Day 47 of 49
The third person of the Trinity remains mostly a mystery. Depending on the denomination, he can be ignored, exalted to higher than Christ, or considered a cause for misunderstanding leading to division.
Today I’m looking at where the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the OT. This is not an all inclusive list.
What does it say about his character and purpose? What would the disciples have understood about him?
We first find him in the beginning with God, hovering over the waters when God said, “Let there be light”.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Ge 1:1–2.
The Spirit of the Lord’s presence in the life of Joseph and Daniel was obvious to those outside the faith.
And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.
You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
Genesis 41:38–40
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”
Daniel 5:11–12
The Spirit gives abilities when they are needed. These abilities can be given to more than one person so that the responsibilities are shared.
The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.
And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”
Ex 31:1–11.
And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.
Numbers 11:17
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it. Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.
Numbers 11:25–26
Today, most people understand prophesy to be telling the future. While that may be a part of a prophesy, it is simply proclaiming the Word of the Lord. We get so wrapped up in knowing the future that we forget, God will speak into our today to give us hope and encouragement…for today.
The Spirit of God came upon Balaam, and he blessed Israel even though he was paid to curse them. In the OT, the Spirit of God could come upon someone who did not fully follow the Lord.
And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!
Numbers 24:2–5
The Spirit of the Lord came upon men to help them when called to lead the people of God.
So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight.
Numbers 27:18–19
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.
Judges 3:9–10
In Judges 14 and 15, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson many times and he did great feats of strength. But he compromised his position as a Nazarite to the point that the Spirit of the Lord no longer came.
When Saul became king of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he prophesied among the prophets. But his disobedience led to the removal of the Spirit, and David received it instead. David prayed that the Spirit would not leave him.
Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.
1 Samuel 16:14
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.
1 Samuel 16:13
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Psalm 51:10–13
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.
Psalm 143:10–12
Nehemiah and the prophets referred to the Spirit of God and his work among the children of Israel.
You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.
Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
Nehemiah 9:20–21
Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
Nehemiah 9:30–31
But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.
Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people.
Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit,
who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble.
Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest.
So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name.
Is 63:10–14.
Prophesies of the coming Messiah referred to the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:1–3
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
Isaiah 42:1–3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
Is 61:1–3.
There were also prophesies of when the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh.
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Ezekiel 36:26–27
And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
Ezekiel 39:29
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
Joel 2:28–29
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10
What did the disciples await in the upper room?
The Holy Spirit in the OT provided wisdom, instruction, understanding, and authority.
The Holy Spirit promised would be poured out on both men and women and enable the people to obey God’s rules and change the hearts to be softened towards the Lord.
Lord, thank you for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Give me a clearer understanding of what he provides for my walk with the Lord.
TRICIA LATHROP 