In His Word: Topical Bible Study

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit was present upon the earth even before the creation of man: 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 (Genesis 1:2). But we can see a distinct difference between the action of the Holy Spirit among the people of Israel in the Old Testament and the believers of the New Testament.

We see the action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of some of the people in the Old Testament. We see that the Spirit of the Lord "came upon" some of the central figures of the Old Testament at certain times. But this was an exceptional occurrence. The following scriptures are a few examples of this:

(Judges 3:10) 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.

(Judges 6:34) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.

(Judges 14:6) 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. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.

(1 Samuel 10:6) The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.

(1 Samuel 16:13) 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.

(Ezekiel 11:5) Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me, 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.

When Moses grew tired of leading the people of Israel, God told him to gather together 70 elders of the people. God said that He would take some of the anointing of the Holy Spirit that was upon Moses and place it upon the 70 elders (Numbers 11:17). When the Holy Spirit came upon the elders, they prophesied. Even two men in the camp that did not come out to the meeting tent began to prophesy. When the people came to Moses, they complained that the two mean were prophesying in the camp. 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!" Numbers 11:29

Moses looked forward to the time when all of the people of God could receive this anointing of the Holy Spirit. Joel prophesied that it would happen. Peter repeated the prophecy of Joel on the day of Pentecost, when God fulfilled His promise:

(Acts 2:16-18) No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: {17} "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. {18} Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

In your baptism, God made His home in you. On that day, God filled you with His Holy Spirit. That is why Paul writes,

(1 Corinthians 3:16) Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

Scripture teaches us that through faith in Jesus Christ you be come a child of God, a new creation. As God's child, you inherit the kingdom of God. The first installment in receiving the kingdom of God, is receiving the Holy Spirit:

(Ephesians 1:13-14) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, {14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

Studying the Scriptures that show how the Holy Spirit worked among God's people will help you to better understand the ways in which the Holy Spirit will work in your life. Open to the power of the Holy Spirit. Give Him permission to move in power in your life.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, come and move in power in my life like a strong and driving wind. Give me new power for living my life and working in your kingdom. Set me free from sin, sickness, disease and the power of evil. Holy Spirit, you flow as a river from the Father's throne. Pour out upon as a fountain, fill me with Your power, wash me in Your Mercy, make me new.