Harmful Spirit From The LORD

Last night my pastor asked me to look up and study what or why or how “harmful spirit from the LORD” means in 1 Samuel 19:9. We’re studying about Biblical characters as a church and this week’s character is Jonathan. This verse really intrigued me and as I’ve been thinking quite a lot about sovereignty of God it intrigued me more.

First verse that popped into my head as my pastor was telling me about the "harmful spirit from the LORD" was “I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.” - Ecclesiastes 14 - 15.

I started looking into more about the sovereignty of God. I came across these verses.

Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,..

What are these “All things”?

Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Psalm 44:11 You have made us (God’s people) like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations.

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Exodus 4:11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

2 Samuel 12:15 And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick.

1 Samuel 2:7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.

1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

James 4:15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Hebrews 12:4-7 (Persecution) In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

2 Timothy 2:25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

Philippians 1:29 For it (salvation from God) has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

1 Samuel 2:6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

Acts 4:27-28 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

God governs all, from the least to the biggest, from death to life, damnation to salvation.

Isaiah 46:10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

God saves for His name’s sake. God’s grace is based on His love for His own name, to preserve and display His glory. If we repentant sinners look upon Him for mercy and lean on His name, He will honor his name and those who lean on it. It pleases Him to make us His own people.

1 Samuel 12:22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.