1 Chronicles 19 - 21

Click on the above Scripture to read today's Bible lesson!

Have you ever worried about things going too good in your life? You know what I mean! Don't you ever wonder about when things seem to be going so well that it makes you wonder when it's all going to come to an end or get interupted by something bad? I have at times.

I'm not sure if King David ever worried about some bad event creeping up in the midst of some exciting times, but that's exactly what happens in today's Bible reading! Here's what you can learn from David's life...

1) Satan loves to spoil a good time! In chapter 19, David is fighting one military victory after another. He destroyed the Arameans and the Ammonites, then he gloriously captured the city of Rabbah. On top of that, he and his troops destroy the last of the giants of Raphah! Everything is going extremely well for him and the nation of Israel. He's having a good time enjoying the blessings of God and fulfilling God's will.

But, in chapter 21, David sins against the Lord and causes the immediate death of some 70,000 Israelites!

Here's some things we can learn from this horrible incident...

2) Satan devises a plan, and gains God's permission. God was angry with the nation of Israel (2 Samuel 24:1)! Satan knew it, and devised a plan! Notice what Satan did in Job 1:6-12 in planning a scheme against Job! Satan, obviously, decided to prod David with a test - just like he did with Job. Notice 1 Chronicles 21:1 - "Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel."

3) Satan creates the temptation by working on our weaknesses! God didn't cause David to sin, Satan created the temptation for David to sin. God gave David the free will to choose between right and wrong. Yes, He allowed Satan the opportunity to trip David up, but God was hoping that David would do the right thing (just as Job did!), but David gave in to temptation. Notice how Satan attacked David - at his weakest point. For anyone in power over a kingdom, they'd like to know just how much power and kingdom they have! Satan knows mankind very well! And, his plan worked.

The reason the census taking was a sin was because of what the Law of Moses said about census taking. It was, first of all, to be ordered by the Lord! It was not to be initiated by any human means. When David ordered the census without God's permission, it became a sin to him! Even as he admits in 21:17 - "I am the one who called for the census! I am the one who has sinned and done wrong!" David knew it was wrong, but he did it anyway!

4) Though Satan won the struggle to get David to sin, God won the battle! Satan, no doubt, enjoyed seeing God's anger vented toward Israel and his servant David. He, no doubt, enjoyed watching as the Death Angel took out his sword and invisibly slew some 70,000 people throughout the territory. What he didn't like, however, was that David got a glimpse of this frightening looking creature and immediately purchased a field just in front of the Angel, built an altar, and humbly sacrificed to the Lord in deep repentance and confession. Immediately upon confession of his sin, David visibly and nervously watched as the Death Angel put his sword back into his sheath in answer to God's command to stop the plague.

It must have been a horrible, horrible thing! The Bible says that David (a mighty warrior) was so frightened by the drawn sword of this Angel, that he could never go back to that land to pray to the Lord! It must have been a life-altering experience! In fact. it put the "fear of God" into David's life!

It's time we all realize just how Holy our God is! It's time we fear Him! Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Do you fear Him?

May God's face shine upon you today!