Morning Journal
I Samuel 15:4
“Then Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.”
Saul’s does this to determine the number of soldiers he has. The bible gives two views of taking a census. Jesus gives one when He speaks of counting the cost in Luke 14:31,32; “Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.” In this instance, Jesus is saying that it is good to know one’s capacity. Thus a census is a responsible idea.
However, king David also took a census and to him, it was sinful (I Chronicles 21:1). He gave the command to his general to conduct it, but his response was a warning against it (verse 3). Why was it sinful for David? His own words from his youth condemn him. ‘And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine”, (I Samuel 17:37). David’s trust was in God, not his abilities. A census is for determining the size of the army. In essence, trusting in ones resources.
David was a man after God’s heart. He lived a life of faith. He also governed that way. He knew better. Saul was spiritually superficial. The Lord didn’t correct him. It would have been wasted words.
The Lord wants us to be people of faith. The writer of Hebrews corrects some of his readers this way, “Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s Word. You need milk, not solid food.” These believers weren’t putting effort into their faith. It’s as if they were christians, students, athletic and so on. That’s not how God wants us to be. We are to love Him with all of our hearts. It’s our over arching identity. Our faith should be dominant. If one sees it as an accessory, then the Lord will test this commitment.
Earlier Jesus’ comments about counting the cost was brought up. He says this in the same context, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple”, (Luke 14:26). He’s not saying we are to hate our family, but by comparison of our love for God, our love for anything else, it looks like hate. Basically God is to be our number one priority.
Jesus expounds a bit further on this in verses 34 and 35, ‘Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear”‘. When the Lord is first in our lives, they become rich in blessing, character and influence. Galatians 5:22,23 describes it as the fruit of the Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. These are the traits that the Lord wants to fill us with. If we aren’t plugged into Him, then these aren’t present. That’s what He means when salt has lost its savor. It’s useless.
It’s an exciting journey. Yes, we can be curious and stressed about life’s direction, but He will provide. In time we learn to trust Him. We don’t question Him, atleast not as much. Philippians 4:6, 7 says this, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
To wrap up, we are to live lives of faith that are dependent on Him, not on our own resources. When we do this our lives become full of the good things He wants to give. Lord, thank You for all You have for us. Help us to trust You in this.