Some biblical examples of Satan’s attempts and success will help us gain further understanding of his scheme to deceive. Today’s example will detail King David’s failure to obey God, but instead fall for Satan’s lies.
1 Chronicles 21:1-17 Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number." Joab said, "May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?"
The first problem we see is that it was well known that God prohibited kings from taking count of the earthly strength of their armies. Even though Joab warned David, David went ahead with his disobedience. Only God can command a census, which He did in Exodus 30:11-14. In Deuteronomy 17, God warns kings not to acquire or count horses. This would only lead kings to pridefully believe that they are capable of defending the nation and would lessen their fear of God and dependence on God.
Nevertheless, the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. Joab gave the number of the census of all the people to David. And all Israel were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. But he did not number Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.
This provides us with some idea of the size of the nation at this time. But, while we may think of many ‘good’ reasons for this sinful act, it remains a sinful act. How could Satan deceive and trick David, a man after God’s own heart, to disobey God? Again, we read that Joab considered this a great sin. How did God view this sin?
God was displeased with this thing, so He struck Israel. David said to God, "I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly." All of a sudden, David is made aware of his own sin. Joab’s warnings did not overcome his desires, but now he was overcome with guilt.
The LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, "Go and speak to David, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, "I offer you three things; choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you."'" So Gad came to David and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Take for yourself either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now, therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me."
What a series of choices, none of which would relieve David from the consequences of his sin. God demanded a payment.
David said to Gad, "I am in great distress; please let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great. But do not let me fall into the hand of man." So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel; 70,000 men of Israel fell. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw and was sorry over the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, "It is enough; now relax your hand."
This is a very real reminder that our sin can have a very profound effect on others. We never truly sin in a vacuum. While some may decry God’s injustice, we need to once again remind ourselves that God does not punish innocent men. The number of 70,000 may seem exorbitant or excessive, but it does reveal the infinite distance between sinful man and a holy God.
And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces. David said to God, "Is it not I who commanded to count the people? Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father's household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.
David’s heartfelt confession is one which we need to follow. The time for confession and repentance is immediately after we have sinned. The time for turning from sin is at the very moment of its conception or contemplation.
Satan has no fear of deceiving God’s anointed King. He has no fear of tempting the Son of God. He has no fear of us either.