Friday, March 10, 2017

Holy Spirit and the Old Testament

1 Have mercy on me (David), O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion (mercy), blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. . . . . 6 You desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me— now let me rejoice. 9 Do not keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal (right) spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. Psalm 51:1-2, 6-12 (NLT)

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, also known as the Godhead (God the Father, God the Son-Jesus, and God the Spirit). Through the Holy Spirit, the true and living God acts, reveals His divine will, cleanses and purifies our sins, empowers His faithful people, and discloses His personal Presence in the world, especially in the church. The Holy Scriptures most often present the Holy Spirit as present to do God’s works and will in the world. After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit is now the primary manifestation of the power and presence of the Holy Trinity. In the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit is also called the “Holy Ghost,” the “Spirit of God,” the “Paraclete,” the “Comforter,” the “Advocate,” the “Helper,” our “Ally”, our “Supporter,” “Truth,” “Teacher,” and the “Presence of God” (see e.g., Genesis 1:2; Psalm 51:11, Psalm 139:7, 11; Isaiah 63:10-11; John 14:16-17, 26; John 15:26-27; John 16:7-15; 1 John 2:20-27).

The Holy Spirit is not just a New Testament notion with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (see Acts 2). The Old Testament has abundant references to the Spirit of God. By God’s Spirit in the Old Testament, the true and living God

·         Created the heavens and earth (see Genesis 1:2; Psalm 33:6)
·         Manifested the glory of God (see e.g., Exodus 40:34-38; 1 Kings 8:10-11)
·         Gives life to humanity and creatures (see e.g., Genesis 2:7; Job 33:4; Job 34:14-15; Psalm 104:29-30; Ezekiel 37:1-14)
·         Brings about redemption and new life (regeneration) (see e.g., Isaiah 44:1-3; Isaiah 63:11, 14; Joel 2:28-32; Haggai 2:5; John 3:5-8)
·         Empowered and equipped God’s faithful servants for their divine work (see e.g., Exodus 31:3; Numbers 11:29; Judge 3:10; 1 Samuel 10:6; 1 Samuel 16:13; Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 42:1)
·         Inspired and directed the holy prophets’ words, prophecy, and service (see e.g., 1 Kings 18:12; 2 Kings 2:16; Nehemiah 9:30; Isaiah 48:16; Isaiah 59:21; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 2:2; Ezekiel 3:14; Ezekiel 11:5; Micah 3:8; Zechariah 7:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
·         Brings a “new heart and a new spirit” to live by God’s purpose and will (see e.g., Jeremiah 24:7; Jeremiah 32:39; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 18:31; Ezekiel 36:26-27).
·         Omniscient (all knowing and all seeing) (see e.g., 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 139:1-6; 1 Chronicles 28:9)
·         Omnipresent (ever-present) (see e.g., Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:24)
·         Omnipotent (all-powerful, Almighty, and unstoppable) (see e.g., Job 42:2; Psalm 139:13-18)
·         Transcendent (greatness and mighty) (see e.g., 1 Kings 8:27; Isaiah 40:12-26; Isaiah 66:1; Daniel 4:34-35)
·         Cleanses from sin and evil (see e.g., Psalm 51:2, 7; Ezekiel 36:25-27)
·         Teaches wisdom (see e.g., Psalm 51:6, 13; Psalm 143:10)
·         Defeats our enemies (see e.g., 1 Samuel 19:20-24; Isaiah 63:11-12; Haggai 2:5)
·         Brings joy and gladness (see e.g., Psalm 51:8, 12; Galatians 5:22-23)
·         Creates a pure and clean heart (see e.g., 1 Samuel 10:9; Psalm 51:10)
·         Brings the Presence of God (see e.g., Psalm 51:11)

In particular, King David from the Old Testament was keenly aware of the God’s Spirit power and presence (see e.g., 1 Samuel 16:1, 12-14; 2 Samuel 7:15). For instance, Psalm 139 reveal David’s wholehearted devotion and reliance on God as David acknowledged God’s Spirit and Presence (see also 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 13:22). After David’s sin against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah (see 2 Samuel 11:1-27), David prayed and pleaded for God not to take away His Spirit (see Psalm 51). By God’s Holy Spirit, God had equipped and empowered David for his office as God’s anointed king (see 1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 23:1-2). Moreover, David acknowledged that his personal power came because of God’s Holy Spirit equipping and empowering him (see e.g., 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 45-47; 2 Samuel 23:2; Psalm 89:19-29). Even more, David personally witnessed the Holy Spirit’s departure from Saul, Israel’s first king, because of Saul’s continual disobedience, rebellion, and sinfulness toward God (see e.g., 1 Samuel 10:1, 6, 10; 1 Samuel 13:1-15; 1 Samuel 15:1-35; see also Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30). Because of Saul’s disobedience, God replaced His Holy Spirit in Saul with an evil and tormenting spirit (see 1 Samuel 16:1, 14-15, 23; 1 Samuel 18:10-11; 1 Samuel 19:9; see also Judges 16:20). Thus, David knew the departure of the Holy Spirit because of disobedience and sin remove the blessings of God from a person (see also Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30).

From the Old Testament, God anointed priests and kings for His service to Him. Anointing symbolized spiritual endowment, empowerment, or divine equipping for serving God (see e.g., Exodus 29:7; Exodus 40:12-15; 1 Samuel 10:1, 6; Isaiah 61:1; Zechariah 4:6, 14). The Holy Spirit empowered Joshua with leadership skills and wisdom (see Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9) as well as Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 2:3; Ezekiel 3:24), Daniel (see Daniel 4:8-9, 18; Daniel 5:11), and Micah (see Micah 3:8) just to name a few. Likewise, Israel (Psalm 89:38), and even Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1) were called God’s anointed because of God’s inner working through Israel and Cyrus for His divine task. Moreover, the Spirit equipped the heroes of the ancient Israelites with extraordinary strength (e.g., see Judges 3:10; Judges 6:34; Judges 13:25; Judges 14:6; Judges 15:14). The Holy Spirit endowed and empowered Bezalel and Oholiab with artistic skills for the construction of the Tabernacle and its equipment (see Exodus 31:1-6; Exodus 35:30-35; see also Proverbs 1:2). Sometimes, the Spirit came upon individuals mightily to alter their normal behavior (see e.g., 1 Samuel 10:16; 1 Samuel 19:23-24). The Prophet Zechariah announced the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty” Zechariah 4:6, NIV2011). The Holy Spirit is the ultimate origin of all mental and spiritual gifts, as the Spirit is the underlying inspiration and wisdom (see e.g., Exodus 31:1-6; Numbers 11:16-17; Isaiah 11:1-4; Job 4:15; Job 32:8). Most important, Jesus is God’s Anointed One empowered with God’s Spirit (see Psalm 2:2; Isaiah 11:1-5; Isaiah 42:1-7; Isaiah 61:1; Isaiah 63:1-6; Acts 10:38). Essentially, both the Old Testament and the New Testament employ anointing as representative of God’s presence and power.

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God is depicted as a mighty wind, breath, and spirit (see e.g., Numbers 11:31-32; Ezekiel 37:9-10, 14). The clearest example of God’s Spirit at work came during the ancient Israelite’s exodus (redemption) from Egyptian slavery and their wilderness wandering (see e.g., Numbers 11:17; Nehemiah 9:19-20; Isaiah 63:10-14; Acts 13:16-19). During the time of the Exodus, God deployed His wind to part the Red Sea thus enabling the ancient Israelites to pass safely through the Red Sea and to escape Pharaoh and his Egyptian army (see Exodus 14:21-22). Moreover, the Spirit of God exercised control over the chaotic waters at the beginning of creation and brought life (see Genesis 1:2; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 8:1; see also Psalm 33:6; Job 26:13). God is a God of order and peace and not confusion and chaos (see e.g., 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Moreover, the Holy Scriptures reveal the Spirit as wind and cloud able to transport God on its wings to the outer limits of the earth (see e.g., 2 Samuel 22:11-12; Psalm 18:9-10; Psalm 104:3-4; Nahum 1:3).

The Old Testament prophets anticipated a time when the true and living God would pour out His abundant Holy Spirit on all men and women in greater fullness (see e.g., Isaiah 32:14-18; Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Ezekiel 37:14; Ezekiel 39:29; Joel 2:28-32). This Old Testament prophetic foreshadowing looked forward to a time when the Spirit of God would regenerate His chosen people, empower the Messiah (Jesus), and empower God’s faithful people through repentance and faith in the coming Messiah (see e.g., Isaiah 11:1-4; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 63:10-11; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 18:31; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Joel 2:28-32). Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy and baptize everyone with the Holy Spirit who believed and obeyed Him (see e.g., Matthew 3:11-12; Mark 1:8; John 1:33; John 3:5-8; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:14; Acts 11:16-17; Acts 19:4-6). Since the coming of the coming of Jesus the Messiah, the Gospel message declares that God has given the Holy Spirit to all faithful believers who repent, trust and obey Jesus, God’s only begotten Son (see Acts 2:38-40). Faithful believers in Jesus are anointed by God for good and service (see e.g., 1 Corinthians 12:1-14:25; 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:27).

Reference
Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).
Holman Bible Dictionary
Green, Joel B. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2013.
J.I. Packer. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993).

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