evil spirit
1 Samuel 16:14
16:14 evil spirit. It seems strange that God would send an “evil spirit” to trouble Saul. Even though such evil spirits have evidently followed Satan in his rebellion against God, and now have become the fallen “angels that sinned” (II Peter 2:4) or “the devils” (i.e., “demons” in Matthew 8:31), God can still control them when He so wills, and use them to fulfill His purposes. Compare also the “lying spirit” sent by the Lord to “persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead” (I Kings 22:20-23).