This next lesson from David’s fall comes to us from the last chapter of 2 Samuel. The story starts off by saying the Lord is angry with Israel: “Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel . . .” (2 Sam 24:1a).
The Bible doesn’t tell us why, but historically, the Lord becomes angry because of idolatry or professed lack of faith. And as a result, 2 Samuel records that God moved David to go out and number Israel: “Go, number Israel and Judah.” (2 Samuel 24:1b)
It is interesting that this story is also recorded in 1 Chron 21, and in this reference, the Bible states that Satan moved David to go out and number Israel: “Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.” (1 Chron 21:1).
What are we to make of this apparent discrepancy?
If you look throughout early Bible history, you will see that God is often charged when something evil happens. We also know from other Bible passages that sometimes God uses evil angels to accomplish His purposes (see 1 Kings 22:19-23), and sometimes He allows the devil to have his way with God’s people (see book of Job). For this particular story, I would like to propose that because God was angry with Israel, He allowed the devil to move David to do this great sin.
But this leads us to the next question: Why was numbering Israel such a great sin? Was it not ordered by the Lord in Numbers? (See Numbers 1-4)
Yet we know that it was considered a sin, because of the response of Joab, the commander of Israel’s army: “Now may the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times more than there are . . . But why does my lord the king desire this thing?” (2 Sam 24:3 NKJV)
We also know that after the fact, David’s conscience bothered him: “And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people . . . ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done . . .'” (2 Sam 24:10 NKJV)
So if something can be okay at one time and a sin at another, how are we to know the difference?
Simple: We ask God, in ALL circumstances!
But why was it right to number Israel at one time, and wrong at another?
When numbering was done in Biblical times, it was done for the purpose of learning how many fighting men there were (“. . . every male individually, from twenty years old and above – all who are able to go to war in Israel.” Num 1:2-3); and this time was no different: “Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword . . .” (2 Sam 24:9)
Since the purpose was to learn about the size of the army, could it be that David was living in fear of attack? Was he worried that, come a siege from another nation, Israel would fall?
It’s pure speculation, true enough. But I would like to propose that if this is actually the case, David was not, at that point in his life, walking in faith! He was letting his fear make him rely on mere numbers rather than on the Living God! If so, then what was ordered by God at one time, became a sin at another, not by the actual act of numbering, but by the motivation behind it!
Our job is simple: We must pray and let God lead us at all times, and when He says “no” to something that could, in our minds, be a “good” thing, then we need to search our motivation! Did God say “no” for our own good, to prevent us from greater sins of pride or distrust? Did God say “no” to reveal to us hidden motivations and sins that we may not even be aware of?
I remember one time, early in my writing, God asked me to submit some of my devotionals to other publications. I did so with joy, and I admit, with just a little pride. Then one day God told me I had to stop submitting my work, and He was clear about why: Instead of writing for God’s glory, I had begun writing for my OWN glory! Ouch!
Another time God removed the protection He had been giving me for a certain addiction I struggle with. I was devastated, because I am not strong enough to overcome addiction on my own, and I had personal, selfish reasons for wanting to be free of this particular one! But God was clear: My motivation for being free of this addiction was wrong! He didn’t want me to desire freedom from the addiction alone, he wanted me to desire freedom from the intemperance it was rooted in!
I could go on telling stories of times when certain things have been a sin at some times but not at others, but I think you get the point: Let’s always remember to ask God about each action we do, even if it is something He allowed us to do in the past. And if He says “no” to something that seems pretty innocent, let’s be willing to search our hearts and our motivation, and let’s be willing to learn the lessons He would have each of us learn!
Please join us next Saturday for the final lesson from David’s Fall, Part 16: David’s Passivity.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, www.scripturalnuggets.org, with Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org.
(To access the entire “Lessons From David’s Fall” mini-series, please click here.)