“The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spearin his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.” 1 Samuel 18.10-16
It is shocking to hear that an evil spirit of the Lord came forcefully on Saul. Does God send evil spirits? Does He allow evil to reign in His presence? I like to think that Saul committed sins that were evil and that God allowed the evil spirit to descend upon him. Saul’s past and present life choices made him an easy target for evil.
In comparison, Scripture tells us that the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. Again, I don’t believe God arbitrarily sends good and evil spirits to whomever He wishes; rather, our actions, invitations, or rejections as humans help determine this outcome. What we do matters, if we sin, we invite evil. If we seek God in sanctification, we receive His blessing.
As a result, David experienced great success, while Saul was filled with anxiety. This dynamic will continue to unfold throughout the rest of the book. Instead of fearing God, Saul feared David because of his success. Saul’s prior rejection of and disobedience to the Lord led him to a place where an evil spirit resided upon him.
The good news is this: Jesus came to defeat sin and evil. Through Christ, we now have the ability to choose whether we will walk in the fear of God or the fear of man. We have the opportunity to seek holiness or to indulge in the sinful pleasures of this world. What we choose will determine our outcome. If we choose Jesus, He will place His Holy Spirit within us, enabling us to live in fellowship with God and walk in the purity of His ways.
I have been a Christian since I was 17, 38 years now when I had my heart-warming experience and trusted Christ as my Lord and Savior. I have grown in holiness. I have battled and continue to battle sin. But the Holy Spirit lives within me, guiding me, loving me, and protecting me from the presence of evil, helping me to live for God. My free will has not been taken away. No, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.”
It is our charge and responsibility to live with and for God, to seek the Lord while He may be found, to trust in Him as our shield and protector.
And so, will you this day strive to do good and not evil? Will you seek to live for God and love Him and others so that the world may know Him? Turn to Him, and you will find Him willing to love you and fill you with His power, presence, and love.
“O Lord God, in the midst of so much opportunity, You have called us to seek Your face, to call upon Your name, and to love Your ways. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with Your power and love. Help me walk in obedience and, like David, to do good for You. I love you Lord and praise you. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen