, people come, falsely claiming to be seeking Jesus or Christianity in order to get the material "goodies" offered by churches.

Quite an overcorrection on the part of the Gibeonites and David, killing so many innocent descendants of Saul.  When Rizpah protected the fallen bodies of the men, she did so for a period of about six or seven months - from the beginning of the barley harvest in late spring to the rainy season in late fall. She did this to protect the bodies from desecration.  The bodies decayed naturally and David ordered that their bones be buried with the bones of Saul and Jonathan, at the tomb of Saul's father Kish.

David succumbed to the temptation of Satan to take a census. Was David feeling pride in his own strength? Pride…something Satan is very familiar with. And something that we should always be on our guard against!

Prov 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

David captured the land that Abraham walked.  It seems as if he wanted more land.  He wanted to count the fighting men in anticipation of taking more land - something contrary to God's plan.  

 
Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering. Joab knew it was wrong. Once David realized that God was going to punish Israel, he cried out to God. Instead of speaking to David directly, God spoke to him through David’s seer, Gad. 

The angel of the Lord stood at the threshing floor with a drawn sword in his hand. David and the elders fell facedown. A similar thing happened with Joshua (Joshua 5:13) and Balaam (Numbers 22:23).  When the four sons of Araunah saw the angel, they hid. Quite a commanding presence this angel of the Lord!

David redeemed himself when he bought the threshing site and built an altar there (very prophetic). This is the place where the temple will be built, but not by David. He shed too much blood. His son Solomon will have that honor.