In 1 Sam 16:14-15 we read how God allowed an evil spirit to trouble king Saul.

1 Sam 16:14  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing [or evil] spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1 Sam 16:15  And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you.

Why did God send an evil spirit to trouble Saul when we know that God is good?

We should remember that Saul had disobeyed and rejected God.  1 Samuel 15 describes how God commanded Saul to kill every Amalekite – every man, woman, child and animal.  But Saul disobeyed.  Saul’s disobedience plays a part in why God allowed or sent an evil spirit to trouble him, but this doesn’t really explain why God would do such a thing. 

Why did God allow an evil spirit to trouble Saul? Before trying to answer this question, let’s read another passage, where God allowed an evil spirit to trouble another king of Israel.

1 Ki 22:18  And the king of Israel [Ahab] said to Jehoshaphat [king of Judah], “Did I not tell you he [the prophet Micaiah] would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”
1 Ki 22:19  Then Micaiah [the prophet] said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.
1 Ki 22:20  “And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.
1 Ki 22:21  “Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’
1 Ki 22:22  “The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’
1 Ki 22:23  “Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”
How can it be that God would put a lying spirit in the mouth of king Ahab’s prophets?  It says in Titus 1:2 that it is impossible for God to lie.  And yet we see God getting an evil spirit to – so it seems – to do His dirty work.  How do we explain such a thing? 

Why did God allow a lying spirit to trouble king Ahab?

There is also the account of Job – where Satan appears before God.

Job 1:8  Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
Job 1:9  So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
Job 1:10  “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
Job 1:11  “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
Job 1:12  And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Satan proceeds to kill Job’s servants, oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels and all his children!  Why would a loving God allow Satan to do such a thing? 

Why did God allow Satan to trouble Job?

If we consider the cause of all the problems and evils in the world, then we know the cause can be traced back to that fateful day in the Garden of Eden where the serpent tempted Eve to disobey God.  But who let the serpent in?  God did.  God allowed Satan to trouble Adam and Eve.

Why did God allow Satan to trouble Adam and Eve?

When Satan rebelled against God, God could have locked him up then and there.  After all, we know that God will lock Satan up in the millennium, so God could have locked Satan up the moment he rebelled. 

So why didn’t God lock Satan up the moment he rebelled? 

Why does God allow Satan to trouble the world?  If we can answer this question then we will be able to the answer the question, why did God allow evil spirits to trouble people?

Before trying to understand such Scriptures, we need to remind ourselves what God is really like.  God is good, holy, just, loving, merciful, and righteous.  There are many, many scriptures which tell us this.  The book of Psalms is packed with them.  Here is one example.

Psa 86:15  But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.

The Hebrew word translated gracious comes from a word meaning: to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior.  This gives a wonderful picture of God’s goodness.

So, why does God who is so good, kind and merciful allow Satan to trouble the world?  Ultimately, it’s for our good.

We see that in the case of Job, as a result of his suffering, he came to know God; he became converted. 

God allows us to suffer trials and difficulties – sometimes at the hand of Satan – so that we can become more like God.  God allowed Satan to trouble the apostle Paul – for his own good.

2 Cor 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

For those God is calling now, God allows trials and difficulties – sometimes at the hand of Satan – for our own good.

What about the rest of the world, those who are not Christians?  How does experiencing evil now help them?  God in His wisdom is allowing mankind in general to experience firsthand the natural consequences of breaking His laws – the misery, suffering, and unhappiness – so that when God resurrects them in the second resurrection and they experience firsthand the natural consequences of obedience to His laws – joy, happiness and peace – they will make the right choice.

With these things in mind, let’s revisit our earlier questions.

Why did God allow an evil spirit to trouble king Saul?  It was for his own good.  We aren’t told how it helped him but maybe it helped him realise what a terrible mistake he had made in disobeying and rejecting God.

Why did God allow a lying spirit to trouble king Ahab?  Ultimately it is for his own good.  When he’s resurrected there will be valuable lessons for him to learn from it.

Why did God allow Satan to trouble Job?  For his own good – so that he could become converted through his suffering.

Why did God allow Satan to trouble Adam and Eve and why does God allow Satan to trouble the world?  Ultimately it is for the good of mankind, so that in the second resurrection, having experienced both Satan’s way and God’s way they will make the right choice and choose life.