Evil Spirit from God?

"Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him." 1 Samuel 16:14

When I first read this I must admit I was in disbelief. "God wouldn't send an evil spirit! That's not God, that must be the Enemy!" As I read further, however, I learned that God had used evil spirits before and will again in the future. In the book of Judges, "After Abimelech had governed Israel three years, God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Schechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech." Judges 9:22-23 In 1 Kings 22:22, God sent a lying spirit "to entice Ahab (King of Israel) into attacking Ramoth Gilead where he died there." And in 2 Thes 2:9-12 Paul foretells of God sending "a powerful delusion," so that those who remain in the end times will believe the lie of Satan and not believe in the truth of God.

Saul did not realize when God sent the evil spirit to torment him that David had been anointed to be the next king of Israel. Saul summoned David to play his harp in order to ease his torment; however, God had already arranged events such that David could be close to Saul so that he might learn kingship and be visible to the people of Israel. The evil spirit was used by God to shape natural events and move forward God's plan of redemption which would be fulfilled by Christ Jesus through the royal line of David!

My prayer. Father, you are the author of our salvation and you alone are in control of the natural and the supernatural. I pray that we can be useful to you in shaping your kingdom just as Saul and David were in Samuel's day. Make us today your servants. Hone our skills and prepare us to do your will on earth. Help us to be your hands and feet, the conduit between the supernatural and the natural worlds. Make us more in your image and less in ours as we serve you with gladness. I Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Hannah's Prayer

"Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

"There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

"Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

"The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.

She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
"The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.

The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.

"For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's;
upon them he has set the world.
He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.

"It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.
He will thunder against them from heaven;
the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

"He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed." 1 Samuel 2:1-10

God is in control no matter what the circumstances no matter how it feels. He is always right, and always on time. "Be still and know I am God", the bible says. It is very easy to say but difficult to practice. We want our prayers answered our way and on our schedule. But we must understand that the Creator of the universe who knew us before we were conceived, has a better plan, one that serves his Kingdom.

In the midst of our trials and our tribulations, we like Hannah (Samuel's mother), must understand that we serve God and that he does not serve us. He loves us and will always be there no matter what we must endure. Thank you Father for your grace and mercy and please forgive our selfishness and let YOUR will be done! Amen