In the Church today, we see ourselves having one enemy and one enemy alone, Satan or The Devil. We don’t see other spirits mentioned in the Bible as other enemies, such as Beelzebul or Leviathan. We see all spirits as the same being, unlike the early Church and our Forefathers of the faith. One of the most overlooked enemies of the Church is Belial. In the Bible, Paul even asks what Christ and Belial have in common. We’ve read his name once or twice, but we have no idea who he is or how to identify him. In fact, most of us just categorize Belial as another name for Satan or Lucifer, but are they the same being? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to find the Truth behind this ominous spirit in our video, The Spirit of Belial.
The Spirit of Belial
Some Traits of The Sons (Children) of Belial in The Bible
Throughout the Bible, specifically the Old Testament, the LORD gives us examples of the Sons or Children of Belial and their characteristics or actions. In other words, people with these different kinds of character traits often suffer from these flaws are often oppressed by a spirit of Belial.
They Are Evil
12 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What evil is this that has taken place among you? 13 Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel.” But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel.
Judges 20:12-13
They Are Alcoholics
13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” 15 But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
1 Samuel 1:13-16
They Reject God-Ordained Authority
20 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.” 23 Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
25 Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his home. 26 Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 27 But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.
1 Samuel 10:20-27
Deeper Explanation
The Spirit of Belial causes people to reject not only God but also reject those whom God has ordained and/or sent to them. This is especially dangerous because if you reject God, there’s still hope because someone can still teach you and lead you to Christ, but if you reject both God and those who God has sent, how can you ever be saved?
No One Can Speak To Them
14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. 15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. 16 They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.”
1 Samuel 25:14-17
Deeper Explanation
The Bible gives us the example of Nabal, a king that wasn’t necessarily evil, as an example of having the Spirit of Belial or being a Son of Belial. The reason the Bible refers to Nabal as a Son of Belial is because he refuses to listen to correction or wise council. Here’s the problem with this, if we always reject correction, then we’ll never know the Truth. No one gets every single thing right, which is why we need Godly correction. We need to understand that God sends people to correct us in love so that on Judgment Day, He may find no flaw in us.
They Are Foolish
23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
1 Samuel 25:23-25
They Are Selfish
20 David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David’s spoil.” 21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them.
22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.”
1 Samuel 30:20-24