"And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?" (1 Chron. 21:1-3).
Why did David desire for a census to be taken? I believe it had something to do with pride. He wanted to know how big and strong his kingdom was and therefore he commanded Joab to number the people. In the Psalms David wrote, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7). Well, it appears that there was a period in David's life when he forgot that the greatness of his kingdom was not found in his military might, but in the power of God. The word of the Lord declares, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zec.4:6). Notice that it was Satan that provoked David to number Israel. I'm sure at the time it seem to David as a harmless thought but actually it was a demonic suggestion. We need to be on guard and watch out for the thoughts that come into our minds. Someone said, "Whatever captures the mind captures the man." In David's case he was captured by Satan. He wasn't possessed by Satan and yet his action were inspired by Satan. Satan doesn't have to possess us to influence the way we live our lives. Instead, all he has to do is get us to believe one of his lies so that we will act independently of God. An act of independence from God is the essence of sin. Any thought that you have that would suggest in any way that you act independently of God is of the evil one. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths" (Prov. 3:5). In good times and bad times let us not forget to trust in the name of the Lord our God.
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