I was reading 1st Chronicles 21 this weekend. You should too. It a great story about King David getting a little too big for his britches, as they say. He ordered a census of God's people. The only problem was God didn't order one.
"Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel." - 1 Chronicles 21:1
Did you notice where is said that Satan "moved David" to count the people? Take note of that. Satan has the power to move people to do things. That's what Satan does. He tries to get us to do sinful things - often without consulting God at all. That's huge! Remember that fact the next time you watch the news.
So David ordered Joab to start the counting (v2). But Joab did something that every good friend should do. Joab questioned David's decision to his face.
"And Joab answered, “May the Lord make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” - 1 Chronicles 21:3
David didn't listen. That's a shame because David is about to bring the wrath of God upon his people.
Verse 7 - "And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel."
Only then did David repent.
"So David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” - 1 Chronicles 21:8
But David wasn't done screwing up yet. God let David chose his punishment. David chose poorly. God offered David three choices for punishment.
11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Choose for yourself, 12 either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the Lord - the plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.” - 1 Chronicles 21:11-12
David chose the Sword of the Lord and an angel began destroying Israel with a plague. David pleaded with God for mercy and God eventually relented.
"As he (the angel) was destroying, the Lord looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.” - 1 Chronicles 21:15
This is a great lessons for us all to remember. Never do anything that is outside of God's will. Always seek to obey The Lord. When friends ask us if we are sure we want to do something, stop and think for a moment. Satan loves to pull our strings and he actually has the power to do so. Satan can make us do sinful things.
The next time we are considering doing something we must ask ourselves, "Is this of God? Or of Satan." Than pray for God's guidance.
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