Oaks of Righteousness: Holy Spirit in The Old Testament

The Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament--Genesis 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:12-21

Note: Last week we observed how God’s word shows how the Holy Spirit has personality. He is not an impersonal force or it, but a person. The role of the Holy Spirit within the Godhead is consistent. His role revealed in the New Testament (John 16:1-15) in inspiration and revelation is consistent— though in the Old Testament the role is incomplete, compared to that role revealed in the New Testament.

The most common word translated "spirit" in the Old Testament is the word ruach. This word has several usages in addition to referring to the Holy Spirit.

Opening Question — Get Us Thinking:

Through the different time periods or dispensations, the covenants have different ways of relating between God and man. What are the difference in the way the Godhead has related to human beings? What do we learn about God? What do we learn about human beings?

Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Word & Will.

The identity of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament includes names or references to the Holy Spirit. “The Spirit of God” (total of 14 times) “The Spirit of the LORD” (total of 25 times) “The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah” (Isaiah 61:1) “My Spirit” (Genesis 6:3; Joel 2:29) “The finger of God” (Exodus 8:19; 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10)

There is only one Spirit revealed in the two testaments (Luke 4:18; Acts 2:17; Ephesians 4:4)

The Bible is our guide to understanding the one God, so what are some of the different ways the word ruach is used in the Old Testament?

Let’s take a look at some of the different ways ruach is used.

First, evil spirits are translated by ruach. "God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem" (Judges 9:23). "The Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him" (1 Samuel 16:14). "An evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp" (1 Samuel 18:10). "Now therefore, behold, the Lord has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets" (1 Kings 22:23). "The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of distortion" (Isaiah 19:14).

Second, Spirit (ruach) may refer to man (mankind). The animating force or breath of life may be described (1 Samuel 30:12). Man's emotional qualities are described by "spirit" (Genesis 41:8; Joshua 5:1; 1 Samuel 1:15). The attitude or mind of man is referred to by ruach (Psalms 51:10, 17; Proverbs 16:18). The eternal part of man is also described by the same word (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Another is in reference to the Holy Spirit. Let’s especially note the different usages of ruach by mentioning several areas of activity in which the Spirit was engaged during the Old Testament period.

How does the Holy Spirit relate to the word Elohim? There are a number of activities of the Spirit in the Old Testament. The Spirit was active in the creation of the world (Genesis 1:1-2). The most common word for God in Genesis is Elohim. This word suggests a plurality of persons. "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). The Holy Spirit was one of the personalities present when everything that can be seen was created. This means that the Spirit was a part of the creative will when Adam and Eve were created.

Does scripture indicate that the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, was inspired of God? The Old Testament is the inspired word of God, as is the New Testament (2 Peter 1:20-21). The Spirit is given credit for the process of inspiration (1 Peter 1:10-11). All of the writers from Moses to Malachi wrote their messages under the supervision of the Holy Spirit, including all of the statements which promised a future fulfillment. One of the strong arguments for belief in the Bible as being from God is prophecy and fulfillment. Though a number of years separated prophecy and fulfillment, the validity of the prophetic process is not affected.

God's Spirit is active throughout the Old Testament in selecting and providing for His people. I call this area "God's providence." Providence may be seen in God's selection of Abraham for the "three-fold" promise that was assured him (Genesis 12:1-3). This providence may be seen in the selection of David to be King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1). This young man was an unlikely choice to be king.

The selection of Esther to be queen in the Medo-Persian Empire is another example of God's selection and provision (Esther 2:15-16; 4:14). The Psalmist proclaims that the Spirit is actively at work in the world. After stating that we cannot hide from God's Spirit, he proclaims, "Even there your hand will lead me. And your right hand will lay hold of me" (Psalms 139:10). The Spirit that was active during the Old Testament period is the same Spirit that is active today.

What were the two purposes intended in God’s selection of Israel? God chose the nation of Israel for one primary purpose-that through this nation Jesus as Messiah would come. A secondary purpose in this selection process was to assure that His kingdom would be established (Daniel 2:44). In the fulfillment of these two promises, selected individuals are specifically said to have been assisted by the Spirit. Moses was empowered by the Spirit. He was instructed to gather seventy men to assist in the work, and God said, "I will put the same Spirit upon them" (Numbers 11:17). A key thought in Judges is that the Spirit was with the different leaders. In reference to Othniel, the first judge of Israel, it is stated, "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel" (Judges 3:10). God's Spirit was upon Gideon (Judges 6:34). The same was true with Jephthah (Judges 11:29). The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson (Judges 14:6) and upon King Saul (1 Samuel 11:6). The Spirit also came upon David (1 Samuel 16:13).

What was the most significant gift from the Spirit in the Old Testament period? In the Old Testament period, the most significant gift from the Spirit was super-natural knowledge that was given for prophesying. A prophet was one who "spoke forth" for God. Prophecy was "spoken forth" under the empowerment and guidance of the Holy Spirit. King Saul prophesied by the power of the Spirit (1 Samuel 10:10). When giving his last recorded words, David said, "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me. And His word was on my tongue" (2 Samuel 23:2). The prophet Micah proclaimed that he was full of power because of the Spirit of God (Micah 3:8). Ezekiel said, "The Spirit entered me and set me on my feet" (Ezekiel 2:2).

The word of the Spirit through the individual prophet might be one of comfort, promise, threat, or condemnation, but it was always a sure word because it was a word from the Spirit of God. Without the Spirit, no amount of intellectual power, no amount of administrative ability nor the capacity to toil would suffice. It was God's Spirit that was enabling the prophets to do the job God needed done.

What was the major difference between the activity of the Spirit in the Old Testament and the activity of the Spirit in the New Testament? The major difference between the activity of the Spirit in the Old Testament and the activity of the Spirit during the New Testament era is the difference between "with" and "in." In the Old Testament the Spirit worked with the people, whereas in the New Testament the Spirit worked in people.

In Summary, God's Spirit during the Old Testament period was with individuals in the sense of selecting, empowering, guiding, and rewarding. The Spirit was all of these things to the first-century apostles and prophets, with one major addition. From Acts 2:38 onward, the Holy Spirit is promised as a gift from God to all of the obedient. This was not a part of the Old Testament system of Law. The promise of the Spirit as an indweller was made during the earthly ministry of Jesus (John 7:38-39; 14:16-17), but the promise was first realized on Pentecost (Acts 2:38). One lesson later will be devoted to the Spirit as an indweller.

Reflective Questions for a Response — Live it today.

Does scripture indicate that the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, was inspired of God?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
How does this equip us to be better disciples and help empower us to “make disciples”?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?