THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #10 of 17

"For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28); "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:3); "One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6); "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11)

A KEY TO UNDERSTANDING David numbers Israel

A key to the understanding of God's sovereignty is found in the incident of David numbering Israel. In this deed, David incurred the judgment of God upon Israel. Seventy thousand men died because of this incident (1 Chron 21:14). A cursory reading of the text will obscure some key elements to you. Read it with understanding (2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21). GOD MOVES DAVID TO NUMBER ISRAEL (2 Sam. 24:1; ; 21:2-3) "Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." Observe the text states that God'S anger was incited against Israel. They were walking in sin, and it greatly displeased the Lord. Here is what He did about it: He (God) "incited David against them, saying, 'Go and take a census of Israel and Judah . . . " SATAN PROVOKES DAVID TO NUMBER ISRAEL. "Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel" (1 Chron 21:1a). In recounting the same incident in 1 Chronicles, the Spirit provides another perspective. It is stated that "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel." DAVID CHOOSES TO NUMBER ISRAEL. "So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it. 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?" (1 Chron 21:2-3). Here, full credit for the incident is ascribed to David himself: "So David said . . . Go and count the Israelites . . . " When Joab heard what David said, he did not credit it to God, nor, indeed, did he say it was Satan. He took it as David's suggestion, which it surely was.

A PORTRAYAL OF DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY AT WORK

We have here a marvelous picture of the sovereignty of God at work. The entire matter was instigated by God in order to the punishment of a wayward people. God, however, does not personally lead people to commit sin; that is the express statement of the Spirit (James 1:13). Satan is His "minister of evil," to coin a term. It was therefore Satan that brought the immediate influence to bear upon David. Rest assured, however, that he could never have accomplished this if God had not purposed for it to take place. All of this notwithstanding, David was not excluded in the process. He did not know God was behind it, nor was he aware that the devil had incited him to number Israel. So far as he was concerned, it appeared to be an original thought with him. Here we have a blend of several things that may appear irreconcilable. God's sovereignty, the devil's malice, and the free will of man: all working synchronously in a single incident for the fulfillment of the purpose of God. This will cause much difficulty for those who choose to think in stereotyped manner. Notwithstanding, the Word of God has presented the true perspective of this incident. I do not doubt that eternity will reveal countless similar incidents that have occurred in our times.

-- TOMORROW: SAMSON ATTRACTED TO A GENTILE WOMAN --