Daily Dose of God's Word For 5-15
Memory Verse: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18
Read 1 Samuel 16
God Thought
Before, I had even consumed my first cup of caffeine; my wife was
demanding of me; "How can God send an evil spirit.? It doesn't
make sense!" And wanted an answer right now!
How do we deal with this difficult passage? And how do we deal
with all the thorny issues, around being open to the Holy Spirit and
discerning about the questionable practices of some?
- Seek the Spirit's Help?
God reveals himself to us through the Bible and these word come
from the Spirit. "these are the things God has revealed to us by his
Spirit. "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of
God." 1 Corinthians 2:10 So I first simply in prayer ask the Holy Spirit
to quiet me from all I think I know and please teach me what I need to
know.
2.Seek other translations of the Text
Just as there are times we understand something when when
someone says it again in a slightly different way, so sometimes
reading a different translation makes the passage more clear. There
are many different translations and they are easy to find online at
Bible gateway.com and biblehub.com.
Unless you are a linguist of ancient Hebrew and have spent a lifetime
in translation work, your time best spent looking at the work of those
who have done the "heavy lifting".
The two translations that should give us pause for this difficulty are
Young's Literal Translation which chose a spirit of sadness to
express the Hebrew. Also, the Interlinear Hebrew Bible chose a Spirit
that distressed Saul.
3. Seek the context
Context is what comes before and after a troubling passage, that
gives the whole story. The context of this passage is that God had
sent His Spirit upon Saul when he became king but after multiple
instances of choosing disobedience and sin, God rejected Saul from
being king and selected a new king, named David, upon whom God
sent His Spirit. Does the context suggest that God gave Saul what he
sought? Evil and rebellion?
4. Seek others Scriptures
In sending this spirit, does it mean that God is the source of “evil”
things? That God is "evil"? Or does it mean God allows "evil" or
distressing spirit to bring us to repentance? James chapter one
verses thirteen through 15, answer this for us. I see Romans chapter
one verse twenty-four as a key in understanding the Holy Spirit's
dealing with Saul. The rest of Romans chapter one, tells us, God,
often deals with rebellion, by giving us what we want, that we may
grow sick of it.
Our Triune God is so complex, we will never understand all of the
mysteries, for this, makes Him God! But, He gives enough light, for
the next step in our journey of faith!
If you desire to learn more here are two articles on the internet I found
helpful;
Lord, I am open to the Holy Spirit. Come to me,
dwell in me, speak to me so I may become
more like Christ. Lord, give me the courage to be
open. Lord, I am open to the Holy Spirit. Come,
Holy Spirit. Amen.
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