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NASB | 1 Samuel 18:10 ¶ Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul's hand. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Samuel 18:10 ¶ Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul, and he raved [madly] inside his house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and there was a spear in Saul's hand. |
Bible Question:
In 1 Samuel 18:10 - the NIV bible refers to an "evil spirit from God." I asked my pastor about this, and he said in some translations of the bible, it is referred to as an injurious spirit from God. I was really disturbed by this verse. Is it possible that anything of God could be evil? I wish I understood Hebrew fluently so I could understand the true meaning of this verse. I understand that God sometimes used angels to administer punishment, to fight battles, and to deliver messages. Is it possible that he also used them to torment people on earth? |
Bible Answer: Greetings geezyweezy! Prayon gave an excellent answer. Here is a little more to add to that.. From 1 Samuel 16:14.. "16:14 the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul. When David's ascent to the throne began, Saul's slow and painful descent began also (cf. 18:12). Without God's empowering Holy Spirit, Saul was effectively no longer king over Israel (15:28), although his physical removal from the throne, and his death, happened many years later. 'a distressing spirit.' (emphasis mine) God, in His sovereignty, allowed an evil spirit to torment Saul (cf. Judg. 9:23; 1 Kin. 22:19-23; Job 1:6-12) for His purpose of establishing the throne of David. This spirit, a messenger from Satan, is to be distinguished from a troubled emotional state brought on by indwelling sin, or the harmful consequences of the sinful acts of others (e.g., spirit of jealousy, Num. 5:14). This demon spirit attacked Saul from without, for there is no evidence that the demon indwelt Saul. 'troubled him.' (emphasis mine) Saul, whose inward constitution was already prone to questionable judgment and the fear of men, began to experience God's judgment in the form of severe bouts of depression, anger, and delusion, initiated and aggravated by the evil spirit assigned to him. There are several NT occasions where God turned people over to demons or Satan for judgment (see Acts 5:1-3; 1 Cor. 5:1-7; 1 Tim. 1:18-20). He also used Satan or demons for the strengthening of the saints. See Job 1:1-2:6; Matt. 4:1ff.; Luke 22:31,32; 2 Cor. 12:7-10." (1) From 1 Samuel 18:10.. "18:10 the distressing spirit. The painful descent and eventual demise of Saul was marked by the persistent vexing of this spirit. 'prophesied.' This means to speak before people, not predict the future. Saul's speeches in the midst of the house were the ravings of one troubled by an evil spirit like other false prophets (cf. 1 Kin. 22:19-23)." (1) (1) - taken from the MacArthur NKJV Study Bible, 1997 Word Publishing, pages 401, 405 and 406. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for 1 Sam 18:10 | Author | ||
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geezyweezy | ||
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geezyweezy | ||
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prayon | ||
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Makarios | ||
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mare4christ | ||
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ceejay |