=Upbeat Dad;6654521]As Catholic Christians, we know our Lord to be a God of infinite love and mercy, from whom all goodness flows. The Church’s teachings on Hell and Purgatory include images of an all-good Good in whose presence can be nothing evil or unclean. That’s why there are separate “places” from Heaven that are not in the Beatific Vision. God is purity itself. With that in mind, does anyone know how we should read Old Testament passages like 1 Samuel 16:14-16, where Saul is said to receive an evil spirit from the Lord? Saul has already fallen out of favor with God; we hear about that in previous chapters, but this passage speaks of Saul being overcome by an evil spirit* from God*. It’s the “from God” piece that I do not understand. I could understand if Saul, having fallen out of favor with God, were then overcome with an evil spirit from Satan. That would be a possible consequence of Saul’s turning away from God. But surely a God who is goodness itself does not manifest evil.
1 Sam. 16: 14- Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. [15] And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. [16] Let our lord now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is skilful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”
**Matt. 12: 43 -45 **“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. Then he says, `I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; [if permitted by that person] and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.”
This story in Matthew explains the Mind and Will of God. A serious sinner such as
unrepentant king Saul, is supernaturally prone not simply to repeat the same sins; he is likely to add to them.
The sins are NOT from God;
BUT ONLY permitted BY GOD, who can only do “GOOD.” Our souls might be compard to an apartment bldg. God desires “full God - filled” Occupancy. But if we chose to deny God His Will, the space available will be usurped by Satan.
God permits evil so that we CAN REPENT, turn back to Him, and be saved.
