“God? Satan?”

November 21, 2018

“God? Satan?”

Blessings folk!

David had ordered the people to be numbered.
The report came back - 9 months and 20 days later.

David’s response?

2 Sa 24:10

Now David’s heart troubled him after he had numbered the people.
So David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done.
But now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”

Why would David’s heart be troubled?
Why would David say that he had sinned?
Had not the Lord initiated the numbering?

Remember…

2 Sa 24:1

Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel,
and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

This account is a good example of why it is important to know the totality of the Word related to a matter.

Read…

1 Ch 21:1

Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.

Well that is interesting.

One passage says God initiated.
The other says that Satan moved David.

Which is correct?

Both are.

“Satan” is often translated as a proper name in the English Old Testament.
That gives a skewed understanding.
“Satan” is a Hebrew word meaning “adversary”

What likely happened is this.

The Lord was angry with Israel.
He raised up an adversary (“satan&rdquoWinking against Israel.
David was fearful.
Rather than trusting in the Lord, He sought to number (remember the word also means “muster&rdquoWinking the people.
He was placing his trust in the number of soldiers he had rather than in God.
He committed iniquity.
He acted foolishly.

Ah, now it is beginning to make sense!

Joab and the military commanders tried get David to see this.

He refused.

Now he sees.
Now he repents.
All is well the Lord will forgive.

Yes, the Lord forgives.
But, sometimes…there is fruit to be borne due to our sin…

Wait until you see this…

Do not act foolishly.
Trust in the Lord.

https://www.patreon.com/dalealanmoore
http://dalemoore.podbean.com