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K
The word translated as "evil" has a lot of meanings, not all of which mean moral evil. For instance, it can be used to describe destruction:
Here, the word is translated as "trouble."
Here, the word is "painful."
It might be best to translate the word in 1 Samuel as "malevolent" or "punishing," considering its function. It was not sent to do moral evil but to bring about ruin. Of course, this is still troubling.
Here, the word is translated as "trouble."
Here, the word is "painful."
It might be best to translate the word in 1 Samuel as "malevolent" or "punishing," considering its function. It was not sent to do moral evil but to bring about ruin. Of course, this is still troubling.
God does not give a person an evil spirit.
God allowed the evil spirit to come upon Saul because of his disobedience.
The love that Jesus showed while on earth is the same love that applies now.
God never touches people for evil but only good,but if a person is not on God's side,then they do not have His protection,and God will allow them to go through trouble,but will never touch them for evil Himself.
God allowed the evil spirit to come upon Saul because of his disobedience.
The love that Jesus showed while on earth is the same love that applies now.
God never touches people for evil but only good,but if a person is not on God's side,then they do not have His protection,and God will allow them to go through trouble,but will never touch them for evil Himself.
Some people are not going to like this answer, but some things are true whether we like it or not.
Different Old Testament writers had different beliefs about God and spirits. In the particular book of the Bible you are referencing, the writer only believed in Monotheism in the strictest sense. They did not believe in any spirits other than the true God! Of course, we know that there are evil spirits, usually called demons, but for the writer to explain demonic activity without the use of demons could only be described as a spirit having been sent by God. Now we know that God would never send a demon to anyone, but he may allow a demon to go to a person, maybe even take possession of them, therefore, it is reasonable to say that this was, in fact, a demon, not sent by God, but allowed by Him.
Hope that helps
Different Old Testament writers had different beliefs about God and spirits. In the particular book of the Bible you are referencing, the writer only believed in Monotheism in the strictest sense. They did not believe in any spirits other than the true God! Of course, we know that there are evil spirits, usually called demons, but for the writer to explain demonic activity without the use of demons could only be described as a spirit having been sent by God. Now we know that God would never send a demon to anyone, but he may allow a demon to go to a person, maybe even take possession of them, therefore, it is reasonable to say that this was, in fact, a demon, not sent by God, but allowed by Him.
Hope that helps
S
I have read that before Christianity, Jews thought of the devil and his cohorts as tools used by God to test us and strengthen our faith. When Christianity was established the devil took on more of a role of opposite God, the supreme evil, anti-God. I am not trying to defend the devil in any way, but if you take into account that the devil has no authority and God is sovereign, then where do any of these evil spirits come from?
2 Chronicles 18:18-22 [ESV] - And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The LORD has declared disaster concerning you."
We see in this instance that God sends a lying spirit which many would consider evil. I believe that God does send evil spirits, and if he doesn't directly send them then he allows them to go. This was hard for me to accept at first, but then I remembered that I am being refined, and all the evil spirits I have overcome have made me 10x stronger than I was before.
2 Chronicles 18:18-22 [ESV] - And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.' Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets. The LORD has declared disaster concerning you."
We see in this instance that God sends a lying spirit which many would consider evil. I believe that God does send evil spirits, and if he doesn't directly send them then he allows them to go. This was hard for me to accept at first, but then I remembered that I am being refined, and all the evil spirits I have overcome have made me 10x stronger than I was before.
