Ch. 1 - Giving whole life to God Ch. 1 - Crying out to God Ch. 2 - Valuing God Ch. 3 - Hearing God’s voice Ch Valuing the presence of God Ch. 7 - Holiness Ch. 7 - Gratitude and commitment Ch. 7 - Intercession Ch. 8 - Choosing God as king Ch Calling Ch Right fear of God Ch Disobedience Ch God looks at the heart

1 Samuel the story so far.... Samuel grows up to lead Israel As Samuel grows old the people want him to anoint a king God leads Samuel to Saul Saul tries to go his own way and wants God to help him God tells Samuel he needs a king who seeks God’s heart The boy David is chosen to be the next king

1 Samuel Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How can God send an evil spirit? How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? What can we learn from this passage?

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Assume Bible is flawed God cannot/would not send evil Evil does not exist Unravelling of faith

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Ignore parts we don’t like Assume Bible is flawed God sending an evil spirit

1 Samuel Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the lyre. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes on you, and you will feel better.” 17 So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.” 18 One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine–looking man. And the LORD is with him.”

1 Samuel One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine–looking man. And the LORD is with him.” 19 Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

1 Samuel David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armour–bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” 23 Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Ignore parts we don’t like Assume Bible is flawed God sending an evil spirit God not the author of evil Ephesians 6: 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Ignore parts we don’t like Assume Bible is flawed God sending an evil spirit God not the author of evil Luke 11: 17 Jesus said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Ignore parts we don’t like Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts Assume Bible is flawed

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How can God send an evil spirit? Evil can be translated harmful An ambiguous translation? Sense is of a spirit that does bad things “evil”? Not of Satan or demonic Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. “A spirit of evilness” A spirit that does or causes evil/harm Not a spirit that is pure evil “evil” or “harmful”? “evil spirit”? How can God send an evil spirit? An ambiguous translation? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit originated in God because created by God but now fallen and free or A spirit sent to Saul from God “from” “evil spirit” or “spirit of evilness” “evil” or “harmful”? How can God send an evil spirit? An ambiguous translation? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? How can God send an evil spirit? An ambiguous translation? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts Does the rest of the Bible help us?

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? Does the rest of the Bible help us? Bible talks of vacuum created by departing spirit raises risk of bad spirits filling in Luke 11: 24 “When an evil spirit comes out of anyone, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” How can God send an evil spirit? An ambiguous translation? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? Does the rest of the Bible help us? Jesus talks of vacuum created by departing spirit raises risk of bad spirits filling in Luke 11: How can God send an evil spirit? An ambiguous translation? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? Does the rest of the Bible help us? Jesus talks of vacuum created by departing spirit raises risk of bad spirits filling in God uses harmful forces to his own righteous ends For judgement or to prompt repentance How can God send an evil spirit? An ambiguous translation? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? Because Saul had allowed the spirit of God to depart he was troubled by a harmful spirit, created with freedom, by God How can God send an evil spirit? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? Because Saul had allowed the spirit of God to depart he was troubled by a harmful spirit, created with freedom, by God God sent trouble on Saul to.... punish him God sent trouble on Saul to.... punish him How can God send an evil spirit? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? Because Saul had allowed the spirit of God to depart he was troubled by a harmful spirit, created with freedom, by God God sent trouble on Saul to.... punish him cause him to repent God sent trouble on Saul to.... punish him cause him to repent How can God send an evil spirit? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? Because Saul had allowed the spirit of God to depart he was troubled by a harmful spirit, created with freedom, by God God sent trouble on Saul to.... punish him cause him to repent cause him to meet David God sent trouble on Saul to.... punish him cause him to repent cause him to meet David How can God send an evil spirit? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. A spirit created by God?Or sent by God? Because Saul had allowed the spirit of God to depart he was troubled by a harmful spirit, created with freedom, by God God sent trouble on Saul to.... punish him cause him to repent cause him to meet David God sent trouble on Saul to.... punish him cause him to repent cause him to meet David But which? How can God send an evil spirit? Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts

How can we trust a book that at times is hard or uncertain to understand?

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Assume Bible is flawed Ignore parts we don’t like Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts Assume Bible is flawed

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Assume Bible is flawed Ignore parts we don’t like Try to interpret the difficult parts through Jesus and the majority texts Trust God for the parts we don’t understand Assume Bible is flawed

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Trust God for the parts we don’t understand God of creation knows what he is doing Scripture for different ages culturessituations

Complexity removes complacency arrogance 1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Trust God for the parts we don’t understand God of creation knows what he is doing Scripture for different ages culturessituations

Complexity removes complacency arrogance 1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. How do we cope with apparently contradictory scriptures that we don’t like or understand? Trust God for the parts we don’t understand God of creation knows what he is doing Scripture for different ages culturessituations Complexity creates study hidden depthshumility

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. What can we learn from this passage? It is a fearful thing to forsake God’s call on our lives (call is different from salvation)

1 Samuel 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. What can we learn from this passage? It is a fearful thing to forsake God’s call on our lives It is a good thing to bring comfort to those tormented by their sin