Who moved David to number Israel?
God did. 2 Samuel 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.
Satan did. 1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
The sentence in 2 Samuel 24:1 attributes directly to God the things that come under his sovereign control. Men seem to use whatever expressions they find necessary to soothe their own consciences and support their own beliefs. “God caused it.” “God permitted it.” Nevertheless, in whatever ways one wishes to speculate, the statements are still that both “God moved David” and “Satan provoked David” to number Israel.
God’s anger was kindled against the nation Israel for some sin or sins committed, which are not here named. The sin in 2 Samuel 24 verse 1 is not a reference to the numbering, which takes place only after the kindling of God’s righteous anger. Matthew Henry writes, “It is certain that it was a sin, and a great sin; but where the evil of it lay is not so certain.”
The situation of both God and Satan inciting David to number Israel finds a close parallel in the book of Job, in the first two chapters. Even though Satan was the immediate cause for Job’s suffering, we find Job saying, “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away” and “shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” These statements of Job are followed by biblical commentary: “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” and “In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”
In both cases leading up to Satan’s troubling of Job, Satan implores God with “put forth thine hand now.” Yet in both cases it is Satan who directly “puts forth his hand.” Job 1:11-12 and Job 2:5-7. God’s authority, sovereignty, and providence extends over the affairs of men and the actions of Satan. The word can speak of God, Satan, and man preforming the same act. We intuitively perceive that there is a “reasonable” explanation, but (if we are honest) are frequently flummoxed floundering to find it.
Though there is sin and sorrow in this world, God will accomplish his purpose (Isaiah 14:24) and work together good for his people (Romans 8:28). We can know that assuredly.
God did. 2 Samuel 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.
Satan did. 1 Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
The sentence in 2 Samuel 24:1 attributes directly to God the things that come under his sovereign control. Men seem to use whatever expressions they find necessary to soothe their own consciences and support their own beliefs. “God caused it.” “God permitted it.” Nevertheless, in whatever ways one wishes to speculate, the statements are still that both “God moved David” and “Satan provoked David” to number Israel.
God’s anger was kindled against the nation Israel for some sin or sins committed, which are not here named. The sin in 2 Samuel 24 verse 1 is not a reference to the numbering, which takes place only after the kindling of God’s righteous anger. Matthew Henry writes, “It is certain that it was a sin, and a great sin; but where the evil of it lay is not so certain.”
The situation of both God and Satan inciting David to number Israel finds a close parallel in the book of Job, in the first two chapters. Even though Satan was the immediate cause for Job’s suffering, we find Job saying, “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away” and “shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” These statements of Job are followed by biblical commentary: “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” and “In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”
In both cases leading up to Satan’s troubling of Job, Satan implores God with “put forth thine hand now.” Yet in both cases it is Satan who directly “puts forth his hand.” Job 1:11-12 and Job 2:5-7. God’s authority, sovereignty, and providence extends over the affairs of men and the actions of Satan. The word can speak of God, Satan, and man preforming the same act. We intuitively perceive that there is a “reasonable” explanation, but (if we are honest) are frequently flummoxed floundering to find it.
Though there is sin and sorrow in this world, God will accomplish his purpose (Isaiah 14:24) and work together good for his people (Romans 8:28). We can know that assuredly.
