- evil spirit:
- The evil spirit was either sent immediately from the Lord, or permitted to come; but whether this was a diabolic possession, or a mere mental malady, is not agreed. It seems to have partaken of both. That Saul had fallen into a deep melancholy, there is little doubt; and that an evil spirit might work more effectually on such a state of mind, there can be little question. His malady appears to have been of a mixed kind, natural and diabolical. There is too much of apparent nature in it to permit us to believe it was all spiritual; and there is too much of apparently supernatural influence, to suffer us to believe it was all natural. "And it came to pass¹ on the morrow,ª¹ that the evilª spiritª from Godª cameª° upon¹ Saul,ª and he prophesiedª° in the midstª of the house:ª and Davidª playedª° with his hand,ª as at other times:ª and [there was] a javelinª in Saul'sª hand.ª" {1Sm 18:10} + "And the evilª spiritª from the LORDª was¹ upon¹ Saul,ª as he¹ satª° in his houseª with his javelinª in his hand:ª and Davidª playedª° with [his] hand.ª ... And Saulª soughtª° to smiteª° Davidª even to the wallª with the javelin;ª but he slipped awayª° out of Saul's² presence,ª¹¹ and he smoteª°¹ the javelinª into the wall:ª and Davidª fled,ª° and escapedª° that¹ night.ª" {1Sm 19:9-10} + "Then Godª sentª° an evilª spiritª between¹ Abimelechª and the menª of Shechem;ª and the menª of Shechemª dealt treacherouslyª° with Abimelech:ª" {Jdg 9:23} + "And the LORDª saidª° unto¹ him, Wherewith?¹ And he said,ª° I will go forth,ª° and I will be¹ a lyingª spiritª in the mouthª of all¹ his prophets.ª And he said,ª° Thou shalt persuadeª° [him], and prevailª° also:¹ go forth,ª° and doª° so.¹" {1Kg 22:22} + "Andª the¹ evilª spiritª answeredª° and said,ª° Jesusª I know,ª° andª Paulª I know;ª° butª whoª areª° ye?ª ... Andª the¹ manª inª whomª the¹ evilª spiritª wasª° leapedª° onª them,ª andª overcameª° them,ª and prevailedª° againstª them,ª so² that¹ they fledª° out ofª thatª houseª nakedª andª wounded.ª°" {Act 19:15-16}
|
