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.

This is part of the (hi)story of David taking a census. Seems a normal thing to do, right? Wrong. God provided; more than enough. There was no need to, “Figure out exactly how many men we have so I can calculate whether or not to go to war or do this or do that.”

God provided enough to do what God instructed David to do. That’s the key here: God provided.

Why did David do such a stupid thing? Why did he act against the simple fact that God provided? Read the first few words: Satan rose up against Israel.

Satan acted in the affairs of nations and kings.

That was ancient, or pre-ancient or whatever we call it, times. Things are not the same today, right? Uh, not too sure about that. I mean, Satan doesn’t rise up against the USA, the UK, Russia, China, etc. Surely, we are all too sophisticated to be “rose up against” by Satan. Right? I think the answer is, “Wrong.”

I look around and I see wonderful blessings in this nation and my community. I see people loving one another and doing for one another. And then … well, there are other things I see. I won’t list them, but I see awful things that we do. Why would otherwise good people do awful things? Why would otherwise good people hate one another, spew hateful words, do hateful harm? Is it Satan rising up against us? I believe so.

Thanks be to God for blessings and rule.