God v Satan?

[JBeukema]

1And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

1And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

How do you explain it? Is the bible not true? or is God Satan?

 

[Wingsofwind]

First off, you can not just take one or two verses to make a point. You need more, and you have to keep it in context. You also need to look at the original words and what they meant during that time. Maybe the translation was not totally correct. There is more to studying the scriptures than just comparing a few verses and then say it contradicts it's self.

That being said, in 2Sa 24:1, without reading the last chapter, we do not know who 'he' was referring to. It could have ment the Lord, however, that verse only states that the anger of the Lord was kindled and the 'he' in that verse could mean someone other than the Lord.

In 1Ch 21:1 the word translated to 'Satan' could also mean 'adversary' or 'opponent'.

H7854
שׂטן
śâṭân
saw-tawn'
From H7853; an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch enemy of good: - adversary, Satan, withstand.

Without reading both chapters and getting the context and ruling out who the 'he' in 2Sa 24:1 was referring to we can not be sure. What I would suggest is that you do a bit more studying.

And if you were only trying to discredit the Bible, you would have to do better than that for those of us who know how to actually study and truly try to understand it.

 

[feeblepizza]

Satan means "the opposer" in Hebrew. Could God not be Satan in that He opposes something?

 

[tonystewart1]

Why is it that people who are not Christians are so scared of what the bible says they constantly try to discredit it? If people think it is a book of fairy tales then why pay any attention to it at all.

 

[spectrumc01]

Why is it that people who are not Christians are so scared of what the bible says they constantly try to discredit it? If people think it is a book of fairy tales then why pay any attention to it at all.

Non christians have a very logical fear of christianity. Through out history every time the cross was brought into a new town death and theft were soon to follow. The inquisition lasted for over five hundred years in Europe, followed by witch burnings, the Crusades, and lets not forget the in fighting between the protestants and catholics. Christianity is no more or less bloody than the other religions, it is just that they don't like to recognize their own brand of "justified violence". Here in the US the violence is all but gone, unless you look to violence commited on the children by pedophile priests, pastors and other clergy, it's not just the Catholics. Their oppression has taken the form of legislation designed to make others conform to their beliefs and morality. The Terry Schivo case is the ultimate example, and the Republicans have turned into the christian SS (in words mostly, very few actions taken).
We must pay attention to the bible because people are using it to try and mold US policy to it. No your enemy (sound familiar).

 

[tonystewart1]

First you have to understand that the biggest tool of satan is religion and the church. I worship a powerful God who loves his children very much. He does not call us to take lives or force converts. Read the book of Acts. Satan uses the church to corrupt people because they think the precepts of man carry more weight than the precepts of God.

 

[Woyzeck]

"Don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just God when he's drunk."

-Tom Waits, "Heartattack and Vine"