Troubled Soul, 1 Samuel, Part 28

God’s plan from the very beginning was to have a human son who would king who would represent his rule over all things. God created Adam for that purpose and gave him responsibility. God created all human beings in his likeness to represent him in ruling the earth. They are to image God; to reflect his glory — rule over creation. To be fruitful and multiply.  As they fill the earth, the whole earth will be filled with image bearers and the glory of God.

Very early Adam fails in his responsibility. This is the first instance of exile in the Bible. In judging the serpent we learn because of Adam’s sin, a competing line of offsprings are introduced into the earth. The children of the serpent and the children of God will be in perpetual conflict. Both will come from the woman.  But we also see that a child of the woman will crush the serpent.

As the Old Testament unfolds it is looking for this child.  Even in Genesis 4, Eve thinks it’s Abel, but as the story unfolds we see that it is not. So the question is, who will be born to the woman and defeat the serpent and the serpent’s offspring?

When we get to Genesis 12 we learn that this godly seed will be born to Abraham. The whole world will be blessed depending on how they respond to this seed of Abraham. From Abraham God chose one nation out of all the nations of the earth.  God owns everything but he chose this one nation, Israel, to be his treasured possession that will display his rule over the whole world.

Judges exposes that even though God was king, they did what was right in their own eyes. Instead of choosing a king that God had promised they wanted a king just like every other nation.  So God turns them over to their own desires and gives them Saul. But God is faithful to his promises and he raises up David as his king, a human son, to represent his rule over all things.

1 Samuel 16:14-23 (ESV)

The author commences with these ominous words: “Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him” - 1 Samuel 16:14 (ESV). In the previous verse the Spirit of God came on to David and anointed him for leadership.  Now we read the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.  If that isn’t bad enough we are accosted with these unbelievable words “a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.”  For the average reader that should either sound simply wrong.

Even Saul’s servants recognized this: “ And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you” -  1 Samuel 16:15 (ESV).  This ought to jolt every notion and every concept we have of God.  Could God send a “harmful” spirit to torment someone?  Just in case we think that perhaps the author simply erred in this place, we read it again in Chapters 18:10; and 19:9.

Saul’s servants believed that nice music was in order.  So Saul ordered that it would be done. His servants suggested calling David who was known to be a skilled musician. “And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.”  What an interesting story is emerging.  Saul received permission to keep David in his employment, and “whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him” -1 Samuel 16:23 (ESV).

God wasn’t tempting Saul with the evil spirit; he sent it as an act of judgment in response to Saul’s stubborn rebellion. Saul had committed wilful acts of rebellion. This was not a permanent oppression as we have noted.  God used the evil spirit to affect a change in his life.  It is even an act of grace that permitted the music of David to bring temporary comfort. Scripture plainly teaches that God uses the entire spiritual world for his purposes (Judges 9:23; 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1; and Luke 22:31).

The evil spirit which tormented Saul was maliciously willing to torment him, but it could not have done so unless it was allowed by God. Hebrew writers were very cognizant about this.  Unlike the modern Church in Canada, the Old Testament makes no apology for admitting that even behind the arm of evil is the hand of a sovereign God.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face. [1]

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1. God Moves in Mysterious Ways, Benjamin Brainard | William Cowper © 2015 Brainard, Benjamin