Puritan Sailor
Puritan Board Doctor
I've been reading through the Gospels lately in preparation for a sermon series. And it struck me that so many during the time of Jesus struggled with demon possession, even Jews, those among the people of God. When did this become a problem? I don't recall any examples of this in the OT (except perhaps King Saul, 1 Sam 18:10, or the false prophets mentioned in 1 Kings 22:21-22, though the term "possession" is not used). How could so many among the covenant people of God be possessed by demons? How did that possession occur? I could understand how it might occur in a pagan worship context where such demonic communion is sought out, but not necessarily in the visible church of that time. And why do the incidents of that phenomena seem to burst at that period of history (at least in the redemptive historical presentation of it)? Appreciate any insights.