Yesterday we heard the kind of odd story about how “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census.” But in 2Samuel 24:1 we read that “Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’” So who was it— Satan or the Lord? And if the problem was caused by someone else, why was David and all Israel punished?!
I think, in a place like this, we have to go back to what we learned in Job. God brought up a topic to Satan, Satan responds predictably, and God gives him permission to tempt and sets the boundaries. In other words, both God and Satan are involved. God does not tempt people to do evil, and God is in ultimate control. Satan is like a dog on a leash. And about that punishment: God arranges events in such a way that man (in this case David) is still in control and responsible for his choices.
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/1ch.23.nlt
Here is the verse I chose to highlight today:
13Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor
will be ignored in their own time of need.
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/pro.21
We continue today with more true teaching for our spiritual health. And a link to today’s reading is found in 2:14:
He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/tit.3
No comments:
Post a Comment