1st Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
For the purposes of this Bible study, a better devil is representative of the best choice you can make in a situation where you only have bad options on the table. The provocation of David, the leader of the nation is now going to extend to those under his jurisdiction. In every nation there is a chain of command and the underlings that do the kings bidding are to be wary, lest they obey dictates that they know would violate the word and the will of God.
Whenever a person violates conscience, in order to please the head of a nation, they put themselves on the fast track to compromise themselves in greater and weightier matters, and if the downward spiral is not arrested, that person will inevitably become the slave of circumstance. After Joab previously yielded to David’s demand for him to kill Uriah, Joab did violence to his conscience, and by so doing he set himself up to become a slave to leadership, whether the dear leader did wrong or right.
The very worst thing that underlings can do is to repeat or promulgate evils they know of, when it comes from the dear leader. The satanic thought was first infused into the mind of David, the one with the highest authority in the nation, and then from there it flowed downstream to any and every one who would not be guided by principle, truth, and duty. This is a very sorry state for any nation to be in.
1st Chronicles 21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people Go number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!