Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 4/4/2005

Question
Hi
I was also taught that nothing evil comes from the Lord. In 1st Samuel 16-14 it says an evil spirit was sent by the Lord to Saul also in 1st Samuel 18-10.
Can you explain this to me
Thanks,
Sydney

Answer
Hi Sydney,

Thanks for this great question.  I believe that another passage that will help us understand this concept is found in Job.

Job 1:6-12
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.  

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Job 2:1-5


Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.  4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

We see here that Satan or his demons cannot touch a believer unless God allows them to do so...  I believe that what happened in 1 Samuel 16 & 18 is that God simply allowed the evil to do what it wanted to do in the first place.  King Saul rebelled against God's commandments and therefore he could not expect to be protected from evil any longer.  

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ,
Pastor Don