Day1
Week27
1 Samuel 16
“Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord terrified him.”
1 Samuel 16:14 MEV
https://bible.com/bible/1171/1sa.16.14.MEV Cross references
Judges9:23;
1 Samuel 18:10
From Conviction to Grief
There is no evil in God. 1 John 1:5, “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” Additionally, “God is love,” and “God…cannot lie,” (1 John 4:16, Titus 1:2).
1 Samuel 16:14 reads, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.”
The word evil is Strong’s word H7451, “rah.” It occurs 663 times in the Old Testament and does have the thought of evil but it also is translated as affliction, adversity, grievous, sore, and sad – depending on the context. Consider the following two examples:
Nehemiah 2:2 (CSB), “…the king said to me (Nehemiah), “Why are you sad (rah), when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but sadness (same root word) of heart.”
Proverbs 15:10, “Correction is grievous (rah) unto him that forsaketh the way…”
These two scriptures illustrate that “rah” can mean sad or grievous – something that hurts the heart. So when God withdrew His spirit of guidance and blessing from Saul, because Saul openly defied Him, Saul felt great loss.
Whenever we lose God’s favor due to our sins, God desires us to feel remorse and grief. Through experience, we learn to supremely value God’s will and recognize the great error of disobedience. It is our guilty consciences and (usually temporary) loss of our heart communion with our Father that causes this spirit of sadness and grief.
Therefore, 1 Samuel 16:14 may be understood as meaning – the loving, guiding spirit of God left Saul, and God sent correction causing Saul to have a spirit of remorse and sadness.
(Bible resources. Info)
Have you ever disobeyed God?
How did you feel?
Have you ever slid into a state of backsliding?
When there is no repentance, the heart grows cold and eventually hard. This condition can be quite uncomfortable and even tormenting.
God in His mercy allows this and yes even sends it to us in order that we would long for His presence and return.
If ignored long enough, God turns us over to a reprobate mind. (Romans 1:28)
Action Step
Consider your ways and examine your heart.
If you are feeling remorse or sadness about something, you are in good shape and can repent.
Do it quickly while you are still able and return to God.
He is waiting with open arms.
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