WEDNESDAY 9 November, 2016
Arousing the Anger of the Lord
Again the anger of the Lordwas aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah. So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.” - 2 Samuel 24:1-2
God was leading the fight against Israel’s enemies when David was moved to do a census––he wanted to number the people. Perhaps God would have inquired of David, “Why are you counting the people when I am leading the battle?” God’s anger was aroused, but what was the real reason David decided to number the people?
First Chronicles 21:1 gives us a clear answer––Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. Consider Satan’s downfall––pride in Ezekiel 28:17––your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. Perhaps David was moved by pride in his heart? Why else would God be angry when David counted his men?
If we take into consideration, what the Lord told Gideon, when He dwindled his army down to only three hundred men, it would greatly shed light on David’s situation. God told Gideon in his battle against the Midianties:
“The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me’ (Judges 7:2).
God will never share His glory with others: I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images (Isaiah 42:8). As Israel went out to fight in battle they needed to know that the victory was gained because of God. The glory was attributed to Him alone and they were never to rely on the strength of their numbers.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
~Proverbs 16:18~
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