Satan Is No Respecter of Persons
Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, "Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are."
But Joab replied, "May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"
The king's word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. Joab reported the number of fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king's command was repulsive to him. This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He punished Israel. I Chronicles 21:1-7
But Joab replied, "May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord's subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?"
The king's word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. Joab reported the number of fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king's command was repulsive to him. This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He punished Israel. I Chronicles 21:1-7
The Bible makes it clear that Satan can take people captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26). The Bible also makes it clear that we need to be sober and vigilant because our adversary, the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Satan is no respecter of persons. He pounces on whatever opportunity he gets to accomplish his objective of stealing, killing and destroying. He attempted to use Peter to derail Jesus from going to the cross to save humanity. Jesus discerned the situation and commanded Satan to get behind him. The words were spoken to Peter but the intended recipient was Satan himself. Satan is no respecter of persons: he used Judas, one of the twelve disciples, to betray Jesus to His enemies. Satan is no respecter of persons: "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel...this command was also evil in the sight of God; so He punished Israel."
Satan is certainly no respecter of persons: he even tempted Jesus in the wilderness and tried to get him to turn against God the Father. The truth is: the "higher" a person's "position" and responsibilities, the fiercer the satanic attacks that would typically be unleashed against him or her.
David was a man after God's own heart and yet Satan successfully incited him to do what was clearly displeasing to God. It is almost certain that David's desire to know the strength of his fighting force was borne purely out of pride and not for military expediency. It gave him personal satisfaction to know how many soldiers were under his command. This was evil in the sight of God because victory came to David not because of the size of his army but because of the size of his God! Satan is no respecter of persons so as the Scripture says, those of us who think we are standing firm should be careful lest we fall.
Satan is no respecter of persons. He pounces on whatever opportunity he gets to accomplish his objective of stealing, killing and destroying. He attempted to use Peter to derail Jesus from going to the cross to save humanity. Jesus discerned the situation and commanded Satan to get behind him. The words were spoken to Peter but the intended recipient was Satan himself. Satan is no respecter of persons: he used Judas, one of the twelve disciples, to betray Jesus to His enemies. Satan is no respecter of persons: "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel...this command was also evil in the sight of God; so He punished Israel."
Satan is certainly no respecter of persons: he even tempted Jesus in the wilderness and tried to get him to turn against God the Father. The truth is: the "higher" a person's "position" and responsibilities, the fiercer the satanic attacks that would typically be unleashed against him or her.
David was a man after God's own heart and yet Satan successfully incited him to do what was clearly displeasing to God. It is almost certain that David's desire to know the strength of his fighting force was borne purely out of pride and not for military expediency. It gave him personal satisfaction to know how many soldiers were under his command. This was evil in the sight of God because victory came to David not because of the size of his army but because of the size of his God! Satan is no respecter of persons so as the Scripture says, those of us who think we are standing firm should be careful lest we fall.
Prayer: Father, please help me to remain sober and vigilant so that I can recognize every enticement of the enemy that might cause me to fall. Amen.