Gods Anger Against Israel- 2 Sam.

[Red_Letters88]

Im pretty sure this topic would be best in this forum section... First reread this following text of 2 Samuel so we can get to my question... 2 Samuel 24 1And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. 2For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people. 3And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing? 4Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel. 5And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer: 6Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon, 7And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba. 8So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. 9And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 10And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 11For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 13So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. Ok....seems a little harsh. AND CONFUSING! Whats going on?2 Samuel 22 Just told us of Davids thanks to the Lord for delivering him from his enemys. 7In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. 23 Tells us about Davids best fighters.8These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 9And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. 11And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. Then, I started 24, scratched my head,Read it again,Read it in NIV...But I must be missing something here- What did Israel/David do to anger the Lord to the point of giving David these three horrible choices?2 Samuel ends up with David choosing option #3- Pestilence/Famine--Which ends up claiming 70,000 men from Dan to BeershebaThis is my first time really reading through 2Samuel, so stick with me. (btw, Kriss, im expecting an answer from you- the writer of long posts:) )

 

[Faithful]

Hi Red_Letters88,
Red_Letters88Then,, I started 24, scratched my head,Read it again,Read it in NIV...But I must be missing something here- What did Israel/David do to anger the Lord to the point of giving David these three horrible choices?2 Samuel ends up with David choosing option #3- Pestilence/Famine--Which ends up claiming 70,000 men from Dan to Beersheba
David tried to count the number of Israelites. But God had promised Abraham his descendants would be too numberous to count. David in doing this showed no faith in what God had taught by trying to number them. This was the Sin. Hope it helps.

 

[Red_Letters88]

ok...I understand now. It just seemed harsh to come out of nowhere.thanks

 

[Christina]

O.K. Red

heres your answer 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."The numbering of the men of Israel and Judah was given in a military sense, however who is this "he" that moved David to go and take this numbering or censes of all the men of Judah? Remember it has always been God that gave the victory, so why are these censes being taken. Before, David had taken only the number of people that he needed, and God prepared the way for the victory. Some times it only took a few men to destroy an entire army. We saw in the prior chapters that one man would kill hundreds of men in one place, for God over powered that person, and gave him the strength and wisdom to overcome his enemies. This "he" was not God, but in I Chronicles 21 we are told who that "he" was, he was Satan.1 Chronicles 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."II Chronicles 21:2 "And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the People, "Go number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it." You want to be very careful as to who you are listening to, and to the direction that that person is giving you. Satan likes nothing better than whisper sweet things that sound so good into your ears and mind, to deceive you into going against God's instructions. Satan will play mind games with you if you allow him to, just as he was doing here with David. David was listening to Satan and not trusting and listening to God this is why the punishment was so greatNot to long an answer:)

 

[Jordan]

(kriss;33462)
O.K. Red

heres your answer 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."The numbering of the men of Israel and Judah was given in a military sense, however who is this "he" that moved David to go and take this numbering or censes of all the men of Judah? Remember it has always been God that gave the victory, so why are these censes being taken. Before, David had taken only the number of people that he needed, and God prepared the way for the victory. Some times it only took a few men to destroy an entire army. We saw in the prior chapters that one man would kill hundreds of men in one place, for God over powered that person, and gave him the strength and wisdom to overcome his enemies. This "he" was not God, but in I Chronicles 21 we are told who that "he" was, he was Satan.1 Chronicles 21:1 "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."II Chronicles 21:2 "And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the People, "Go number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it." You want to be very careful as to who you are listening to, and to the direction that that person is giving you. Satan likes nothing better than whisper sweet things that sound so good into your ears and mind, to deceive you into going against God's instructions. Satan will play mind games with you if you allow him to, just as he was doing here with David. David was listening to Satan and not trusting and listening to God this is why the punishment was so greatNot to long an answer:)
Great post Kriss, from my personal experience, I find Satan's lies to be quite loud, the Truth seems to be dead quiet...I mean look at today's men's doctrine. The quiter it is...the better I can "hear " the Truth.Nothing in the world will be 100% good...it always have to have some evil in there...JagLovest thou in Christ Yahshua, Lord and Saviour of the world.

 

[tim_from_pa]

(Faithful;33429)
Hi Red_Letters88,David tried to count the number of Israelites. But God had promised Abraham his descendants would be too numberous to count. David in doing this showed no faith in what God had taught by trying to number them. This was the Sin. Hope it helps.
Excellent Faithful! Very few people understand this. The conventional answer is that David was putting trust in numbers instead of God. That is true, but in the deeper sense it is as you stated, and something that the Lord has revealed to me personally (without anyone's input) by understanding the Abrahamic Covenant. In Balaam's prophecy (even though he was apostate) he accurately predicted that Israel would encompass 1/4 of the world's population.