There is a key difference in the two accounts of David's ordering a census of the people of Israel and Judah: In Second Samuel the text says that the Lord incited David to conduct the census (2 Samuel 24:1), but in First Chronicles the text says that Satan incited David to conduct the census. So, which is it? Did the Lord directly motivate David? If so, then we have the problem of God's moving David to do something evil in the chronicler's judgment (1 Chronicles 21:7) for which David later feels guilty (2 Samuel 24:10) and for which both David and God's people are punished (2 Samuel 24:17).
Did Satan incite David? This is the more palatable option to me, since it takes away the problem of God's directly inciting David to pursue a foolish, if not sinful course of action. Still, if this is the case, we are left with the issue of God's permitting Satan to tempt David. And it seems that just won't go away.
Why do I sin? I refuse to believe that God directly tempts me. When I blame Satan for temptations--and I do believe that many temptations come from sources outside of my soul, such as the enemy--I am still driven back to my own culpability. I am responsible for my own actions at least to some degree.
God, please save us humans from ourselves. Deliver us both from temptation and from sin. Forgive us and give us peace.
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