Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 16-17 NET, Ch. 18-20 NKJV

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Thoughts

“14Now the Spirit of the Lord had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. 15 Then Saul’s servants said to him, “Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!” ~1 Samuel 16:14-15 NET

An evil spirit from the Lord? God is not the author of evil. Therefore there could not be an evil spirit from the Lord. This is an example of a faulty translation. Several translations use this word, but other translations say “an injurious spirit” or a tormenting spirit. The notes in this translation (NET) say, “The  Hebrew word translated “evil” may refer to the character of the spirit or to its effect upon Saul. If the latter, another translation option might be “a mischief-making spirit.’ 

I also like the NKJV’s translation here: a distressing spirit.

It’s been said that if you live long enough, you will have regrets. Regrets are often times caused by sin. Could be the sin of commission, or could be the sin of omission. We regret what we  have done, or what we haven’t done. I’m sixty-six, and I have lived long enough to have regrets. And some of those regrets have caused distress. I have lost sleep over them. Or to use one of the other words I referenced earlier, I have been tormented by some of the regrets in my life. 

Imagine the regrets Saul must have had in losing God’s anointing? To think that he was God’s chosen to lead God’s people, and then to have that taken away because of bad decisions? I have an inkling of how tormented he must have been. 

Regrets can be good if they cause us to confess the sin that brought them on. I’m so thankful that God has provided a way to put our regrets behind us. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”