Satan – Old Testament Survey

1 Chronicles 21

It is wise for us to listen carefully to the voices that clamor for our attention. We should be asking if the voice is from God, Satan, the world, or our own sinful desires. We then need to take every thought captive and make sure that it is from God, which is when we choose to reject or accept it (2 Corinthians 10.4-5).

1 Chronicles 21 (Cf. 2 Samuel 24 and our study)

The variations between 1 Chronicles 21 and 2 Samuel 24 are few, but the few are intriguing. The outline would be the same for both chapters. God is angered at the sin of Israel (1-6), David’s realization of sin (7-17), and the telling of God to David to build the Temple (18-30). However, each section contains at least one variant in its presentation.

Verses 1-6-Satan is credited with leading David to count the men of fighting age. Here it is Satan, in 2 Samuel it is God, in both passages David is held responsible. This helps us to understand a few things about God’s sovereign control and man’s responsibility. God was going to judge Israel for their sin. I believe it was the continual syncretism of the nation. God allowed Satan to tempt David to do something that was against God’s will. David chose to do it. Satan cannot do anything without God’s approval. The book of Job displays this clearly (Job 1-2). We can neither blame God for our sin nor blame Satan. We are responsible for the choices we make.
Verses 7-17-David sees the angel who was to destroy Jerusalem and the elders prayed that God would stay His hand from destroying Jerusalem.
Verses 18-30-The acceptance of the sacrifice by David signified that God had accepted this as the new place of worship for Israel. This selection of Mt. Moriah as the place of worship for Israel can also be seen in the sacrifice David offered for his sin, the forgiveness God offered, and the answered prayers of the people.

The purchase in 2 Samuel of 50 shekels was for the threshing floor and the purchase in 1 Chronicles of six hundred shekels was for the entire property.

It was at this site, Mt. Moriah, that Abraham offered up Isaac (Genesis 22). Here is where the Temple will be built. It was here that Jesus would die (on the Mount not in the Temple). This will become the new center of worship for all Israel.

2 Samuel 15

Who, in your life, speaks lies to your face in order to build you up to break you down? If you cannot think of one, and your are a Christian, might I suggest the father of lies, Satan? Be careful for he is out to devour you (1 Peter 5.8).

2 Samuel 15

Absalom’s rebellion begins here and continues until his death in 2 Samuel 19 (see the study to come). This chapter divides itself into the treason shown by Absalom (1-12) and avid fleeing from Jerusalem (13-37).

Reading these first twelve verses lead us to believe that Absalom was quite bitter with his father. He spent five years away from him, and four years plotting his overthrow in the city of Jerusalem. He slowly but steadily led people away from David and into his own favor by telling them what they want to hear (see our study of 2 Samuel 14 and the woman of Tekoa). Remember back to 2 Samuel 11 where Ahithophel was introduced (see our study), he is brought back to the story here. He was Bathsheba’s grandfather who was also David’s counselor. What he did in this chapter was a payback for what David did to his granddaughter and her husband, Uriah. He advises Absalom to do to David what David did to Uriah, take another man’s wife. If Absalom could sleep with David’s concubines, mistresses, or wives, he could lay claim to the throne. Ahithophel will present himself again in 2 Samuel 17 (see our study to come). By the end of this first division, Absalom has many followers and this act of treason growing the act of rebellion begins in the next division.

In the next division, as David is fleeing, the author presents those who are faithful to God’s king. There is Abiathar (see our studies in 1 Samuel 21-24, 1 Samuel 30, and 2 Samuel 8), groups of people from various nations, and Ittai the Gittite displays his loyalty to David much like Ruth did to Naomi (see our studies in Ruth). David refuses to use the Ark as a symbol of protection. I believe he learned his lesson from Saul’s misuse of the Ark in 1 Samuel (see our study of 1 Samuel 5-7).

In order to have inside information, David sends his trusted advisor, Hushai, to give advice against Ahithophel. This leads to Ahithophel’s ultimate suicide (see our study to come in 2 Samuel 17).

The path David to on his escape from Jerusalem, David traveled the same route Jesus would take on the night of His betrayal along the Kidron Valley through the Mount of Olives.

Joshua 7-10

I found it interesting that Joshua 7 is a chapter of God’s anger against those who disobey Him and how one’s sin brings calamities on others. The parallel with Acts 5 and God’s anger over the lying of Ananias and Sapphira are amazing. Each was given at the beginning of the new adventure for Israel and the Church to show that God is serious about obedience. However, this type of event only shows up once in each testament; I wonder why?

There are other parts of chapter 7 that are interesting, but I will let you discover them.

Chapter 8 would be interesting to Achan. If he had obeyed God’s command to not take plunder from Jericho, he would have been able to take plunder from Ai. Sometimes we attempt to take God’s work and do it ourselves. We create trouble for ourselves as Isaiah tells us. If we wait on Him, as Isaiah and the Psalmist also remind us, we will be blessed because we trust in the Lord. I wonder in what areas of my life I am running ahead of the Lord.

Chapter 9 is a great description of Satan’s antics. He deceives us into believing lies in order for us to accept him and his values in our life. Verse 14 is the tell verse: they did not ask the Lord about the matter. How many times do we run ahead and do what we want, neglecting to ask God what He would have us to do? The danger is always compromise with the world.

It would be interesting to look ahead to see what role the Gibeonites would play in Israel’s downfall.

Chapter 10 shows us how Israel had to use its resources to defend the Gibeonites from attack. Their sin in not relying on God is now costing them manpower and time. But God was with them here because they were honoring their contract (which I still think they should not have honored the covenant because of the deception of the Gibeonites). God used this event to allow Joshua to conquer most of what we call Israel.

When we obey God, we succeed. When we disobey Him, we fail. However, even in that failure, God can still use us to accomplish His work in the world. However, there are consequences that we still must face (i.e., Moses could not enter the Promised Land, the Gibeonites become a thorn in the flesh, Achan dies, etc.).

So what are your thoughts?

Tomorrow’s reading will be shorter.