David's Sin in numbering Israel

I Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 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. 3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

I have heard sufficient discussion of this subject over the years. Obviously, Israel had been numbered many times before. That is the purpose of the book Numbers. But, what is different this time? Was pride or vanity the reason for this census? Self aggrandizement?

The answer is very simple: This poll was satanically inspired! Look again at verse one..."And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."

As New Testament Christians, we are afforded great leeway and grace in making decisions. But we must discern the inspiration behind and end goal of our activities.

Our prime concern is that God be glorified. You can be assured that anything satanically inspired is not designed to the end of glorifying God. The evil one's goals are to thwart God's work, short circuit His will, keep the sinner lost and stymie the Christian's walk.

Here is just one example that has bred many discussions: I have had two brothers try to convince me lately that moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages is not only allowable, but even encouraged in the Bible.

I understand their arguments but remain a tee-totaling despiser of all drinking because of Satan's design for the fall of the culture and the decimation of the family. God receives no glory when moderate drinking morphs into broken homes. Perhaps you've heard about the guy who was addicted to drinking brake fluid saying, "I can stop anytime I want."

We all understand, or we should, about gateway habits. Every junkie started out with one harmless joint. Every boozer started with just "a cold one." Every porn addict began with one "innocent peek" at a girlie magazine.

But there are those who would argue that such a line of reasoning extrapolated could include the glutton and his first drink of mother's milk. Good point!

I know, I know! There are those who are still drinking just that one glass of wine, having that single cigar after dinner, or taking the occasional pain med to take the edge off.

But what I am asking is, what is the source of the provocation?

Please don't discount that the devil and his imps are present at every turn and are actively engaging on a mission to rob God of His glory, to reverse His agenda, to keep the lost lost and to hinder your Christian progress.

Discern the motives and possible results for all of today's undertakings. Do God's bidding rather than your own, or worse, the devil's.

Addendum: verse 7, And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.