Yes, the HolySpirit does depart from people based on their rebelliousness. <p>However, God does not have evil in His repertoire.   He does not create evil - only good.   The absence of the HolySpirit leaves a vacuum whilch the evil one fills.<p>This is what was observed.   It was error for the writer to assume God deliberately troubled Saul.  Saul^s choice to rebel resulted in his self-inflicted troubles.