The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Chronicles 21:1-2,
"Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."
There is nothing wrong with a census. There is something very wrong with God's people finding solace and security within themselves as opposed to God. The reason for this is that God was conditioning his people, and through his people, all mankind, to seek refuge in him.
The wrath of God against our sins looms in the future in the form of his justice, and the only refuge from it is found in the atonement for sins God's Son, Jesus Christ, would provide a thousand years after David. To prepare his people to find their refuge in God himself, he utilized the threats of every day life, such as national security, to condition his people to look to him. Performing a headcount of fighting men ran contrary to that.
This account is also provided us in 2 Samuel 24. Among the key players in this episode we see Israel as a nation, David, God and Satan. In both accounts it was Israel as a nation that the Lord's anger burned against - not specifically David (initially). While the text doesn't say so, given the nature of the account, I suspect it was Israel's overall waning faith and trust in the Lord that brought his anger when he incited David to do the census.
In 2 Samuel 24 it is the Lord who incited David to take a census of Israel, in 1 Chronicles 21 we are told it was Satan that incited David to take the census. What I learn from this is that the Lord utilizes Satan to accomplish his intentions at times.
We are told in 1 Chronicles 21:7 that David's command to Joab (the head of his military) to count the troops was "also evil in the sight of God", confirming the drift in the nation's faith and trust in the Lord - even the king of whom the Lord said (and observed by the apostle Paul), "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do." Acts 13:22.
What a fascinating account! There is more to the story and I would encourage you to read it in its entirety.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."
There is nothing wrong with a census. There is something very wrong with God's people finding solace and security within themselves as opposed to God. The reason for this is that God was conditioning his people, and through his people, all mankind, to seek refuge in him.
The wrath of God against our sins looms in the future in the form of his justice, and the only refuge from it is found in the atonement for sins God's Son, Jesus Christ, would provide a thousand years after David. To prepare his people to find their refuge in God himself, he utilized the threats of every day life, such as national security, to condition his people to look to him. Performing a headcount of fighting men ran contrary to that.
This account is also provided us in 2 Samuel 24. Among the key players in this episode we see Israel as a nation, David, God and Satan. In both accounts it was Israel as a nation that the Lord's anger burned against - not specifically David (initially). While the text doesn't say so, given the nature of the account, I suspect it was Israel's overall waning faith and trust in the Lord that brought his anger when he incited David to do the census.
In 2 Samuel 24 it is the Lord who incited David to take a census of Israel, in 1 Chronicles 21 we are told it was Satan that incited David to take the census. What I learn from this is that the Lord utilizes Satan to accomplish his intentions at times.
We are told in 1 Chronicles 21:7 that David's command to Joab (the head of his military) to count the troops was "also evil in the sight of God", confirming the drift in the nation's faith and trust in the Lord - even the king of whom the Lord said (and observed by the apostle Paul), "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do." Acts 13:22.
What a fascinating account! There is more to the story and I would encourage you to read it in its entirety.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment