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NASB | 1 Samuel 16:14 ¶ Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Samuel 16:14 ¶ Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented and terrified him. |
Bible Question: How can an evil spirit come from the Lord? |
Bible Answer: This spirit sent from the Lord is described differently in separate versions of the Bible: - "an evil spirit" (NIV and most others) - "a spirit of sadness" (Young's Literal Trans.) - "an injurious spirit" (NIV footnote) - "a tormenting spirit" (New Living Trans.) With that in mind, here's my answer: God also sent an evil spirit in Judges 9:23. Why? Verse 24: "God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers." You can read further down the chapter to see God's vengeance on Abimelech and the people of Shechem (vs. 52-57) God has the authority and the ability to control evil spirits (Mark 1:27, Luke 4:36). Evil spirits and demons also understand the authority wielded by God (Mark 5:10, 12; James 2:19). So why does God send spirits to men? In Saul's case, it was to avenge his disobedience in the seige of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15). God had even rejected Saul as king at this point (1 Sam. 15:7). This spirit would come upon Saul and cause him to sin against David (1 Samuel 18:10). Saul became angry(18:8); jealous (18:9); afraid (18:15, 29); and finally plotted to murder David (19:1). In 1 Samuel 16, just as in Judges 9, the Lord had sent an evil spirit to a man as vengeance for deeds done in direct defiance of God's will. These evil spirits tormented their hosts, bringing out the worst sins in Saul and bringing about the death of Abimelech. In these 2 passages, an evil spirit is a tool of revenge. The evil spirits are commanded by God in their course of vengeance, much like the armies that God sent against his foes. Shaun |
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