(1 Chronicles 21:1-4 MSG) “Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel. David gave orders to Joab and the army officers under him, "Canvass all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and get a count of the population. I want to know the number." Joab resisted: "May GOD multiply his people by hundreds! Don't they all belong to my master the king? But why on earth would you do a thing like this--why risk getting Israel into trouble with God?" But David wouldn't take no for an answer, so Joab went off and did it--canvassed the country and then came back to Jerusalem”
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely! But God has a purpose and plan for those whom He loves and God loved David even though he took the census in spite of being warned by God through the captain of his army not to do this thing. Pride was at the center of David’s actions, having won previous battles he began to no longer see God as the source but himself. The same is true today when church leaders create guidelines and rules and regulations about how and when people in the church get involved instead of pointing the way and teaching people how to recognize God’s calling then encouraging them to experience God for themselves. Some leaders are so sure their way is the only way that they end up suffocating God’s true calling on one’s life and God says that is wrong! The Pharisees did the same thing, I imagine when things got started their intentions were good - they always are but like king David Satan seduced them into believing God was not the source of their success but the way they conducted themselves somehow brought about the riches they now enjoy and therefore everyone should do as they do and not only that but pay homage to them for leading the way. Eventually they got so far away from God they no longer knew Him. That is the reason Jesus opposed everything they did and vice versa. Jesus came to show the people the Father’s love and righteousness, His holiness and compassion because man and man’s laws had gotten so far out of line. (John 3:16 MSG) "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.”
No matter what how great the success we experience we must always remember God is the source. When we start adding rules and regulations to how people serve God then we better wakeup and hope we hear God’s conviction. Things did not end well for David in 1 Chronicles 21. (1 Chronicles 21:7-8 MSG) “And God, offended by the whole thing, punished Israel. Then David prayed, "I have sinned badly in what I have just done, substituting statistics for trust; forgive my sin--I've been really stupid."”
David was punished because God loved him and David was quick to let go of the pride that brought him to that point, where as with the Pharisees they continued to hold on to their pride because admitting they were wrong before God and the people was more than they could comprehend but “looking good” by means of self-righteousness and holding onto their pride cost them eternal life and removed the blessings of God in this life.
No matter what it takes, if it is a pastor loosing “his” congregation or a businessman loosing his position God wants His children to know that He is the one in control, not them and though that sounds like a selfish God that thought couldn’t be any further from the truth. God knows pride will kill our spirits and separate us from Him. He loves us too much to let that happen. Think about spiritual leaders in your life who have made bad decisions that were made public. Our first reaction is to think God is punishing them for what they’ve done and their getting what they deserved for deceiving us but God is so beyond all of that! It is God’s purpose to cause that leader to let go of his pride and humble himself before his/her Creator. Some do but many don’t, holding onto “their” ministry instead of clinging to God – their only hope of salvation! When God corrects you be quick, like David, to let go of your pride and cling to the source of all that is good, to the One who died to set you free from the life of sin you were living so that your spirit may be raised from spiritual death just as Jesus arose from the grave thereby, taking victory from death and the grave. Be quick to let go of all the efforts and striving you’ve been doing to make things “work”. Are you worn out? Do you feel as if you are giving more than you can sustain? Your spirit has been telling you something is not right but you’ve been too busy to listen. Because of His great love for us He will not allow us to continue in pride, you may be headed for a crisis. The question is how long will it take you and how much must you lose in order to see God’s plan for your life so that He may once again bless you and bring you close to His side?
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