1 Samuel 16:14

Spirit of the Lord departed. Saul had rejected the Spirit of God — committed the unpardonable sin — and there was nothing more God could do for him (see on ch. 15:35). It was not that the Spirit of Jehovah withdrew from Saul arbitrarily; but rather that Saul rebelled against His guidance, and deliberately withdrew himself from the influence of the Spirit. This must be understood in harmony with Ps. 139:7 and with the fundamental principle of free choice. If God through His Holy Spirit forced Himself upon Saul contrary to his desires, God would be making of the king a mere machine.

From the Lord. The Scriptures sometimes represent God as doing that which He does not specifically prevent. In giving Satan an opportunity to demonstrate his principles, God, in effect, would limit His own power. Of course, there were limits beyond which Satan could not go (see Job 1:12; 2:6), but within his limited sphere he did have divine permission to act. Thus, although his acts are contrary to the divine will, he can do nothing except what God permits him to do, and whatever he and his evil spirits may do, is done with God’s permission. Therefore when God withdrew His own Spirit from Saul (see on 1 Sam. 16:13, 14), Satan was free to have his way.

Troubled him. Josephus describes the malady thus: “As for Saul, some strange and demoniacal disorders came upon him, and brought upon him such suffocations as were ready to choke him” (, Antiquities vi. 8. 2). Evidently a severe melancholia developed as he brooded over the prophet’s announcement that he had forfeited the crown to a man “better” than he was (ch. 15:28). Intermittent possession by the evil spirit led Saul to feel and act something like a demented man.