Satan Myth: Evil Spirits, Unclean Spirits and King Saul's case of Bipolar Disorder

Friends, 

This issue covers the topic of evil spirits and unclean spirits. All the scripture citations are from KJV, unless specified.

Evil / unclean spirits in the Old Testament.

You may be familiar with narrative of King Saul being troubled by an evil spirit, but that is not the first time evil spirit is mentioned in the Bible.

Jdg 9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

One may argue that the word "God", H430 in Strong's lexicon, may even be "fallen angels" or one of the gods of the gentiles. This argument cannot stand scriptural scrutiny as God and LORD are used interchangeably in the narrative about King Saul.

1Sa 16:14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

1Sa 16:15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

1Sa 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 

1Sa 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. 

1Sa 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. 

1Sa 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

Evil spirits are not mentioned anywhere else in the Old Testament. It is unambiguously stated that the evil spirit is sent by the LORD (Jehovah) God (Elohim). Though he was not always violent, King Saul chased David for 15 to 20 years!

The only instance where "unclean spirit" is mentioned in the Old Testament is in Zechariah 13^th chapter.

Zec 13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. 

There is no mention about the source of the unclean spirit.

Did King Saul suffer from Bipolar Disorder?

I am not a man of science or psychiatry, but the behavioral changes of King Saul makes one to wonder whether he suffered from stress, depression or even bipolar disorder. Whenever the so-called evil spirit from God is upon him, if someone played music to him, he is comforted.

1Sa 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

During the 15 to 20 years of Saul pursuing David, as though David were a dog (1Sa 24:14), there were occasions when Saul spoke and behaved endearingly with David.

1Sa 26:17 Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David?...

Such behavioral changes and violent outbursts would make one to wonder whether his was not a case of some kind of mental disorder like bipolar disorder. Please note that whenever music was played to him, the evil spirit used to depart from him. Even these days, music is used to comfort those who are suffering from stress, depression and bipolar disorder.

Continued...

In Christ,

Tomsan Kattackal