THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

IN

OLD TESTAMENT AGES

I) INTRODUCTION

[http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Holy_Spirit/spirit_06.htm]:

"Much ignorance prevails today concerning this aspect of our subject. The crudest ideas are now entertained as to the relation between the Third Person of the Godhead and the Old Testament saints. Yet this is scarcely to be wondered at in view of the fearful confusion which obtains respecting their salvation, many supposing that they were saved in an entirely different way from what we are now. Nor need we be surprised at that, for this, in turn, is only another of the evil effects produced by the misguided efforts of those who have been so eager to draw as many contrasts as possible between the present dispensation and those which preceded it, to the disparaging of the earlier members of God’s family. The Old Testament saints had far more in common with the New Testament saints than is generally supposed.

A verse which has been grossly perverted by many of our moderns is John 7:39, "The Holy Spirit was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified." It seems passing strange that with the Old Testament in their hands, some men should place the construction which they do upon those words. The words "was not yet given" can no more be understood absolutely than "Enoch was not" (Gen. 5:24); they simply mean that the Spirit had not yet been given in His full administrative authority. He was not yet publicly manifested here on earth. All believers, in every age, had been sanctified and comforted by Him, but the "ministration of the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:8) was not at that time fully introduced; the outpouring of the Spirit, in the plentitude of His miraculous gifts, had not then taken place."

II) OT PASSAGES WHICH CLEARLY PORTRAY THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A PERSONALITY

[The following passages in the OT portray a number of meanings for the word Spirit from an entity, a person who has power and wisdom which can pick one up an set one down to another place, provide knowledge to another. It also can portray the power and knowledge of another.

A) [2 Sa 23:1-2]:

2SA 23:1 These are the last words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs:

2SA 23:2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

[Notice that the Spirit is portrayed here as a Person Who spoke through David such that His word was on David's tongue]

B) 2 Ki 2:15-16, 26]:

2KI 2:15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha."

[Notice that the word spirit here is portrayed as the power and knowledge of Elijah which rested on Elisha] And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 "Look," they said, "we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley."

[Notice that the Spirit here is portrayed as an entity that physically picked up Elisha and moved him from one place to another. ]

"No," Elisha replied, "do not send them." 2KI 5:26 But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you?

[Now the word spirit refers to the power and knowledge of Elijah]

Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants?

C) 1 Ch 28:11-12]:

1CH 28:11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. 12 He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.

[Notice here that the Spirit is portrayed as a person, an entity, an individual Who put in David's mind the plans for the courts of the temple]

D) Ne 9:16-20]:

NE 9:16 "But they, our forefathers, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, 18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, `This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,' or when they committed awful blasphemies. NE 9:19 "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.

[Notice that the Spirit is portrayed here as an individual, a Person Who instructed the Israelites in the desert, not just a force of God, but the Spirit of God, a Person]

E) Job 4:15-17]:

JOB 4:15 A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. JOB 4:16 It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. A form stood before my eyes, and I heard a hushed voice: JOB 4:17 `Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?

[Notice that a spirit is portrayed here as an individual, a person who stands before Job and voices a message. Here is yet another usage for the word spirit]

F) Ps 143:10]:

PS 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

G) [Isa 63:10-14]:

ISA 63:10 Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.

[This speaks of a person Who is greieved. The power and knowledge of God is not in view as being grieved, but an individual Person, named God's Holy Spirit is]

ISA 63:11 Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people-- where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them, ISA 63:12 who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses' right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown, ISA 63:13 who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; ISA 63:14 like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.

[Notice that the phrase "The Spirit of the LORD" is portrayed here not just as the power and knowledge of God but a Person Who was among the Israelites, Who operated as the arm of power of God at Moses' right hand, Who Himself divided the waters of the Red Sea before the Israelites and led them through the depths. A person did this, not simply the impersonal power of God. It was God Himself Who did this: God the Holy Spirit, guiding the people of God to their place of rest in the desert to make a glorious name for Himself. Notice that being given a name, i.e., a name that reflects ones glory and honor is something reserved for an individual Person not an impersonal entity coming from God, but God Himself is glorified, God the Holy Spirit.]

H) [Eze 1:10-12]:

EZE 1:10 Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out upward; each had two wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and two wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.

[Notice that the word spirit portrays an individual creature of some kind, not an demonstration of the power or knowledge of God or man]

I) [Eze 2:1-3]:

EZE 2:1 He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you." 2 As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

[Notice that the word "Spirit" portrays an individual Who came into Ezekiel, raised Ezekiel to his feet and spoke to him.]

EZE 2:3 He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day.

[And notice that the words of this Individual called the Spirit states that the Israelites rebelled against Me which implies that the Spirit is God] He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. 4 And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain. [Notice that the Spirit is continued to be portrayed as an Individual, a Person Who lifted Ezekiel up between earth and heaven and in visions of God He took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court.]

III) THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CREATION

[http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Holy_Spirit/spirit_06.htm]:

"Let us first consider, though very briefly, the work of the Spirit in connection with the old or material creation. Before the worlds were framed by the Word of God, and things which are seen were made out of things which do not appear (Heb. 11:3), when the whole mass of inanimate matter lay in one undistinguished chaos, "without form and void," we are told that, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:2).

A) [Compare Gen 1:2]:

"Now the earth was ^[1] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
 

[pbministries]:

"There are other passages which ascribe the work of creation (in common with the Father and the Son), to His immediate agency."

B) [Compare Job 26:13A KJV]:

"By His [God's] Spirit he hath garnished the heavens"

C) [Compare Job 33:4]:

"The Spirit of God has made me,
          And the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (cf. Gen 2:7; Job 10:3; 32:8)"

D) [Compare Ps 104:30a]:

"You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;"

IV) THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH ADAM THE FIRST MAN AND CHRIST THE SECOND ADAM

[http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Holy_Spirit/spirit_06.htm]:

"Let us next contemplate the Holy Spirit in relation to Adam. As so much darkness now surrounds this subject, we must enter into it in greater detail. "Three things were required to render man fit unto that life to God for which he was made. First, an ability to discern the mind and wisdom of God with respect unto all the duty and obedience that God requires of him; as also for to know the nature and properties of God, as to believe Him the only proper object of all acts and duties of religious obedience, and an all-sufficient satisfaction and reward in this world, and to eternity. Secondly, a free, uncontrolled, unentangled, disposition to every duty of the law of his creation for living unto God. Thirdly, an ability of mind and will, with a readiness of compliance in his affections, for a regular performance of all duties and abstinence from all sin. These things belonged unto the integrity of his nature, with the uprightness of the state and condition wherein he was made. And all these things were the peculiar effects of the immediate operation of the Holy Spirit.

"Thus Adam may be said to have had the Spirit of God in his innocence. He had Him in these peculiar effects of His power and goodness, and he had Him according to the tenor of that covenant, whereby it was possible that he should utterly lose Him, as accordingly it came to pass. He had Him not by especial inhabitation, for the whole world was then the temple of God. In the Covenant of Grace, founded in the Person and on the mediation of Christ, it is otherwise. On whomsoever the Spirit of God is bestowed for the renovation of the image of God in him, He abides with him forever" (J. Owen, 1680).

The three things mentioned above by that eminent Puritan constituted the principal part of that "image of God" wherein man was created by the Spirit. Proof of this is seen in the fact that at regeneration the Holy Spirit restores those abilities in the souls of God’s elect: "And hath put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:10): that is, the spiritual knowledge which man lost at the Fall is, potentially, restored at the new birth; but it could not be restored or "renewed" if man had never possessed it!

The "knowledge" with which the Holy Spirit endowed Adam was great indeed. Clear exemplification of this is seen in Genesis 2:19. Still, more conclusive evidence is found in Genesis 2:21-23: God put Adam into a deep sleep, took a rib out of his side, formed it into a woman, and then set her before him. On sight of her Adam said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh." He knew who she was and her origin, and forthwith gave her a suitable name; and he could only have known all this by the Spirit of revelation and understanding.

That Adam was, originally, made a partaker of the Holy Spirit is quite evident to the writer from Genesis 2:7, "The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." If those words were interpreted in the light of the Analogy of Faith, they can mean nothing less than that the Triune God imparted the Holy Spirit unto the first man. In Ezekiel 37 we have a vivid parabolic picture of the regenerating of spiritual Israel. There we are told, "Prophesy unto the Wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the Wind, Thus saith the LORD God, Come from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the Breath came unto them, and they lived" (vv. 9, 10). Again, we find the Savior, after His resurrection, "Breathed on them (the Apostles), and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22): that was the counterpart of Genesis 2:7: the one the original gift, the other the restoration of what was lost.

Rightly has it been said that "The doctrine that man was originally, though mutably, replenished with the Spirit, may be termed the deep fundamental thought of the Scripture doctrine of man. If the first and second Adam are so related that the first man was the analogue or figure of the second, as all admit on the authority of Scripture (Rom. 5:12-14), it is clear that, unless the first man possessed the Spirit, the last man, the Healer or Restorer of the forfeited inheritance, would not have been the medium of giving the Spirit, who was withdrawn on account of sin, and who could be restored only on account of the everlasting righteousness which Christ (Rom. 8:10) brought in" (G. Smeaton, 1880)."

V) INSPIRATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

A) THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS THE MEANS OF OT INSPIRATION

[http://www.refuge-outreach.org/christianity/doctrine/holy%20spirit/ministry%20old%20test7.html]

"The Holy Spirit Himself was the means of all biblical inspiration. His superintending work assured the infallibility of the communication. In connection with the Old Testament this is observable on a number of occasions.

B) OT WRITERS WERE CONSCIOUS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS GUIDING THEIR WRITING

1) [Compare 2 Sam 23:2-4]:

(v. 2) "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

(v. 3) The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,

(v. 4) he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.' "

C) JESUS CHRIST TAUGHT THAT THE OT WRITERS WERE GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

[refuge-outreach]:

'''In quoting Psalm 110 Jesus exclaimed that David spoke the words “in the Holy Spirit.” Jesus based His argument on David’s words as inspired by the Holy Spirit.'''

1) [Compare Mk 12:36]:

[Jesus said] '''David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:

"The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.' " '''

D) THE APOSTLES TAUGHT THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT WRITERS WERE GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

1) [Compare Acts 1:15-17]:

(v. 15) '''In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

(v. 16) and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--

(v. 17) he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."

2) [Compare Acts 4:24-25]:

(v. 24) '''When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

(v. 25) You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

(v. 26) The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ' " '''

3) [Compare Acts 28:25]:

(v. 25) '''They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

(v. 26) 'Go to this people and say, 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

(v. 27) For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' " '''

4) [Compare Acts 1:15-17]:

(v. 15) '''In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

(v. 16) and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--

(v. 17) he was one of our number and shared in this ministry." '''

[refuge-outreach]:

"In explaining Judas’s death Peter remarked that it had to come about this way because it had been foretold by the Holy Spirit through David."

VI) THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN OLD TESTAMENT REGENERATION

A) INTRODUCTION

[refuge-outreach]:

"Did the Holy Spirit regenerate people in the Old Testament? In John 3 Jesus explained the new birth (which involved regeneration) to Nicodemus, reminding him that these things were taught in the Old Testament and therefore he ought to have known them.

1) [Compare John 3:5-6, 10]:

(v. 5) '''Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and [of] the spirit.

[Unless one is born of water = born of the Spirit where the word 'water' is a figure of speech for the Holy Spirit

Unless one is born out of the Holy Spirit and out of the spiritual realm where "kai [ex] pneumatos " = and [out of] the spiritual realm, where 'pneumatos' refers to the spiritual realm, then one cannot enter the kingdom of God ]

(v. 6) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

[Notice that being born again, i.e., regenerated is exclusively a matter of the spiritual realm, not the physical one]

(v. 10) You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?" '''

You will note that the time frame of John chapter 3 quoted above is the Old Testament period before the Church began. For our Lord had not gone to the cross yet, nor ascended at this point to begin the Church Age. And in this OT period of time, our Lord is advising individuals living in OT time to be born again via the work of the Holy Spirit in the spiritual realm.

[refuge-outreach]:

"In all likelihood Jesus was referring to Ezekiel 36, because both passages involve a discussion of water and Spirit. In Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:25-27 God promises Israel a regeneration experience in the Millennium."

2) [Compare Ez 11:17-19]:

(v. 17) '''Therefore say: "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.'

(v. 18) They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols.

(v. 19) I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.' " '''

3) [Compare Ez 36:25-27]:

(v. 25) "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.

(v. 26) I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

(v. 27) And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

[refuge-outreach]:

"God will give them a new heart and a new spirit—He will put His Spirit within them; He will regenerate them. Although these passages pertain to the future, the Old Testament believers would have also experienced regeneration. In Ezekiel 18:31 the people were commanded to 'make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.' "

4) [Compare Ez 18:31]:

(v. 31) "Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel?"

[refuge-outreach]:

The two phrases parallel those of Ezekiel 36:25-27 as well as John 3:5 and suggest the Old Testament believer was regenerated by the Holy Spirit."

5) [Compare Ps 51:10-12]:

(v. 10) "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

(v. 11) Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

(v. 12) Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

So there is every indication here that the Holy Spirit is instrumental in providing regeneration unto salvation for OT believers.

VII) SELECTIVE INDWELLING TO PROVIDE AN ABILITY TO SERVE GOD IN OT AGES

A) INTRODUCTION

[refuge-outreach]:

"In John 14:16-17 Jesus indicated that following Pentecost the Holy Spirit would begin a new ministry to believers that was unlike that of the Old Testament. The emphasis of this passage is that the new ministry would be an indwelling (in contrast to the Spirit simply being with them) and it would be permanent. While the promise of John 14 pertains to all believers and the indwelling is permanent, there was indwelling in the Old Testament, however, it was selective and it was temporary."

B) THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELT SOME PEOPLE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IN ORDER TO PERFORM SPECIFIC TASKS

 

1) The Spirit Indwelt Joshua To Enable Him To Lead The Nation Israel

 

a) [Compare Num 27:18-20]:

 

(v. 18) '''So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.

 

(v. 19) Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence.

 

(v. 20) Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him." '''

 

2) The Spirit Indwelt Saul To Enable Him To Lead The Nation

 

a) [Compare 1 Sam 10:9-13]:

 

(v. 9) '''As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.

 

(v. 10) When they arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying.

 

(v. 11) When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, "What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?"

 

(v. 12) A man who lived there answered, "And who is their father?" So it became a saying: "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

 

(v. 13) After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place." '''

b) [Compare 1 Sam 11:1-8]:

(v. 1) '''Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, "Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you."

(v. 2) But Nahash the Ammonite replied, "I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel."

(v. 3) The elders of Jabesh said to him, "Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you."

(v. 4) When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud.

(v. 5) Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, "What is wrong with the people? Why are they weeping?" Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.

(v. 6) When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger.

(v. 7) He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they turned out as one man.

(v. 8) When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand."

 

3) The Holy Spirit Indwelt David To Minister To Saul And Later To Also Lead The Nation Israel

 

a) [Compare 1 Sam. 16:11-23]:

(v. 11) '''So he [Samuel] asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."

 

(v. 12) So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

 

(v. 13) So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

 

(v. 14) Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

 

(v. 15) Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

 

(v. 16) Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better."

 

(v. 17) So Saul said to his attendants, "Find someone who plays well and bring him to me."

 

(v. 18) One of the servants answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him."

 

(v. 19) Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

 

(v. 20) So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

 

(v. 21) David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers.

 

(v. 22) Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, "Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him." '''

 

(v. 23) Whenever the Spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him."

 

4) The Holy Spirit Came Upon Members Of The Jewish Sanhedrin In Moses' Time In Order To Aide Them In Ruling Israel

a) [Compare Num 11:16-17]:

(v. 16) '''The LORD said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.

(v. 17) I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone." '''  

5) God Gave The Spirit That Was On Moses To 70 Elders To Equip Them To Rule Israel

a) [Compare Num 11:18-29]:

(v. 18) "Tell the people: 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!" Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it.

(v. 19) You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days,

(v. 20) but for a whole month-until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it-because you have rejected the LORD , who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?" ' "

(v. 21) But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!'

(v. 22) Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?"

(v. 23) The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you."

(v. 24) So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent.

(v. 25) Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.

(v. 26) However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp.

(v. 27) A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."

(v. 28) Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!"

(v. 29) But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!"

6) The Holy Spirit Came Upon The Judges Of Israel In Order To Enable Them To Perform Their Tasks Of Leadership

a) [Compare Judges 3:9-10]:

(v. 9) "But when they cried out to the LORD , he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.

(v. 10) The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge ^[1] and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him."

b) [Compare Judges 11:29]:

"Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites."

c) [Compare Judges 15:10-14]:

(v. 10) '''The men of Judah asked, "Why have you come to fight us?"
"We have come to take Samson prisoner," they answered, "to do to him as he did to us."

(v. 11) Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, "Don't you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?"
He answered, "I merely did to them what they did to me."

(v. 12) They said to him, "We've come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines."
Samson said, "Swear to me that you won't kill me yourselves."

(v. 13) "Agreed," they answered. "We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you." So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.

(v. 14) As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands." '''

7) The Holy Spirit Came Upon The Prophets To Prophecy To The Israelites

a) [Compare 1 Pet 1:10-11]:

(v. 10) "Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,

(v. 11) trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow."

b) [Compare Neh 9:29-30]:

(v. 29) "You warned them to return to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, by which a man will live if he obeys them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.

(v. 30) For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you admonished them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you handed them over to the neighboring peoples."

c) [Compare 2 Pet 1:19-21]:

(v. 19) "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

(v. 20) Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.

(v. 21) For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

d) [Compare Ezekiel 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 8:3; 11:5, 24; 37:1; 43:5]:

[Note the overwhelming power of the Spirit Who worked in Ezekiel]:

(v. 2:2) "As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me."

(v. 3:12) "Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound-May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place! -"

(v. 3:14) "The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me."

(v. 3:24) '''Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: "Go, shut yourself inside your house." '''

(v. 8:3) "He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood."

(v. 11:1) "Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. There at the entrance to the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people."

(v. 11:5) '''Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me [Ezekiel], and he told me to say: "This is what the LORD says: That is what you are saying, O house of Israel, but I know what is going through your mind." '''

(v. 11:24) "The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia ^[1] in the vision given by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me,"

(v. 37:1) "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones."

(v. 43:5) "Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple."

8) The Holy Spirit Temporarily Came Upon Some People In The Old Testament For Specific Tasks For Them To Perform

[refuge-outreach]:

'''Charles C. Ryrie suggests there is no great distinction between “indwelling” and “coming upon,” “except that the idea of coming upon seems to imply the temporary and transitory character of the Spirit’s relationship to Old Testament saints.” The temporary coming upon is seen in that the Spirit came upon an individual for a specific task. It is reasonable to assume that when the task had been carried out, the Spirit was no longer upon the individual.'''

a) The Spirit Came Upon Othniel To Conquer Cushan-Rishathaim

 

i) [Compare Judg. 3:7-11]:

 

(v. 7) "The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.

 

(v. 8) The anger of the LORD burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years.

 

(v. 9) But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.

 

(v. 10) The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him.

 

(v. 11) So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died."

 

b) The Spirit Of God Came Upon Gideon To Defeat The Midianites

i) [Compare Judges 6:33-34]:

 

(v. 33) "Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

 

(v. 34) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him."

 

c) The Spirit Of God Came Upon Jephthah To Defeat The Ammonites

 

i) [Compare Judges 11:29]:

"Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites."

 

d) The Spirit Of God Came Upon Samson To Defeat The Philistines

 

i) [Judges 14:6a]:

"The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat."

 

e) The Spirit Of God Came Upon Balaam To Prophecy Blessing Concerning Israel

 

i) [Compare Num 24:2]:

"When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him 3 and he uttered his oracle: "The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, "

 

[refuge-outreach]:

“An evaluation of these texts shows that all involved empowerment for a physical activity. None of them had to do with salvation from sin in any sense.” Nor did the empowering have anything to do with the spiritual condition of the person. Jephthah was the son of a harlot, living in an idolatrous environment. Samson was a carnal man, living to satisfy his carnal desires. Balaam was an unbeliever.

 

9) The Holy Spirit Filled Some People In The Old Testament

a) God Filled Bezalel And Many Other Craftsmen With The Spirit, Giving Them Skill, Ability and Knowledge For Craftsmenship To Beautify The Tabernacle

 

i) [Compare Exod. 31:1-11]:

 

(v. 1) '''Then the LORD said to Moses,

 

(v. 2) "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,

 

(v. 3) and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--

 

(v. 4) to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,

 

(v. 5) to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.

 

(v. 6) Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:

 

(v. 7) the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent--

 

(v. 8) the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense,

 

(v. 9) the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand--

 

(v. 10) and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests,

 

(v. 11) and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you." '''

ii) [Compare Ex 35:30-36:1]:

 

(v. 30) '''Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,

 

(v. 31) and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--

 

(v. 32) to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,

 

(v. 33) to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship.

 

(v. 34) And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.

 

(v. 35) He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers--all of them master craftsmen and designers.

 

(36:1) So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded."

 

10) Instrumentality Of The Spirit In Building The Temple Of Solomon

 

a) [Compare 1 Chronicles 28:11-12]:

(v. 11) "Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement.

 

(v. 12) He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LORD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.
 

(v. 18) and the weight of the refined gold for the altar of incense. He also gave him the plan for the chariot, that is, the cherubim of gold that spread their wings and shelter the ark of the covenant of the LORD .
 

(v. 19) "All this," David said, "I have in writing from the hand of the LORD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan."

 

(v. 20) David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished."  

11) Instrumentality of the Spirit in Building the Temple of Zerubbabel

a) [Zech 4:6-9]:

(v. 6) '''So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.  

(v. 7) "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' "  

(v. 8) Then the word of the LORD came to me:

(v. 9) "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you." '''

[refuge-outreach]:

"John Walvoord makes three observations concerning Old Testament indwelling.

He points out that first, the Spirit’s indwelling in the life of a person had no evident relationship to the person’s spiritual condition.

Second, the Spirit’s indwelling was a sovereign working of God in the person to perform a specific task, for example, delivering Israel in warfare or building the tabernacle.

Third, the Spirit’s indwelling was temporary. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul but also departed from him (1 Sam. 10:10; 16:14). David was fearful that the Holy Spirit would leave him (Ps. 51:11)."

12) THE HOLY SPIRIT INSTRUCTED THE ISRAELITES IN THEIR WANDERINGS IN THE DESERT

a) [Compare Isa 63:11-14]:

(v. 11) "Then his people recalled the days of old,
the days of Moses and his people-
where is he who brought them through the sea,
with the shepherd of his flock?
Where is he who set
his Holy Spirit among them,

(v. 12) who sent his glorious arm of power
to be at Moses' right hand,
who divided the waters before them,
to gain for himself everlasting renown,

(v. 13) who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in open country,
they did not stumble;

(v. 14) like cattle that go down to the plain,
they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD .
This is how you guided your people
to make for yourself a glorious name.

b) [Compare Nehemiah 9:20]:

(v. 17) "They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them,

(v. 18) even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, 'This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,' or when they committed awful blasphemies. 

(v. 19) "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.

(v. 20) You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.

(v. 21) For forty years you sustained them in the desert; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen."

VIII) THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON ALL ISRAEL AND WAS GRIEVED WHEN THE NATION SINNED AND SERVED IN INNUMERABLE WAYS TO DELIVER HER IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

A) INTRODUCTION

[ http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/4027/otspirit.html ]

"In fact God’s whole deliverance of His people is by His Spirit, the angel of His presence (Isaiah 63:7-14). It should be noted that apart from in creation God’s Spirit only works through and enters into people. He is never said to enter a place, even the Tabernacle. His presence is known by His activity through people.

When Moses has finally to be replaced it is by a man ‘in whom is the Spirit’ (Numbers 27:18), probably linking him with the seventy elders previously mentioned.

When Israel is in danger of being annihilated or absorbed into the surrounding nations, “the Spirit of the Lord” comes upon various leaders to enable them to deliver them from their enemies - for example, Othniel (Judges 3.9), Gideon (Judges 6.34), Jephthah (Judges 11.29), and Samson (Judges 14.6, 19; 15.14), the latter being first “stirred by the Spirit” (13.25). In all these cases the presence of the Spirit is seen in the successful outcome of events. There is no reason to think that they experienced any special emotions that they connected with the Spirit. It is true that Samson was aware that he had lost his strength, but this was because something he was trying to do made this obvious.

When Saul is chosen to be ‘king’ ( the term here means war leader) of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord comes on him and he prophesies (1 Samuel 10.10), and the same Spirit comes on him to give victory in battle (1 Samuel 11.6). Alas he did not maintain his obedience to God and the Spirit of God leaves him (1 Samuel 16.14). He is no longer God’s empowered leader, and this is revealed by his future failure. Here there is the idea of a more permanent presence of the Spirit, as with the elders of Moses, in contrast with the more temporary experiences of the Judges. (The Spirit leaving him refers to His special empowering. The thought of the Spirit’s indwelling, as in the Psalms, is not in mind).

In the case of David the Spirit of the Lord came on him “from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16.13) as is revealed by his continual success.

It is significant that no king after David is described as having received the Spirit. They all failed, even Solomon in spite of his glory, so the hope rests on a new king who will arise from David’s line some time in the future, on whom the Spirit of the Lord will rest to make him a ruler fit to rule God’s people (Isaiah 11.1-2). Until he comes Israel will languish in failure.

We can see from these examples that the Spirit is evidenced by His activity through selected people, and one of the proofs of His presence is final success. The idea is present of the invisible, yet powerful, personal activity of God through chosen men to carry forward His purposes. Sometimes it is temporary, at others more permanent, depending on necessity, and it is always at God’s initiative.

The kings having failed, the mantle now falls on the prophets. The spirit of Elijah falls on Elisha, evidenced by the fact that Elisha reveals spiritual sight by seeing the taking of Elijah (2 Kings 2.9-10). The presence of the Spirit is shown by Elisha’s new ability to see what others cannot, and this is then confirmed by his subsequent activity.

When the people of Judah refuse to listen to the true prophets, their actions are ‘not in accordance with the Spirit’ (Isaiah 30.1), (they are refusing to listen to the Spirit speaking through the prophets), so that their situation will be hopeless until “the Spirit is poured forth from above” (Isaiah 32.15), producing righteousness and blessing, a hope yet in the future. In Micah 3.8 the prophet declares himself to be “filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, with justice and with might” so as to declare to the people their sins, while in Nehemiah 9.20-30 the Spirit who spoke through the prophets is likened to the Spirit who instructed Israel in the wilderness (presumably through Moses and the elders).

Their refusal to listen to the voice of the Spirit through the prophets results in their being carried off into exile in Babylon. It is this fact that results in the unusual experiences of Ezekiel who has to prophesy in both places.

Thus Ezekiel, uniquely, is carried about by the spirit (wind) (e.g. 3.14 and often), but in his case the source of his message is that “the word of the Lord came to me”. However, in 11.5 he says, “the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me” causing him to speak God’s word. The latter stresses sudden inspiration, but the ideas would seem to be almost parallel. Micah can say “filled with the Spirit of the Lord”, while Ezekiel says “the word of the Lord came unto me”. Once again we have the Spirit and word acting together.

After the punishment of exile in Babylon God seeks to restore His people, and Haggai assures them that, just as God had promised in the deliverance from Egypt under Moses’ His Spirit would now “remain among them” (Haggai 2.5). At the same time Zechariah assures their leader Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, that he must not be afraid of rebuilding the Temple, for God’s Spirit was working through him. What appears a great mountain in front of him will be flattened down, “not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of Hosts”(Zechariah 4.6). After the failure of the kings of Israel and Judah, God is now again active in history, carrying forward His purposes. The Temple will be rebuilt and the people established in the promised land. (Unfortunately after this they will fail again through disobedience)."

B) PASSAGES WHICH INDICATE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS UPON ALL ISRAEL

1) [Compare Isaiah 63:8-10]:

(v. 8) '''He said, "Surely they are my people,
sons who will not be false to me";
and so he became their Savior.

(v. 9) In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old.

(v. 10) Yet they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
So he turned and became their enemy
and he himself fought against them.'''

IX) THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS PRESENT IN OLD TESTAMENT AGES RESTRAINING SIN

A) INTRODUCTION

[refuge-outreach]:

"Genesis 6:3 indicates the Spirit’s striving or restraining sin would be limited because man refused to heed the Spirit’s convicting ministry. In the context, God judged the people with the Noahic flood. To those holding to a pretribulation rapture a parallel may be seen between the Old Testament and the New Testament."

1) [Compare Gen 6:3]:

"Then the LORD said, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years."

X) CONCLUSION

[pbministries]:

"That the Holy Spirit indwelt saints under the Legal economy is clear from many considerations: how otherwise could they have been regenerated, had faith, been enabled to perform works acceptable to God? The Spirit prompted true prayer, inspired spiritual worship, produced His fruit in the lives of believers then (see Zech. 4:6) as much as He does now. We have "the same Spirit of faith" (2 Cor. 4:13) as they had. All the spiritual good which has ever been wrought in and through men must be ascribed unto the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was given to the Old Testament saints prospectively, as pardon of sin was given in view of the satisfaction which Christ was to render unto God."