Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Chronicles 21:1 (New Living Translation)

Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.

Satan attacks King David of Israel. What does Satan do? How does Satan “get at” David? What is the devious plot? What is the frontal onslaught?

Satan spurs David to count his stuff.

Let’s go through that one again. Satan causes David to count the blessings of God—the number of persons in Israel. And someone please explain how that is an attack from evil.

Here is one attempt: God wants us to be happy. God blesses us with and in ways that we cannot count. Let us enjoy. Really, let us simply enjoy. Count the stuff? Why? Besides, I can’t count that high.

Still, I sometimes want to count and recount just to make sure that I have counted correctly. I want to put a number on God’s blessings. I want to put a number on God. If I can put a number on God, I can measure God, and I can show God that I am bigger than God. “Hey God, you’re doing pretty good this week. You up’ed the count a little. Way to go, God.”

Of course all this counting God is silly. Worse, it is sinful. That is why Satan spurred David to count his blessings in an official census. How’d it work out? Not too good (see verse 13 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied…). I thank God that He doesn’t kill just about everyone I know in response to my silly, stupid, sinful, and all-too-frequent counting. Please God, help me in my unbelief.