THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

A review of one prominent book on OT theology surprisingly revealed no mention of the Spirit while another one only had a few paragraphs. The New International Dictionary of OT Theology and Exegesis states, “As one moves from the operation of the ruah in the OT to the pneuma in the NT, one is struck more by the continuity of the work of the Spirit of God than its discontinuity.” The following brief review of references to God's Spirit in the OT attempts to show that continuity.

Genesis

1:2 refers to the ruah (spirit or wind) moving over the water. Since the Hebrew word can be taken either way, the context is very important to deciding between the two options. In this case, the writers of the poetic books in the OT clearly took it to mean God's Spirit and the part he had in creation (Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30).

6:3 talks about God's spirit in man while he is alive, referring back to Genesis 2:7 and the breath of life. Similarly Job 27:3 says “as long as he has made me and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.” And Job in 33:4 states, “The spirit of God has made me and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Similarly, Isaiah 42:5 says, “God gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it.” Here we see some added complications in properly understanding ruah since it can refer to the life within a person or breath.

41:38 Pharaoh discerns that the Spirit of God is in Joseph, by which he is referring to Joseph's ability, intelligence and knowledge. Now we are starting to see some similarities to the gifts of the Spirit. But remember that this idea is being expressed by a pagan.

Exodus

We see the same thing in Exodus 28:3 when God says to “instruct all those in whom I have placed a spirit of wisdom” and in the description of Bezalel in 31:3, who is filled with the Spirit of God so that he has ability, intelligence, knowledge and craftsmanship.

Numbers

11:17,25,28 Some of the spirit of Moses rests on seventy elders; they prophesy but only temporarily.

Deuteronomy

In 34:9 Joshua is given the spirit of wisdom by Moses laying hands on him. This is somewhat like the apostles giving the gift of the Holy Spirit by laying hands on people.

Judges

Seven times in this book, beginning with 3:10, the Spirit of the LORD came upon someone and they judged Israel.

I Samuel

10:6,10 Saul was told that the spirit of God would come upon him and that he would be like another man (similar to NT references of being born again or putting away the old person).

16:13-14 Unlike Saul, the same event was permanent for David. In Psalm 51:11-12, he makes the plea: “Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me.” By implication, he associates the presence of the spirit with the presence of God himself within a person.

I Kings

18:12 Obadiah mentions the Spirit of Yahweh guiding or carrying Elijah somewhere. This is similar to the Book of Acts where the Spirit prevents Paul from going somewhere, or where Paul, John and Philip are transported physically or in visions to other places.

II Kings

Verse 2:16 alludes to the I Kings episode above.

II Chronicles

15:1; 20:14; 24:20 The Spirit of God comes on Azariah, Jahaziel, and Zechariah and they prophesy.

Nehemiah

9:20 God gives the good Spirit to instruct the people. Psalm 143:10 mentions the good Spirit to lead the Psalmist on a level path.

9:30 The people are warned by the Spirit through the prophets (use of a gift of the Spirit for the good of the believing community). Similarly, Zechariah 7:12 talks about the words the LORD sent by his Spirit through the former prophets.

Psalms

139:7 The Psalmist asks the rhetorical question: Where shall I go from thy Spirit? Or where shall I flee from thy presence? This verse hints at omnipresence as one of the attributes of the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah

The last part of Isaiah is actually broken up into three parts, each one highlighting one of the Persons of the Trinity:

Isaiah 40-66

A. Promise of Peace (chs. 40-48)

    God the Father

B. Prince of Peace (chs. 49-57)

    God the Son

C. Program of Peace (chs. 58-66)

    God the Spirit

11:2 The Spirit shall rest on (the Messiah): Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the LORD. The Greek version, the Septuagint, adds the seventh characteristic of godliness. This verse may be the basis for Revelation 1:4. Also note that the Spirit is called the counselor (or advocate) in the NT. Further in Isaiah 42:1, the Messiah is said to be given the spirit of justice.

32:15 contains the first OT prophecy of the Spirit being poured out upon the people in the future. It is repeated in 44:3 and 59:21.

40:7 The grass withers when the breath (Spirit) of the LORD blows upon it. This hints at the characteristic of omnipotence for the Spirit.

40:13 And lastly, we come to the attribute of omniscience: Who has directed the spirit of the LORD or as his counselor has instructed him? This rhetorical question has the expected answer of “no one.”

61:1 The suffering servant in this verse says, “The Spirit of the Lord od is upon me; the Lord anointed me to bring good tidings, etc.

63:10-11 They rebelled and grieved his holy spirit...God put his holy spirit in the midst of them. These verses are notable for two reasons. In the first place they constitute two of the only three places in the OT where the term “Holy Spirit” is used (the other one is in the Psalms). Secondly, although verse 11 could be used to explain that the spirit is merely an impersonal force of some kind, verse 10 clearly treats him as a Person.

63:14 “The spirit of the LORD gave them rest/peace.” Peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit according to the NT.

Ezekiel

In this book, the Spirit more obviously becomes an active agent, a personality, not just an attribute of God. He sets the prophet on his feet, moves him and shows him visions (3:12-14,24; 8:3; 11:1; 11:24; 37:1; 43:5).

11:5 This verse is noteworthy in that the Spirit not only speaks to Ezekiel, but that the text specifically refers to the Spirit as “he,” not “it.” (Ezekiel 2:1-3 is another possible example, but the text is somewhat more ambiguous.)

The promise of an indwelling Spirit is generalized to the whole people of God in 36:26-27; 37:14; and 39:29. Part of the reason for this is spelled out in the first of these references: “to allow them to walk in God's ways.”

Joel

Then we come to the seminal passage (Joel 2:28-29) which is quoted by Peter on the Day of Pentecost. Joel extends the promise of God's Spirit beyond the bounds of Israel to include “all flesh.”

Micah

Another rhetorical question to be answered in the negative is found in 2:7: “Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient?” Remember that patience is another fruit of the Spirit.

3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might.

Zechariah

Verse 4:6 can be compared to the last quote above: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.”

Haggai

2:5 "My Spirit abides among you; fear not."  The Spirit is pictured as a comforter here.

 

2:5 My Spirit abides among you; fear not