God and Evil

1 Samuel 18:5-19:24; Psalm 112; Proverbs 15:12-14

 

“An evil spirit from God” (1 Samuel 18:10). What does that mean? How does that happen? Isn’t God good?

 

Let’s remember the context. Saul had rejected the word of the LORD, so God had rejected him as king (1Sam. 15:26). Despite all that God had done to raise Saul up and bless him, Saul had disobeyed and ignored God’s commands. He had dishonored the One who honored him, and God had now rejected Saul.

 

The first time we’re told about this evil spirit is in 1 Sam. 16:14 – Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. While it’s a bit disturbing that God can even send an evil spirit at all, the clear point that comes out of this verse is that this evil spirit is not God’s Spirit. They are distinct from one another.

 

Another thing we have to remember is that having God’s Spirit was a great blessing for Saul. God’s Spirit gave Saul the capacity to serve as Israel’s king, to defeat their enemies, to rule. These good things came as Saul was in a close relationship with God. So God is good, and it is good to know and love Him.

 

But Saul had rejected God’s words, in effect rejecting God and denying that He is God. So God had left Saul. He had withdrawn His presence, His Spirit. And God now opposed Saul.

 

Some people suppose that God directly sent a demon to Saul. Others suppose that God merely allowed a demon to torment Saul. The troubling thought with both these ideas is that a demon could come from God. By this point, demons served Satan, not God. Right?

 

Some suggest that the word “evil” should be translated “harmful” here. Or perhaps “injurious.” In other words, perhaps the spirit is not an evil spirit (demon) at all. Perhaps it is a spirit loyal to God who afflicts God’s enemies with harm and injury. The spirit was there to torment Saul and, perhaps, to push him to demonstrate his own wickedness, inability to keep control of his own life, and utter lack of righteousness apart from God’s help (1 Sam. 16:14-15; 18:10-12; 19:9-11). I think sometimes we see all the evil things Saul does after this “evil spirit” from God comes upon him and we assume that the evil spirit forces Saul to do them. It may well be that the spirit was simply tormenting Saul by helping him to see how fully God had left him and how fully God was with David, and that Saul’s own rage and evil intentions were the actual reason he tried to pin David down with a spear.

 

But in the end, God is good. Saul had been unfaithful, rebellious, and disobedient despite all God’s blessings. This “evil spirit” from God should not make us conclude that God is evil. Instead, it should remind us that God is God. As God’s servants, we should take our God seriously and seek to obey Him with all our hearts. Rebellion does not receive God’s blessing, but His curse.

 

Father, may I respect You fully and help others to see that their opposition to You will not go unpunished. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). May I warn as many people as possible that they need to love and respect You, before it’s too late!