2 Samuel 24
David Takes a Census
1 Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. “Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,” the Lord told him.
1 Chronicles 21
David Takes a Census
1 Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.
Okay, so in Samuel, it is written that the Lord caused David to take the census, and in Chronicles it says that satan rose up and caused David to take the census. Interesting. I believe that as powerful as satan thinks he is, he cannot do anything unless God allows it. God was angry with Israel, so God allowed satan to work in this matter, causing further grief for a people to claimed to want to follow God. Now, America is not the modern day Israel; that distinction belongs to the Church. However, we see satan working mightily in America (and in the Church in America) today. We have allowed God to be kicked out of public discourse, and now our culture is such that standing up for the societal norm of marriage being between one man and one woman is the source of great ridicule and outcry for the “controversial nature” of such comments. Hmmm. Satan is laughing it up. The question remains, will the Church in America repent and follow the clear teachings of Scripture, or will we simply be content to stay in our own little bubble? Whatever happened to the command of being salt and light, anyway?
Showing posts with label Disobedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Disobedience. Show all posts
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Punishment for Disobedience
Leviticus 26
14 “However, if you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, 15 and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, 16 I will punish you. I will bring sudden terrors upon you—wasting diseases and burning fevers that will cause your eyes to fail and your life to ebb away. You will plant your crops in vain because your enemies will eat them. 17 I will turn against you, and you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will run even when no one is chasing you!
18 “And if, in spite of all this, you still disobey me, I will punish you seven times over for your sins. 19 I will break your proud spirit by making the skies as unyielding as iron and the earth as hard as bronze. 20 All your work will be for nothing, for your land will yield no crops, and your trees will bear no fruit.”
This is God (yeah, the God of Love) talking to His People as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Sounds so loving, doesn’t it? Actually, it does. God is not just the God of Love; He is THE HOLY GOD. His justice is right. His decisions are final. He disciplines those He loves, and those who disobey Him can expect His Holy Wrath to come down upon them. In the United States of America, we have somehow forgotten this. Now, the U.S. is not Israel of Leviticus, but Christians are! Our disobedience to God is why we are where we are these days, and I fear that we “ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” May God be glorified always!
14 “However, if you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, 15 and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, 16 I will punish you. I will bring sudden terrors upon you—wasting diseases and burning fevers that will cause your eyes to fail and your life to ebb away. You will plant your crops in vain because your enemies will eat them. 17 I will turn against you, and you will be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will run even when no one is chasing you!
18 “And if, in spite of all this, you still disobey me, I will punish you seven times over for your sins. 19 I will break your proud spirit by making the skies as unyielding as iron and the earth as hard as bronze. 20 All your work will be for nothing, for your land will yield no crops, and your trees will bear no fruit.”
This is God (yeah, the God of Love) talking to His People as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Sounds so loving, doesn’t it? Actually, it does. God is not just the God of Love; He is THE HOLY GOD. His justice is right. His decisions are final. He disciplines those He loves, and those who disobey Him can expect His Holy Wrath to come down upon them. In the United States of America, we have somehow forgotten this. Now, the U.S. is not Israel of Leviticus, but Christians are! Our disobedience to God is why we are where we are these days, and I fear that we “ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” May God be glorified always!
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