By: Robert Serreyn

Question? Why did God give King Saul a Evil Spirit?

(1 Samuel 16:14)  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Answer:

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit CAME UPON those who were saved FOR POWER to do the WILL OF GOD.
The Holy Spirit DID NOT indwell those believers PERMANENTLY like he does today.

(1 Corinthians 12:13)  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

(Ephesians 1:13)  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.

(Ephesians 4:5, 30)  One Lord, one faith, one baptism. (30)  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

What is then meant by V14 of 1st Samuel “an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him”

I believe it simply means God ALLOWED him to be GUIDED or CONTROLLED by his Old SINFUL nature.

(Galatians 5:17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Being the fact the Holy Spirit had left, King Saul ONLY had his Old Nature.

Wrong or confusing interpretations:

I have found that MOST commentaries suggest that King Saul had been possessed by a demon or Satan himself, but I DISAGREE with that interpretation for it WOULD CONTRADICT.

1 John 4:4 that states:

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

BEFORE some smarty pants jumps on the bandwagon and says but Saul lived in OT times and did not have the Holy Spirit INDWELLING all the time in him, let me say this,You would have to be SUGGESTING that God makes people get possessed by demons, which would CONTRADICT the Word of God.

(1 Corinthians 14:33)  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Demons and Satan CAN OPPRESS and CAUSE HAVOC in the christians life IF PERMITTED by God.

Job is the PERFECT EXAMPLE of this…

(Job 1:1,6 – 20)  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. (6)  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. (7)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. (8)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (9)  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought. (10)  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (11)  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. (12)  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. (13)  And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: (14)  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: (15)  And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (16)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (17)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (18)  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: (19)  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (20)  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.

In Conclusion:

God ALLOWED King Saul to be his OWN WORSE ENEMY, and let him YEILD to his old nature by CHOICE.
(Ephesians 5:18)  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
The word FILL denotes and suggest the meaning of CONTROL, the believer is to be CONTROLLED BY(filled) with the Holy Spirit.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH