Contents
Overview
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the God Head. He is a divine Person, an active presence of God in the world. The Bible mentions Him as the Comforter – counselor, helper, advocate, guide, intercessor, and friend. He is God. The Holy Spirit is also mentioned in the Old Testament but was for selected people, unlike today.
Holy Spirit does things that a mere human mind can never comprehend. Here are some of what the Holy Spirit does and have mentioned in the bible.
- He comforts
- He inspires
- He blesses
- He leads
- He guides
- He reproves
- He can be grieved
- He can be blasphemed
- He is a witness, and many more
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The presence of the Holy Spirit cannot be limited to only the New Testament. He was present and ministered the divine plan of God to different people – Kings, Prophets, Priest, warrior, and other living things as well.
He has done many different significant works in the Old Testament. Here are some particular incidents to consider as we dived into the topic of this article.
Beginning of Creation
The Holy Spirit was present in the beginning and participated in creation. The Bible verse in Genesis1:1-2; Job 26:13; Isaiah 32:15, also throw us the knowledge about Holy Spirit. Bible says the spirit of God was hovering over the water which He made out of nothing, thus, bringing life and setting things in order.
Sets order
Apostle Paul says, for “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” indeed He is the Spirit of order (1 Cor. 14:33).
Brings life and sustains life
Psalm 104:30 says the Spirit of God was involved in creating and sustaining all-natural life.
The book of Genesis further goes into saying that God endows people with life by breathing into their nostrils the “breath of life” , i.e., in Genesis 2:7. Here, the word for “breath” when translated is the same word as “spirit”, which means the spirit gives life to humanity and other living creatures. Holy Spirit was not only a witness in the beginning but also partake of the creation.
Also Read: How To Start Reading The Bible?
The Holy Spirit indwells upon individual
Unlike in the New Testament, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit isn’t universal and not permanent indwelling too. He doesn’t come upon everyone but only to those individuals, specifically chosen for a special service to work on the plan of God in the old testament.
Some of them were:
- Joshua was filled with the Spirit of the Lord and was commissioned to lead Israel after Moses’ death (Numbers 27:12-23)
- Bezalel was “filled” with the Spirit of God to develop and execute artistic design for the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:2; 35:31).
- The Seventy elders receive some of the Spirit of God that is on Moses (Numbers 11:17, 25).
- Gideon was filled with great courage and was able to deliver Israel because “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon” (Judges 6:34).
- Sampson was empowered with extraordinary strength when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him (Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).
- Prophets prophesy when the Spirit of God comes upon them (2 Chronicles 15:1; 20:14; 24:20; Joel 2:28-29; Luke 2:25).
- Othniel was also empowered by the Spirit to judge God’s people and lead them in war( Judges 3:10)
The Old Testament believers who were imperfect yet profoundly obedient were filled with a “Hall of Faith” (Hebrew 11). They were operating in the power of the Holy Spirit which also enabled them to stand firm in their faith in God.
Read: How To Read The Bible Consistently?
The Holy Spirit inspires and Promote Holiness
The Spirit is holy and inspired holiness in Old Testament believers (Psalm 143:10). Scripture also promised that someday God would pour out His Spirit in His people in a way that would cause them to live according to His statutes (Ezekiel 36:27). And even in the book of Joel 2:28, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people…”. Joel says God spirit will be poured out upon all of His people in the last days. Which we know that this outpouring happened on Pentecost, shortly after Jesus Christ ascended to heaven.
The Spirit strives with sinners and (Genesis 6:3)shows God contended with humans in their sinful nature, and He wisely limited man’s years. God’s people “rebelled and grieved” His Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:7-10), and because of that God in His holiness fought against them.
The Spirit Spoke God’s Word
Now, the Spirit of God is always connected to God’s words and can be seen throughout the Old Testament.
- The Lord said He would put His words in His people’s mouths (Isaiah 59:21)
- David said the Spirit of the Lord spoke through him. ( 2 Samuel 23:2)
- Moses told the Israelites, “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it” Moses told the Israelites (Deuteronomy 30:14)
The Old Testament saints also received God’s words through their prophets and leaders. This passed on through the New Testament. John 6:63 says, the Spirit gives life, and the words Jesus spoke are “full of the Spirit and life”
The Spirit Granted Special Skills
The Holy Spirit gifted In the Old Testament individuals were empowered with gifts through the Spirit of God to accomplish God’s divine plans.
- God instructed Israel how He wanted His tabernacle to be built, and equipped craftsmen and artisans with artistic skills by His Spirit to built His Tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-5).
- The Spirit enabled Joseph (Genesis 41:1-38) to interpret God’s revelation through dreams.
- Seventy elders who were with Moses received temporary prophetic powers from the Spirit (Numbers 11:25).
The Spirit came upon God’s prophets, priests, and kings and also empowered them in special ways, gifting them for service – some preached God’s word; some interceded for God’s people, and some were anointed to lead Israel against God’s enemies (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Chronicles 24:20; 1 Samuel 16:13).
Read: How To Pursue God Wholeheartedly?
The Spirit points to the Messiah
Isaiah also spoke much about the coming of Messiah, nothing that the Spirit would rest upon Him. Through Isaiah, God said, “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him” (Isa. 42:1).
In the New Testament, when Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River, Luke says “the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove” (Luke 3:22).
Further, Luke records the event when Jesus went up to the synagogue on the Sabbath and read the Scripture out from the prophet Isaiah and fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1.
From the early ministry of Jesus, it was clear He was the promised One –The Messiah – the “anointed one.” He fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy, which God anointed Him by His Spirit for the special assignment—as Prophet, Priest, and future King (Mark 15:26; John 7:40; Revelation 19:16; Hebrews 6:19-20).
Conclusion
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the Holy Spirit working in many ways all the same as the present era. Thus, the only difference is the temporary indwelling and the few selected individuals for the special assignment of God.
Moreover, in this present generation, Holy Spirit is for all and it is for permanent indwelling. If you want to know Him, see and experience the manifestation of His power upon you, just call unto Him, invite Him. He is for you and for me. And will always be there for us.
