May 2nd

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 2 Samuel 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-6; 2 Samuel 24:10-17; 1 Chronicles 21:7-17; 2 Samuel 24:18-25; 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:19

Click here to read a commentary on this passage.

Today's passage deals mainly with David's sinful decision to conduct a census of his fighting men. The reason this was a sin was because of the motive behind it. He was taking pride in and trusting in his military might instead of in God.

God gave David a way out of this temptation through the counsel of Joab. Joab is not a godly man, yet this is the 2nd time he has given David excellent advice.

The first time, Joab told David to quit his public mourning of Absalom and get out there and commend his troops for their victory - and David listened to Joab's counsel.

This time, however, David does not listen.

This reminds me of the NT verse....

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

This verse is often misquoted, when people say God never gives us more than we can handle. Frankly, He gives us more than we can handle all the time! Our weakness is made perfect in His strength. If we never needed His help, we would never learn to rely on Him and recognize that all we are, all we have, all we are able to achieve, is thanks to His goodness and grace.

God does give us more than we can handle on our own, but he will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. Two very different things.

But the promise is an amazing one. God always gives us a way out of temptation. There will always be some way to make the right choice. And it may come where we least expect it. God can use anything or anyone to accomplish His purposes.

He used Joab, an unrighteous man, to give David a way out. One time David took it, and another time he let his pride get in the way and he gave in to the temptation.

But the promise prevails - God is always with us and though we are most often not able to resist the temptation on our own, if we rely on God and look for the way out He has promised to provide, we will be able to stand up under it!

Let us not forget His promise.

Tomorrow's passage: 1 Chronicles 23:1-25:31