The old canard about the Bible contradicting itself keeps raising its ugly head and has done so once again on this forum. This time the 2 differing accounts of David’s consensus is cited by someone wishing to use these accounts as an evidence of contradiction.
I keep wondering when these self professed intellectuals will ever get up to speed on discerning distinctions. A differing account doesn’t not necessarily preclude the **appearance** of a seeming contradiction. In fact, law courts suspect collusion when witness accounts are identical.
I hope the following article will put to rest another false charge of biblical contribution
Contradiction: Who Incited David to Count the Fighting Men of Israel—God or Satan?
by Troy Lacey on March 31, 2015
Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” (2 Samuel 24:1)
Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. (1 Chronicles 21:1)
We are sure that God is not the author of sin and He tempts no man to sin (James 1:13). A census in and of itself was not a sin, but Exodus 30:12–16 gives very specific requirements for how a census was to be conducted, and this census by David did not follow the God-given instructions. Then we are told in 1 Chronicles 21:1 that Satan provoked David to number Israel. How do we reconcile this? Did God incite (move or stir up) David to take a census of Israel, or did Satan?
God’s Anger at Israel’s Sin
It is not surprising that the anger of the Lord was directed against Israel at this time: there certainly was cause enough for it. They were ungrateful for the blessings of David’s government, and strangely drawn in to take part in rebellion against David with Absalom first (2 Samuel 15:1–12) and afterwards with Sheba the son of Bichri (2 Samuel 20:1–2). The armies of Israel and Judah had constant strife between their commanders, and Joab proved to be a cold-blooded murderer on several occasions (2 Samuel 3:27, 18:14, 20:10). We have reason to think that their peace from outside enemies and the prosperity of the land under David’s rule had made them secure and sensual, and that God was therefore displeased with them.
Satan Actively Tempts, God Permits Temptation
Satan, as an enemy, suggested this census as an occasion to incite a sin, just as he also put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ. Satan is frequently described in Scripture as doing what God merely permits to be done; and so, in this case, He permitted Satan to tempt David. Satan was the active mover, while God only withdrew His supporting grace, and the great adversary prevailed against the king. (For other examples of God permitting temptation and it being ascribed to Him, see 2 Samuel 16:7–13; 1 Kings 22:20–23; Psalm 105:24–25.) God as righteous Judge in this instance permitted it with the design that from this sin of David He would take occasion to punish Israel for other sins, for which He might justly have otherwise punished them.
It should be noted that when God has a plan in mind, He will sometimes allow Satan and his demons to do things they want to do (e.g., lie and cause disaster and death), while actually they are working the will of God (who wanted to punish Israel for their idolatry and wickedness). A couple of biblical examples include 2 Chronicles 18:18–22, where God allows a demon to use the false prophets to convince Ahab to go to battle and ultimately to his death, and Job 1–2, where Satan persecutes Job.
God Had Been Judging Israel’s Sin, and They Had Not Repented
Remember that God brought a famine upon the nation for the sin of Saul’s house (2 Samuel 21:1), which according to Ussher and Nolen Jones had just ended a year earlier.1 Now after this census God leveled a three-day pestilence for the sin of David. Perhaps the three-year famine came so that the leaders of the people would learn to recognize the judgment of God, to suspect that their sins were the cause, and therefore to repent and turn to God. This would have a great influence upon national repentance and reformation. This would in turn cause the people to learn to pray for those in authority, that God would keep them from sin, because, if the leaders engage in open sin, the whole nation languishes (Proverbs 29:2). Indeed, we are commanded to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1–3), as this is pleasing to God. But we see no such repentance from the leaders or the people who engage in open rebellion, seemingly at the slightest provocation.
Satan’s Plan, but God’s Intervention
The author of 1 Chronicles ascribes this census-taking plan to Satan, who wanted to oppose Israel and cause them as much harm as possible, perhaps even hoping to destroy the Lord’s anointed (David and/or Solomon) which would have terminated the earthly line through which Christ came. God however wanted to punish Israel for their sins (most notably rebellion), and so He allowed Satan to tempt David so He could stamp out those traitors who despised the Lord and His anointed king.
The difficulty in reconciling the statement in 1 Chronicles 21:1, “Satan . . . moved David,” with that of 2 Samuel 24:1, “the Lord moved David,” is not problematic. All temptation is permitted by God, but not caused by God. When evil spirits tempt us, they do so by permission (Job 1:12, 2:6; Luke 22:31). Satan therefore provoked David to number the people, and God allowed him to do so. God allows those things which serve to advance His holy and perfect will.
God Is in Control
The author of 2 Samuel (probably the prophets Nathan or Gad) chose to view this whole affair in the ultimate sense of God being in control of all things, while the author of 1 Chronicles (probably Ezra) wanted to showcase the satanic plot and how God used this as a tool for judgment. It is the same account with a different point of emphasis. This also makes sense, for Nathan and Gad were prophets who proclaimed that God is in control of all the affairs of men, and knows and predicts events before they come to pass. Ezra was a priest who was interested in pointing out the holiness of God, and as one who hates sin—treason and idolatry being two of the most heinous, and the two which Israel were most prone to. The “takeaway” point here is that God judges and punishes sin, and purges out the leaven of sin from His people (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:6–8). Satan meant it for evil for David and for Israel, but God ultimately meant it for good in the long run of the nation, and so allowed Satan to provoke David.
Excellent work in research David! Thank you! This constant attack on the WORD of YHWH is tiring and its good you are chiming in with your wisdom in exposing Chuckpah's "messy-anic" agenda!
Teddy, those who constantly claim to find contradictions in the Bible have been soundly refuted in a multiple venues yet they continue unabated in their attacks against inerrancy.
Some people are just plain immune to the logic of sound reason
Ooooh and its really sad that we even have to do this David on this Christian forum but it is what it is I guess! This CULT doctrine that the Bible JUST has to SAY (written) about itself, that it is the WORD of YHWH is really quite crazy, no?
Umm....yeah there is a contradiction, but it's not really a contradiction. Oh yes....there is a mistake, but it's a mistake on purpose, so it's not really a mistake. Ahhh....I get it, because two people give opposite testimonies means they are telling the truth about what really happened.
There are some like Chuckles, Khutzpah and Quiznos who claim that God has allowed His Word to be **CORRUPTED** which is ridiculous. So they teach that you have to wait for God's Spirit which is really Satan's Spirit to whisper in their depraved ears!
Chuckles Quiznos, Khutzpah, Messyanics and Satan both make fun of saving **FAITH** and all the inspired writings of Paul. All born from above Jews for Jesus believe that Jesus is God and the entire New Testament is inspired by God.
**BUT WHAT DOES GOD'S WORD SAY**
**THE ONLY THING THAT COUNTS IS **FAITH** EXPRESSING ITSELF THROUGH LOVE**!!{Galatians 5:6}
Acts 26:17,18: Jesus said to Paul, "I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are **SANCTIFIED BY FAITH**!"
Romans 1:17: For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed--a righteousness that is **BY FAITH FROM FIRST TO LAST**!!
Romans 3:23-25: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood--to be received **BY FAITH**!!
Romans 3:27,28: Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? **NO**, because of the law that **REQUIRES FAITH**! For we maintain that a person is **JUSTIFIED BY FAITH** apart from the works of the law!!
Romans 5:1,2: Therefore, since we have been **JUSTIFIED THOUGH FAITH**, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access **BY FAITH** into this grace in which we now stand!!
Romans 10:5-9: Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: "The person who does these things will live by them." {Lev 18:5} But the righteousness that comes **BY FAITH** says...The word is near you: it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the message concerning **FAITH** that we proclaim: IF you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your **FAITH** and are saved!!
Romans 12:3: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the **FAITH** God has distributed to each of you!!
Romans 14:23: Everything that does not come **FROM FAITH** is sin!!
2 Corinthians 1:24: We work with you for your joy, because it is **BY FAITH** you stand firm!!
2 Corinthians 5:6-10: We are always confident and know that as long as we are at home with the body we are away from the Lord. For we live **BY FAITH**, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him... For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad!!
Galatians 2:16: We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but **BY FAITH** in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our **FAITH** in Christ Jesus that we may be **JUSTIFIED BY FAITH** in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law **NO ONE WILL BE JUSTIFIED**!!
Galatians 3:23-26: Before the coming of this **FAITH**, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the **FAITH** that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be **JUSTIFIED BY FAITH**. Now that this **FAITH** has come we are **NO LONGER UNDER THE SUPERVION OF THE LAW**. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God **THROUGH FAITH**!!
Galatians 5:5,6: For through the Spirit we eagerly await **BY FAITH** the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is **FAITH** expressing itself through **LOVE**!!
Ephesians 2:8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, **THROUGH FAITH**--and this is not from yourselves, it is the **GIFT** of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are **GOD'S HANDIWORK**, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do!!
Ephesians 3:16,17: I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts **THROUGH FAITH**!!
I Thessalonians 1:3: We remember before our God and Father you work produced **BY FAITH**!!
2 Thessalonians 1:3,4: We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your **FAITH** is growing **MORE AND MORE**....Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and **FAITH** in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring!!
2 Thessalonians 1:11: We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed **PROMPTED BY FAITH**!!
I Timothy 1:3,4: Command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer... Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work--which is **BY FAITH**!!
2 Timothy 3:14,15: Continue in what you have learned and become convinced of...and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation **THROUGH FAITH** in Christ Jesus!!
Hebrews 11:1,3,6: So **FAITH** is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see...**BY FAITH** we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, in that what is seen was not made out of what was visible... Without **FAITH** it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him!!
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, “The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and **THEN** He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done!”
Hebrews 12:1,2: Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our **FAITH**!!
**WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION**??
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 shows that all saints including the Church Saints and all of the Lost will be resurrected on the **SAME LAST DAY**and judged at the 2nd coming of Jesus.
John 6:39, John 6:40 and John 5:44 compared with John 12:48 shows that all saints including the Church Saints will be resurrected, and all of the lost will be judged on the **SAME LAST DAY**
John 5:26,29 and Daniel 12:1,2,7 shows us that the saved and the lost will be resurrected on the **SAME DAY**. and Daniel 12:1,2,7 also shows us that the saved and lost will be resurrected on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation.
I Thessalonions 4:16-18 and I Thessalonians 5:1-4: compared with 2 Peter 3:10,13 shows us that the saints will be resurrected on the same **DAY OF THE LORD** which will come as a thief in the night to unbelievers but will not surprise God's saints. And on this same **DAY OF THE LORD** the present heavens and earth will be completely destroyed and disappear as per 2 Peter 3:10,13!!
Titus 2:12,13; Matthew 16:27; I Peter 1:13; I Corinthians 1:7; Hebrews 9:28; I Corinthians 15:23; Colossians 3:4; I John 3:2,3; I John 2:28; 2 Timothy 4:18 and I Peter 5:4 shows us that all God's saints will be resurrected at the glorious 2nd Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:29-31, Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 13:26,27; Luke 21:27,28; Revelation 11:15-18; Revelation 14-20 and Daniel 12:1,2,7 shows that the resurrection of the saints will come on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation!
I John 3:23 and I Corinthians 15:49-52 shows that all of God's saints at the 2nd Coming of Jesus will get a new heavenly body **JUST LIKE THE BODY OF JESUS**!!
Jude 14,15; Revelation 19:7:21 and Revelation 17:14 shows that just after His 2nd Coming and the Marriage Feast of the Lamb Jesus and His saints wil mount heavenly white horses and defeat the armies of 666, and throw 666 and his false prophet alive into eternal torment in hell!!
Revelation 17:14: They will make war against the **LAMB** but the **LAMB** will overcome them because He is **LORD** of lords and **KING** of kings, and with Him will be His **CALLED**, **CHOSEN** and **FAITHFUL** followers!!
**WHAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS ON THE LAST DAY OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION**??
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 shows that all saints including the Church Saints and all of the Lost will be resurrected on the **SAME LAST DAY**and judged at the 2nd coming of Jesus.
John 6:39, John 6:40 and John 5:44 compared with John 12:48 shows that all saints including the Church Saints will be resurrected, and all of the lost will be judged on the **SAME LAST DAY**
John 5:26,29 and Daniel 12:1,2,7 shows us that the saved and the lost will be resurrected on the **SAME DAY**. and Daniel 12:1,2,7 also shows us that the saved and lost will be resurrected on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation.
I Thessalonions 4:16-18 and I Thessalonians 5:1-4: compared with 2 Peter 3:10,13 shows us that the saints will be resurrected on the same **DAY OF THE LORD** which will come as a thief in the night to unbelievers but will not surprise God's saints. And on this same **DAY OF THE LORD** the present heavens and earth will be completely destroyed and disappear as per 2 Peter 3:10,13!!
Titus 2:12,13; Matthew 16:27; I Peter 1:13; I Corinthians 1:7; Hebrews 9:28; I Corinthians 15:23; Colossians 3:4; I John 3:2,3; I John 2:28; 2 Timothy 4:18 and I Peter 5:4 shows us that all God's saints will be resurrected at the glorious 2nd Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:29-31, Matthew 25:31-46, Mark 13:26,27; Luke 21:27,28; Revelation 11:15-18; Revelation 14-20 and Daniel 12:1,2,7 shows that the resurrection of the saints will come on the Last Day of the Great Tribulation!
I John 3:23 and I Corinthians 15:49-52 shows that all of God's saints at the 2nd Coming of Jesus will get a new heavenly body **JUST LIKE THE BODY OF JESUS**!!
Jude 14,15; Revelation 19:7:21 and Revelation 17:14 shows that just after His 2nd Coming and the Marriage Feast of the Lamb Jesus and His saints wil mount heavenly white horses and defeat the armies of 666, and throw 666 and his false prophet alive into eternal torment in hell!!
Revelation 17:14: They will make war against the **LAMB** but the **LAMB** will overcome them because He is **LORD** of lords and **KING** of kings, and with Him will be His **CALLED**, **CHOSEN** and **FAITHFUL** followers!!
2 Peter 3:10-13: But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will DISAPPEAR with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and *EVERYTHING* in it will be burned up {NIV}. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you {**CHURCH SAINTS*} wait eagerly for the Day of God to come. {NIV} That Day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise **WE** {Excluding the Preterists, the messyanics and the RC church} are looking forward to a **NEW HEAVENS** and a **NEW EARTH**, the home of righteousness.
Revelation 21:1-5: Then I saw a **NEW HEAVEN** and a **NEW EARTH**, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City the **NEW JERUSALEM**, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making **EVERYTHING NEW**!! Then He said, "Write this down, for these words are **TRUSTWORTHY AND TRUE**!! "
Revelation 21:22,23; 22:1-5: I did not see any temple in the City, because the Lord God Almighty are its temple. The City does not need the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God gives its light, and the **LAMB** is its Lamp!....Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowung down from the throne of God and of the **LAMB**down the middle of the great street of the City. On each side of the river stood the Tree of Life, bearing 12 crops of fruit, yeilding its fruit every month. No longer will there be any curse. The Throne of God and of the **LAMB** will be in the City, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name wll be on on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not the light of a lampor the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign **FOR EVER AND EVER**!
Revelation 2:18; 3:12,21: Jesus says, "To him who overcomes I will give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it... I will write on him the name of the City of My God, the **NEW JERUSALEM**, which is coming down out of heaven from My God....And I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." {There will be only **TWO THRONES** in the eternal New Jerusalem!}
