Looking at the work of the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament this article shows that the Holy Spirit is regarded as a person, and He was involved from creation, in the life of God’s people. 

Source: Wegwijs, 2005. 3 pages. Translated by Albert H. Oosterhoff.

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

sun going down over field

We are so inclined to connect the work of the Holy Spirit to the first Pentecost that we often forget that he was also active before that time. And when we are confronted with that fact questions may arise. A women’s study society asked the following questions: ‘How did the Spirit work in the Old Testament? We read that sometimes the Spirit was poured out on people, such as the seventy elders in the wilderness (Num 11:16-17). But it is only through the Spirit that you come to faith. So did the people in the Old Testament have the Spirit, or not? What is the difference between the Old Testament and the New?’

When I began to consider these questions, it struck me that the Spirit was active from the beginning of the Bible until the end. Already at the very beginning we read: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.’ (Gen 1:1-2). And in the last verses of the Bible we read: ‘The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life’ (Rev 22:17).

Person or Force🔗

In recent years Christians are often and rightly reminded that the Lord God is a person and not some higher power of something similar. This is very important in a time in which many people say that they do believe that there is something, a higher power or force. But it is most important for us to realize that the Lord really is a person. And the same is true of the Holy Spirit. But it is not always easy to explain that. The Hebrew word for Spirit, ruah, also means breath or wind. And in many places it can be translated as such. A clear example is Genesis 1:2. Some translate the expression ‘Spirit of God’ and ‘an unusually strong wind’, while someone else proposes the translation, ‘a storm of God rushed over the waters’.

Indeed, in many places in the Old Testament the Bible speaks about the Holy Spirit acting or exercising power. But the Old Testament also ascribes attributes to the Holy Spirit suggesting that he is a person. Thus, the Bible says of him that he speaks (2 Sam 23:2) and instructs (Neh 9:20); that he leads David on level ground (Ps 143:10); and that the people grieved God’s Holy Spirit (Isa 63:10). All of this makes it clear that we must think about the Holy Spirit as a person.

This becomes more clear in the New Testament. And as always, we must read the Old Testament in light of the New when we try to answer these questions.

The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament🔗

The Holy Spirit was active in various ways in the Old Testament.

  1. He was involved in the creation and preservation of the world (see Gen 1:2 and Ps 104:29-30).

  2. He reveals the will of God. He does that directly by imparting God’s Word to the prophets and other office bearers. You must remember that the Bible was not yet complete at that time and much of what the Spirit then revealed directly has been written down in the Bible so that we can know it today.

  3. He leads people to faith, repentance, conversion, and obedience.

  4. He confers leadership capabilities on people, such as Moses and the seventy elders; judges, such as Gideon and Samson; and kings, such as Saul and David.

  5. He endows artists with special artistic and creative talents to make priestly garments. And he enabled Bezalel and Oholiab to adorn the tabernacle with fine works of art (Exod 28:3; 31:2, 3, 6).

art work

Sometimes it seems as though the Holy Spirit is not present in the Old Testament. But the opposite is the case. In it we see many aspects of the Work of the Holy Spirit that are important for every day life. He makes everything perfect and beautiful. Every spring he ensures that nature returns in its full splendour. It is he who makes the wonderful harmony of music and song possible and supplies the colours in a painting. He wants to create harmony among people and within families. Those are all every day kinds of things. You see him when you look in a cradle. You hear him when young people profess their faith. You sense him when you experience the care and love on which you are sometimes so dependent.

And, in addition, he works faith in people. No one can long for the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God than through the Spirit (Heb 11:10). Also in the time of the Old Testament no one could look forward to the Messiah except through the Holy Spirit (Heb 11).

Longing for the Fullness of the Spirit🔗

Thus, the Old Testament displays a rich variety of gifts and acts of the Holy Spirit. But the Old Testament is also filled with a deep longing for a time when the Spirit would work in a broader and deeper way. Moses gives expression to that longing when he exclaims: ‘I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!’ (Num 11:29). And the prophet Joel proclaims: ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. . . Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days’ (Joel 2:28-29).

In a vision, Ezekiel, too, sees the rich and fruitful work of the Spirit, when he observes new life spring up in a former barren land (Ezek 47). It is all because of the living water of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus builds on this vision in John 7:38-39 and we see the final phase of it in the images of the book of Revelation (22:1-2).

In the New Testament the Holy Spirit constantly develops further what he did in the Old. Read the beautiful list of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians (5:22-23). And read about the recreation of all things. He makes everything new (Rev 21:5).

In the Old Testament many gifts were given only to specific persons. But now everyone receives him and his gifts. He distributes them over his entire church. He works in all the hearts. He begins to work deeply (a new heart) and broadly (on all living things).

Despite many differences, it is the same Spirit who works in the Old and the New Testaments. You can identify the differences as follows:

  • from incidental activity to continuous activity;

  • from partial to full;

  • from office bearers to all believers.

The Work of the Holy Spirit🔗

But above all, in the entire history of the church the Spirit points people to the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. For that reason, he reveals Christ and his work, so that people will believe. And he will work until the Saviour comes in response to the prayer of the Spirit and the bride (Rev 22:17).

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