Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 7/15/2010

Question
Hello Pastor Thurman,

My wife and I are somewhat new to bible study and are finding a few things confusing.  In 2 Samuel 24:1, and 10 it seems as though the Lord instructed David to take a census of the tribes of Israel and then after he did, David realized he had sinned and became very distraught and then the Lord proceeded to punish Israel for his sin - sending a plague for three days.  God also had a mind to destroy Jerusalem but then changed his mind at the last second.

So, how could David have sinned by following the Lord's explicit instructions?  And then also, why would God punish David and all of Israel because David followed his explicit instructions?

Also, later in Kings (I believe) God stated how much he loved David because he would do anything and everything God asked of him.  So, it appears God applauded David's obedience.  I don't get it??

Thanks,
Rob and Yvonne

Answer
Dear Rob and Yvonne,

Thank you for your question about David and his sin in the census of Israel. It does seem puzzling at first glance. Let’s look at the text again:

2 Sam 24:1  And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

It might help to compare the parallel passage in 1 Chron. 21:1 (1 & 2 Chronicles retells the stories of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings, but from a different perspective. Notice what the Chronicler says about this situation:

1 Chron. 21:1  And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

These verses seem to be in direct contradiction, don’t they. 2 Sam. Attributes the order as though it comes from God, and 1 Chron. says that it comes from Satan. Hmmm. What’s going on here.

Perhaps Job can help us. Here is the story behind the scenes of Job’s troubles:

Job 1:6  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:8  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

And Satan went out and took everything away from Job. At a subsequent time, at another meeting of the sons of God, Satan showed up again. Here’s what God and Satan talked about:

Job 2:3  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
Job 2:4  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 2:6  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

After this introduction, Satan caused Job to be covered with boils, and Job went out and sat on an ash heap to bemoan his troubles. (It was a custom in Biblical times for people in grief to sprinkle themselves with ashes. Job went even further, as his calamites were far worse than ordinary: He went out and sat on the ashes.)

And notice Job’s assessment of the cause of his troubles:

Job 6:4  For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Job thought that all his troubles came from God. And this was the thinking expressed throughout Old Testament times: God was said to have actively done that which He permitted to happen. Here in Job, God permitted Satan to persecute Job, and Job believed that his troubles came from God.

The same can be said of Pharaoh in Exodus:

Exo 7:13  And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exo 7:14  And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.

Verse 13 says that He (God) hardened Pharaoh’s heart, while verse 14 reveals that Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

Back to our dilemma. The writer of 2 Sam 24 attributes to God the order to David to make the census, while the writer of 1 Chron. 21 reveals that it actually came from Satan. Taking them both together we see the very situation that occurred in the opening chapters of Job. God did not give the order to David to number the fighting men of Israel and Judah: Satan did. But 2 Sam 24 attributes the order as coming from God merely because God permitted it to happen.

Reading the Bible is so important to the Christian. It would be very difficult to maintain a saving relationship with God without it. And learning about God and His requirements for us would be nearly impossible without some connection with God’s Holy Word.

Actually, if we watch for it, we’ll find Jesus Christ in almost every passage of the Old and New Testaments. Sometimes He’s known as the Creator (cf. John 1:1-4, 10, 14); sometimes He’s known as “the Angel of the LORD” (Ex. 3:1-14; cf. John 8:56-58); sometimes He’s known as the “Servant” (Isa. 52:13-53:12).

If you have difficulty understanding the Bible, there are many aids available to help you do this, (see list below). But above all, read your Bible for yourself, and pray that God will help you understand it.

Stay close to Jesus.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
PettyPress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (20 Books; 42 Bible Study Guides; more)

Sources of Bible study aids and answers for your questions:
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