But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 1 Samuel 16:14-16
In this set of verses the writer states 3 times that King Saul was sent an evil spirit from God. Much attention was paid to evil spirits in both the old and new testament. Mary Magdalene had 7 demons cast out of her by Jesus. The question becomes why and how a perfect god could create and inflict people with evil spirits. Jesus reportably went about casting out evil spirits that his Father, God had "sent".
Modern day neo-pentecostalism is very much about the practice of calling out and "casting out" evil spirits from people. Implying demon possession and then claiming exorcism has been a church practice for 2,000 years. In the above story of King Saul the evil spirit leaves Saul when David is brought in to play the harp in Saul's presence. Demon possession was inferred in mental illness in biblical times.
How can a perfect god be the source of "evil spirits"? Jesus actively participated in exorcising people of "demons" that the jews understood came from God, thus making God both the source of good and evil in these ancient teachings. Much confusion exists today in the church over demon possession and satan as the source of physical and mental illness even though modern medicine is usually able to explain diseases as the source of illness and does not accuse people of demon possession as an explanation of illness. Does god allow people to become ill? Does god still send evil spirits into people? God takes responsibility for creating satan and then allowing him to tempt Eve and spread evil within mankind's experience. Where does evil come from? Could god prevent it if he wanted to and spare people suffering and death by illness and war? If so? Why does he permit so much suffering if he is all knowing and perfect ?
