It's a great mystery why David counted all the people of Israel. It seems that they had just won a great battle before David's counting of all his soldiers, which were a large number. David's pride came in to play here as he depended on his soldier's might rather than God's. Pride destroys people all the time. having a big head sometimes backfires on you as it did David here. Good example are pro athlete's, they are on top of the world one day and the next on the bottom.
I apologize for not looking into the second part of the question as regarding the 10 Commandments. The judgment of pagan nations; was largely for worship of pagan gods; which often involved sacrifice of children; as well as statues of idols; and sexual deviancy of many kinds. When the customs and false gods were integrated through intermarriage (especially with Solomon); then the downfall of the nation eventually resulted. God was already planning BTW at the time Solomon made his prayer before the formal inception of sacrifices at the Temple to have it be a place of "prayer for all nations" and Solomon's prayer involved asking the Lord to reach the stranger with the truth. Isaiah indicates that the Gentiles are going to be reached; and there are cases such as Naaman the Syrian; and Nebuchadnezzar rulers in pagan nations recognizing the God of Israel. There were those who did convert such as the mixed multitude who came up from Egypt; and the stranger who wished to worship the true God. When we look at Jonah; we have an ENTIRE Gentile city whose leader immediately fasts and commands all including animals to abstain; and God relents from immediate judgment. It was delayed; and that being more remarkable when considering their great wickedness toward Israel according to historical account.
The commandment about not committing adultery also was holding marriage as a valid covenant among all; Jew or Gentile. This is clear from Abraham's mistake twice trying to pass his wife as his sister; as well as later on with John the Baptist's confrontation on the subject. So although the TERRITORIAL blessings of following the Commandments were unique to Israel; certain principles of course apply to all men in terms of wisdom. There are; of course further laws for sacrifices related to ceremonial purification; and other regulations in Leviticus to follow. Again; it is God's faithfulness rather than ours which characterizes the life of a true beliver.
I will make an attempt here. First of all; there is no purpose set forth of man that can thwart the plan of God. Ultimately; the One who is to rule and reign over Israel as king also had to fulfill the role of Prophet and Priest. Clearly, according to the N.T. no one can fulfill the law perfectly; so the perfect lamb of God had to be sacrificed. He is the "Ancient of Days" who would come as the "Son of David" from the earthly lineage described on the mother's side but also with references to the father's lineage.
There are clearly failures; as the whole Promised Land was never taken. The Philistines; for instance are where the modern day Palestinians reside; and many other ancient controversies will only be settled at the return of Christ to set up His Millennial Kingdom. We must look back to God's first promises to man; in the garden and Genesis 3:16 to see that the Messiah was always part of the plan. The next covenant of the rainbow was God's promise; not even based on what man did. EVERY prophet had failings; including Moses; the only one said to talk to God as though a friend; and was used to intercede much in the same way Christ did. But he failed when he struck the rock in anger; much as anger led him to the other sin of killing the Egyptian setting back the deliverance perhaps from when it could have begun. As far as I know; Samuel himself didn't have any recorded sin; although clearly all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Much of 1 and 2 Samuel have to do with Saul and God's dealings with David and the Philistines. As part of God's lineage; surely Satan used Saul with his 21 attempts to kill David to attempt to thwart God's plan. David's failings were costly; and there is a reference to him being a man of war keeping him from building the Temple Solomon did. Of course; Solomon in all his riches failed not heeding God's warnings. God remains faithful; as Deuteronomy states even in the last days and Tribulation.
The Jews sometimes violated the instructions given them when warring against the enemies of God but they did not violate the ten commandments by obeying God's instructions in fighting His enemies on earth.
Referring to both books of Samuel and to the reports of a whole series of massacres inflicted upon various and many other tribes by Israel who were progressively invading the "Promised Land" with the assistance of GOD - indeed could not possibly have achieved their objective, also GODs objective in keeping his covenant with Israel.
How does this fit with the Ten Commandment that GOD gave to Moses?
Hi Ron. Those are two good portions of Scripture you've given for us to consider (btw, I think you meant to write 1 Chronicles 21:1).
To answer your questions properly, we must first know that God is neither the Author of sin, nor the tempter of mankind to sin. James 1:13-15: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
So, to your passages. Clearly in the second passage ( 1 Chronicles 21:1), Satan is said to have "provoked" David to sin by numbering Israel. Yet 2 Samuel 24:1 speaks of the LORD having provoked David. To make sense of this, we can also recall Exodus 7:13,14 (& others verses like it), where "God hardened Pharaoh's heart" refusing to let the Israelites leave Egypt. We can also look at Job 1:9-12, where God gave Satan permission over Job's family & possessions. In both Scriptures, God doesn't incite or cause one to do evil, but brings about a situation where He removes His absolute control. And we can say the same for ourselves: when confronted with a situation to sin, God can either prevent us from committing sin or allow us to determine what we will do with it - we have a mind (& the Holy Spirit, if we're believers), to choose our path.
When we bring those two passages together, we see that God "moved David". God did not force him to do wrong, but steered him in that direction of decision & allow his better judgement to not pursue such sin. Even Joab warned David about doing this & later David realized that he had done wrong, his heart was smitten & he repented (v10). With Job also, Job did nothing wrong, but God allowed Satan license to provoke Job to sin - but unlike David, Job did not. Satan is our enemy to entice us to sin - not God - God allows the tests - we have to choose rightly.
Why is it that whenever the Jews are counted it incurs the wrath of God? Don't the present day Jews partake in a census as do most nations? What if any repercussions do they suffer?
To often it is not the act of repetitiveness that causes our pain. But the act of pride. David realized his error in numbering the men immediately. We need not depend on our own might when we belong to God. The battle is not ours to glory in but it is that God has delivered us. So we give the glory to God in spite of our on military might.
I would expect David's decision was reminiscent of the census that Moses conducted in the Book of Numbers prior to Joshua's sanguinary assault upon Canaan. David was probably planning to extend the lands conquered by Joshua (and promised to him in the Book of Joshua), but the Lord took offense, instead attacking Israel with a plague. When the Lord came in the flesh, he was named after Joshua, but was a man of peace and preached love and brotherhood of men, not war. Perhaps that is our message to be gleaned for these scriptures. Maybe it is time to "beat our swords into plowshares", to get our own national houses in order and stop trying to expand into others'.
We are all born in sin, shaken in iniquity. You do not have to teach a toddle to do what’s wrong; however, it will take you a lifetime to teach that child to what’s right. We are all disobedient. Christians are sometimes the worst. We know what God requires from us; however, we refuse to submit to His Authority. Stuborness is a sin. I am preaching g to the Choir. these days, it is more rampant.
What was the fault of David in numbering the people was that God have seen that David now starts believing in is might which was his people, this was wrong according to the Lord because David should have realized, that all the power comes from the Lord not from himself or his people.
If people may know and understand that this verse says no blame must put on someone, only on self, that God may deal not worse with the sheep only the shepered,s leader s .
It is a call of attention for us, to watch our ego, David besides of giving thanks to God who cared the people he wanted to know how many people were under his kingdom! But the king of Israel always was and is God! watch your pride and become humble!
Dear Cloyd Jones
You need to be His child. As a father speaks to his child, so will God speak to you when you pray to Him. He will reveal His will for your life.
Hi Cloyd Jones
You need to pray, and ask God for enlightment. Ask Him to reveal to you what it all means.
I pray that you will have the answers that you seek.
I was in the Old City of Jerusalem Israel in 7-15-2010.
Something happen to me I don�t understand.
What do I do to understand God will before the close of my life?
Best regards
Roy
The commandment about not committing adultery also was holding marriage as a valid covenant among all; Jew or Gentile. This is clear from Abraham's mistake twice trying to pass his wife as his sister; as well as later on with John the Baptist's confrontation on the subject. So although the TERRITORIAL blessings of following the Commandments were unique to Israel; certain principles of course apply to all men in terms of wisdom. There are; of course further laws for sacrifices related to ceremonial purification; and other regulations in Leviticus to follow. Again; it is God's faithfulness rather than ours which characterizes the life of a true beliver.
There are clearly failures; as the whole Promised Land was never taken. The Philistines; for instance are where the modern day Palestinians reside; and many other ancient controversies will only be settled at the return of Christ to set up His Millennial Kingdom. We must look back to God's first promises to man; in the garden and Genesis 3:16 to see that the Messiah was always part of the plan. The next covenant of the rainbow was God's promise; not even based on what man did. EVERY prophet had failings; including Moses; the only one said to talk to God as though a friend; and was used to intercede much in the same way Christ did. But he failed when he struck the rock in anger; much as anger led him to the other sin of killing the Egyptian setting back the deliverance perhaps from when it could have begun. As far as I know; Samuel himself didn't have any recorded sin; although clearly all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Much of 1 and 2 Samuel have to do with Saul and God's dealings with David and the Philistines. As part of God's lineage; surely Satan used Saul with his 21 attempts to kill David to attempt to thwart God's plan. David's failings were costly; and there is a reference to him being a man of war keeping him from building the Temple Solomon did. Of course; Solomon in all his riches failed not heeding God's warnings. God remains faithful; as Deuteronomy states even in the last days and Tribulation.
How does this fit with the Ten Commandment that GOD gave to Moses?
To answer your questions properly, we must first know that God is neither the Author of sin, nor the tempter of mankind to sin. James 1:13-15: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."
So, to your passages. Clearly in the second passage ( 1 Chronicles 21:1), Satan is said to have "provoked" David to sin by numbering Israel. Yet 2 Samuel 24:1 speaks of the LORD having provoked David. To make sense of this, we can also recall Exodus 7:13,14 (& others verses like it), where "God hardened Pharaoh's heart" refusing to let the Israelites leave Egypt. We can also look at Job 1:9-12, where God gave Satan permission over Job's family & possessions. In both Scriptures, God doesn't incite or cause one to do evil, but brings about a situation where He removes His absolute control. And we can say the same for ourselves: when confronted with a situation to sin, God can either prevent us from committing sin or allow us to determine what we will do with it - we have a mind (& the Holy Spirit, if we're believers), to choose our path.
When we bring those two passages together, we see that God "moved David". God did not force him to do wrong, but steered him in that direction of decision & allow his better judgement to not pursue such sin. Even Joab warned David about doing this & later David realized that he had done wrong, his heart was smitten & he repented (v10). With Job also, Job did nothing wrong, but God allowed Satan license to provoke Job to sin - but unlike David, Job did not. Satan is our enemy to entice us to sin - not God - God allows the tests - we have to choose rightly.
And in 2 Chronicles 21 1 Who is giving David to take count of the Israelites?
You need to be His child. As a father speaks to his child, so will God speak to you when you pray to Him. He will reveal His will for your life.
You need to pray, and ask God for enlightment. Ask Him to reveal to you what it all means.
I pray that you will have the answers that you seek.
Something happen to me I don�t understand.
What do I do to understand God will before the close of my life?
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
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