Day 95 (Year 2)

Do Not Be Stirred Up by Satan

“Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah.'” (2 Samuel 24:1 NASB)

“Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.” (1 Chronicles 21:1 NASB)

The first scripture records that God’s anger was kindled against Israel at that time, possibly because they had defeated the surrounding nations and thus became proud in human strength. This is suggested by the subsequent text, which records the list of David’s mighty warriors and the census of soldiers that follows. Although many nations count their military power, just as David counted Israel and Judah, his measuring national power reflected his tendency to rely on human strength rather than on God. This was considered evil in God’s eyes. Thus, believers must guard against everything that weakens faith in God, including pride and self-reliance.

The word “incite” in the first scripture and “move” in the second come from the same Hebrew word suth, meaning “to allure, lure, or to instigate (bad sense).” The later-written book of Chronicles explains this event as Satan attacking Israel. Indeed, biblical scholars generally agree that Satan appears more frequently in the later periods of Israel’s history. Both verses depict that Israel was under attack, and David was thus stirred up to take a census of his people. Even David, a man after God’s own heart, could not prevent himself from being incited by Satan to do wrong. So, believers must guard against Satan’s instigation, beware of inner selfish desires to do wrong, and be cautious about being swept up in attacks against God’s community to induce His punishment upon us.

Some things that seem entirely ordinary to unbelievers can, at times, be displeasing to God for believers and can even lead us into Satan’s trap. What displeases God is when we live in this world merely calculating and relying on our strength to do what lies within our ability, no longer relying on Him. It is not good for us to be self-sufficient, setting God aside and finding it difficult to submit to Him. Contrarily, God wants us to offer up our strength and follow His commands well. When we fall short in ability, we should ask for God’s intervention and help. Even when we do have the ability, we should pray, seeking His guidance, protection, and blessing. We must rely on God’s strength and wisdom to overcome the enemy and fulfill His mission to us.

Reflection questions:

1) Have you ever felt that Satan stirred you up and caused you to do something wrong? If so, how can you prevent something similar from happening again?

2) Is there an area of your life in which you are in danger of setting God aside and relying merely on yourself or human strength? If so, how do you want to resolve this?