April 16, 2008 6:49 AM
Sam wrote:
Great story about the selection of David and God judging not the appearance, but the heart, of men. We have all heard that before. But what I found interesting was the very last verse. In the NIV it says, "Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him." I didn't know that God could send EVIL spirits---I thought they came from Satan. So, I looked at the KJV, which is supposed to be more word-for-word of an earlier translation and found it to be even more explicit: "And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." An 'evil spirit from God'. There it is, in black and white. God sent an evil spirit. If God can, and does, send evil spirits to punish us, get our attention, or for whatever reason, what is Satan's role here? Is Satan actually part of God? I doubt that. But is maybe Satan a TOOL of God...one that God uses for His own purposes. The more I read, the more confused I get. I might say that this wasn't really an evil spirit, it was just God doling out punishment to Saul. BUT, the Bible calls it an evil spirit, and says God sent it. Guess the phrase 'to fear God' takes on a little deeper meaning here. Have you ever fealt that you have been sent an evil spirit for God to punish you for something? It must happen, as it did here for Saul. We usually say that bad things come from Satan, and only good from God. I can see how we can learn to be good from an evil spirit, but I still have difficulty understanding how God sends that evil spirit...He is all love, how can He have evil in Him. Confused? Then tune in next time to Soap....sorry, there I go again (It WAS a great series, though). In order to better understand passages such as this, I think it is important to study out the Word of God a lot more than just a few minutes each day and then blogging about it. Do you guys participate in other Bible studies during the week? I know Tony will occasionally come to a Sunday evening Men's Bible Discussion in the NLCC, but am not sure what you other two do. Do you think it is important to do that? I participate in a thursday evening Bible Study with Junior Miller, his wife, mine, and some other folks...we are learning more and more. I also thoroughly enjoy my Sunday evening discussions....they make it interesting...a great group of guys also on this quest of getting questions answered. A long time ago, in a world far, far away, the ICOC taught us all about not being "Sunday Christians". I took that to heart. Have you? I am not attempting to show myself better than any of you, because I am definitely not, but I want to help you in any way I can. I feel it is my calling to reach out to my best friends and help guide them. Even if it means a rebuke now and then Reply to this
April 16, 2008 6:59 AM
Tony wrote:
God is impossible to understand. Not only does He take His spirit from Saul, but He gives him and evil one instead. Is this how God treats us? If we do not head His word are we filled with an evil spirit? I would answer yes, otherwise how could we do some of the things that we do, surly not if Gods spirit is in us. This passage once again shows that God takes the smallest and youngest, not the biggest and baddest,to do HIs work. God said it Himself, man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. Where is your heart today? With prayer and petition, we can get our hearts right. Have a great day all! Reply to this
Great story about the selection of David and God judging not the appearance, but the heart, of men. We have all heard that before. But what I found interesting was the very last verse. In the NIV it says, "Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him." I didn't know that God could send EVIL spirits---I thought they came from Satan. So, I looked at the KJV, which is supposed to be more word-for-word of an earlier translation and found it to be even more explicit: "And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." An 'evil spirit from God'. There it is, in black and white. God sent an evil spirit. If God can, and does, send evil spirits to punish us, get our attention, or for whatever reason, what is Satan's role here? Is Satan actually part of God? I doubt that. But is maybe Satan a TOOL of God...one that God uses for His own purposes. The more I read, the more confused I get. I might say that this wasn't really an evil spirit, it was just God doling out punishment to Saul. BUT, the Bible calls it an evil spirit, and says God sent it. Guess the phrase 'to fear God' takes on a little deeper meaning here. Have you ever fealt that you have been sent an evil spirit for God to punish you for something? It must happen, as it did here for Saul. We usually say that bad things come from Satan, and only good from God. I can see how we can learn to be good from an evil spirit, but I still have difficulty understanding how God sends that evil spirit...He is all love, how can He have evil in Him. Confused? Then tune in next time to Soap....sorry, there I go again (It WAS a great series, though).
In order to better understand passages such as this, I think it is important to study out the Word of God a lot more than just a few minutes each day and then blogging about it. Do you guys participate in other Bible studies during the week? I know Tony will occasionally come to a Sunday evening Men's Bible Discussion in the NLCC, but am not sure what you other two do. Do you think it is important to do that? I participate in a thursday evening Bible Study with Junior Miller, his wife, mine, and some other folks...we are learning more and more. I also thoroughly enjoy my Sunday evening discussions....they make it interesting...a great group of guys also on this quest of getting questions answered. A long time ago, in a world far, far away, the ICOC taught us all about not being "Sunday Christians". I took that to heart. Have you? I am not attempting to show myself better than any of you, because I am definitely not, but I want to help you in any way I can. I feel it is my calling to reach out to my best friends and help guide them. Even if it means a rebuke now and then
Reply to this
God is impossible to understand. Not only does He take His spirit from Saul, but He gives him and evil one instead. Is this how God treats us? If we do not head His word are we filled with an evil spirit? I would answer yes, otherwise how could we do some of the things that we do, surly not if Gods spirit is in us. This passage once again shows that God takes the smallest and youngest, not the biggest and baddest,to do HIs work. God said it Himself, man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. Where is your heart today? With prayer and petition, we can get our hearts right. Have a great day all!
Reply to this