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Home ARGUMENT LIST Theology – Beliefs about everything Do spirits exist according to the Old Testament?

Do spirits exist according to the Old Testament?

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< STRONG Yes, there are several cases in the Bible where spirits are mentioned.

Take 1 Samuel for example, where Saul has a medium to call Samuel from the grave. Samuel, having died, was a spirit/ghost.

1 Sam 28:13,14 The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said, "I see a spirit coming up out of the ground. "What does he look like?" he asked. "An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

"Evil spirits" are mentioned several times in the OT:

1 Sam 16:14-16 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 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." 

Judges 9:23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech.

Other times spirits are mentioned:

1 Kings 22:21,22 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' And the LORD said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go forth and do so.'

Job 4:15,16 A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice.
"Later on in the book, the Lord rebukes all the counsel of Job's friends. Therefore, based upon the Lord's rejection of their counsel, we know that this was not the Holy Spirit or any messenger of the Lord!!!!! That only leaves one option - this was an evil spirit sent by satan for the very purpose of discouraging Job even further. It was all part of his plan to fulfill what he had said to the Lord and get Job to curse God!"- John Brown, Commentary on Job 4-5.

< STRONG The "evil spirits" may not be spirit beings, but instead dispositions, or moods.

These verses do not necessarily refer to a spirit being, but instead a spirit or disposition of animosity. The Hebrew for "evil" here could mean "troubling" or "displeasing." Therefore, these verses may be telling us that Samuel merely became troubled (having a unpleasant, displeasing spirit/mood), and that in order for him to feel better, he would need someone to play music well- to lift his spirits. This is similar to the "spirit of jealousy" that overcomes a man when his wife is unfaithful (Num 5:12-14); it's a mood/disposition, not a literal being. Further, the evil spirit tormented him in the sense that it was uncomfortable to feel such a way. Understandably, it can be frustrating for you to be in an unhappy, unpleasant mood.

Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem likewise had a troubling spirit between them. This could merely have meant that discord was between them, and does not indicate that an evil spirit being was stirring up trouble.

-JM, http://www.gregboyd.org/qa/spiritual-warfare/what-does-the-bible-mean-when-it-says-god-sent-an-evil-spirit-on-certain-people/

STRONG 1 Kings 22:21 (and 2 Ch 18:20) speaks of an actual spirit coming forward to entice Ahab, being a "lying spirit." 

God wanted to bring judgment against Ahab, so He asked this group of the host of heaven for a volunteer to lead Ahab into battle...Apparently, one of the fallen angels volunteered for this task. Since Ahab wanted to be deceived, God would give him what He wanted, using a willing fallen angel who worked through willing unfaithful prophets.

[Further, this "lying spirit" mentioned in verse 22 is not a mood or disposition, for the spirit says he will be this lying spirit within them.] Even the false prophets may be governed by supernatural or spiritual forces rather than merely human reason. It represents the power of a lie in the mouth of someone opposed to the truth and speaking for his own ends.' (Wiseman).

-David Guzik, Commentary on 1 Kings 22


 

 

Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 June 2011 23:45  

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