Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Chronicles 21:17

"And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O Jehovah my God, be against me, and against my father`s house; but not against thy people, that they should be plagued." — 1 Chronicles 21:17 (ASV)

Here we see David at his best; and what a true patriot he is! He interposes himself, preferring that he himself be destroyed rather than that the people die. This was the spirit of Moses when he said to the Lord, If you will forgive their sin – – ; and if not, blot me, I pray you, out of your book which you have written. And this was the spirit of Paul, when he wrote, I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. There are times when our great love for others will overflow all bounds of moderation, when we shall say, and say from our hearts, what we should not have dared to utter in cooler moments.