The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
We have a very interesting study to set before you today. Most of us realize how vital a part the Holy Spirit plays in our own experiences, both in life and in service, We need, however, to remember that the Holy Spirit, from the very beginning, held a prominent and indisputable place in the relationships of Deity toward men.
There is a special sense in which the Holy Spirit is the representative of the Trinity among saints during this age. There is a verse in John which reads thus: "(But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified)." This verse is found in John 7:39 and it concedes that there is a special ministry of the Holy Ghost for us which was not given in the olden days.
The Holy Spirit in Genesis 1:1-18, was the Spirit of creation. This is the theme upon which we wish to speak as the leader of the lesson. There are several things to be considered.
1. The Original Creation. The first verse of the Bible says: "In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth." When that beginning was we do not know. We only know there was a beginning, and therefore, there was a time in which there was no Heaven and no earth. In Isaiah we read these words: "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited" (Isaiah 45:18).
This verse shows that the original earth was not created void.
2. The earth waste and void. The second verse of the Bible tells us that the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. As we understand it, there must have been a preadamic judgment that fell upon the earth. That it had something to do with Satan and with his fall we feel sure.
3. The Spirit of God moving upon the face of the water. The second clause of Genesis 1:2 and Genesis 1:3 says: "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." We now come to the majestic movements of the Spirit of God. There is a verse in Psalms 104:30, which reads: "Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created: and Thou re-newest the face of the earth."
When we think of the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters, we cannot but remember how the angel said to Mary, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,"
In this connection, we are led to suggest that upon every unregenerate heart the Spirit of God also comes. He broods over the newly trusting soul, and begets in them the new life in Christ Jesus.
Let us, however, not forget our chief thought in Genesis 1:1-31, that the heavens and the earth were brought out of their darkness and into their present form by the Spirit of God.
When we ask, Who created all things? we are quick to reply, that God the Father so did. Yet, we are just as ready to state that God the Son so did. Is it not written of Jesus Christ, "For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, * * all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist"?
We are, however, also correct in saying that God the Spirit created all things. In the 1st chapter of Genesis, therefore, the Triune God stands forth in marvelous light. This suggestion is summed up in the statement of Genesis 1:26, "And God said, Let Us make man."
I. THE HOLY SPIRIT STRIVING WITH MEN (Genesis 6:3)
1. A world corrupted by Satan. From the day that God in the Garden said of the Seed of the woman, "It shall bruise thy head," Satan occupied himself in debasing the Seed of the woman, and in bringing the earth under the sway of corruption, ignominy, and shame. It was then that God looked down from Heaven and saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth. Those were dark days. They were days when sin and Satan seemed to reign with unbroken sway.
2. The Spirit's striving. From Adam to Noah the Spirit of God was striving with men. He was meeting every strategy of Satan with His might and power. God's grace and mercy was thrown over against the villainy and tyranny of men.
Not until we are in Heaven itself, will we ever know the full sweep of the Spirit's work. We do know that in the midst of that period lying between Adam and Noah there must have been many godly men, and that among them was Enoch, the man who walked with God, and was not, for God took him.
3. God's limit to the Spirit's work. Our text says: "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh." God was about to destroy man from off the earth. He determined that in the future man's life should be shortened to one hundred and twenty years. Prior to the flood the age of man easily reached nine hundred and more years. During all of this period, the Spirit of God would strive with man.
Following the flood, God limited the years of man's sojourn in order that He might limit the years of His Spirit's striving. Man had become accustomed to tramping the love of God beneath his feet, and to walking in the vain imaginations of the thoughts of his heart until God said, "It is enough."
4. A present-day application. We do not hesitate to affirm that in this day the Spirit of God cuts down the age of many a man and woman because of their sin.
II. THE SPIRIT STRIVING WITH ISRAEL (Hebrews 3:7-11)
Hebrews 3:1-19 and Hebrews 4:1-16 carry a marvelous tale of forty years during which the Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness. The Holy Spirit Himself bore witness that the fathers tempted Him, and proved Him, and saw His works forty years. Then the Holy Spirit added: "I was grieved with that generation, and said. They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known My ways."
1. The ways of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament days, the Spirit wrought in behalf of His people, but they did not know Him. He went in a cloud before them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. He fed them with the Heavenly manna, He gave them water from the flinty rock. Yet, for all this they knew Him not, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
How striking are the words: They "saw My works forty years." It would take volumes to tell of all the mighty works of the Holy Ghost in behalf of the fathers in that time. He spread abroad His wings as the wings of an eagle. He carried them, and bore them in His own matchless power.
2. The ways of Israel. They tempted the Spirit. They grieved Him. They erred alway in their hearts. They knew Him not. He was with them, but they saw Him not. He spake to them, but they heard not His voice. He undertook in their behalf, but they hardened their hearts.
We cannot but ask, Is not this same thing being enacted day by day among many of our young people? Some at least have never so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost; some have heard, but have refused to listen. They choose their own path, walk in their own ways. They grieve the Spirit, when He would conform them like unto their Master; they quench Him, when He would empower them for service and send them forth to the harvest fields.
3. The Spirit's wrath. There are several things we read here concerning the Holy Spirit in the days of Israel's journeyings.
First, They grieved Him. Then, secondly, They caused Him to sware in His wrath, "There shall not one of this evil generation enter into that land."
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it"
III. THE SPIRIT SPEAKING THROUGH BALAAM (Numbers 24:2)
1. A peculiar chain of circumstances. Balak and the Moabites dwelt on the hill. Down in the valley a wonderful people had pitched their tents and were encamped. Balak was afraid of them. He knew that their God was with them. For this cause, Balak sent for Balaam to come and utter his curse against the people of God.
At first Balaam refused to go, although he entertained the embassage sent by Balak. Balak sent unto Balaam men more honorable and gifts of greater value, still urging Balaam to come unto him that he might curse Israel. This time Balaam provoked the Lord by wishing to go, and God told him to go. On the way, however, God met him with a drawn sword, rebuking the madness of the prophet. Balaam, however, went on to Balak because he loved the wages of unrighteousness.
2. A stirring scene. After seven altars had been builded, and seven oxen, and seven rams had been prepared for sacrifice, Balaam stood with his hand upon the burnt offering, and lifted up his voice to curse Israel. However, God changed his cursings into blessings. Thus we read: "And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable, and said."
3. The majesty of the Spirit's message. We do not speak of Balaam's message, because Balaam spoke not his own words, but the words of the Spirit of God. We are interested, therefore, not only to notice in the Old Testament days that the Spirit of God spake, we are interested also to know what He spake.
Let us suggest for your consideration some things spoken by the Spirit concerning Israel, We will not have time to do more than jot them down. The speaker may develop them as he feels led.
1. "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel."
2. "His seed shall be in many waters, * * and His Kingdom shall be exalted."
3. "He shall eat up the nations His enemies."
4. "There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab."
5. "Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion."
6. "Who shall live when God doeth this?"
IV. THE SPIRIT COMING UPON SAUL (1 Samuel 10:10; 1 Samuel 11:6)
In the Old Testament days there is no Scripture to lead us to think that the Holy Spirit filled all saints or empowered all saints, in the sense that He does in our day. He did, however, come upon certain men to fulfill God's purposes and plans when they were called into special service.
1. Saul himself may not be reckoned as spiritual although the Spirit of God came upon him. We know a great deal about Saul's carnality and self-centered pride. However, the Spirit of God used him for a definite purpose.
2. The first instance in which the Spirit came upon Saul. Samuel, the Prophet, had revealed unto Saul that God had ordered him anointed as king. Saul was instructed to go to the hill of God, where there was a garrison of the Philistines. Then Samuel said: "When thou art come thither to the city, thou shalt meet a company of prophets * * and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man."
We read: "And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them."
Would that Saul had ever lived and walked in the power of the Spirit of God, who came upon him in the day that he was anointed king. For a while he ran well, who did hinder him?
Let the young people observe particularly the expression, "The Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt * * be turned into another man." Is it not true to this very hour that when the Spirit of God rests upon His people they are different? Was not Peter changed, when the Spirit came upon him? Changed from a cringing denying disciple, trembling before a maid, into the stalwart preacher of Pentecost? So will it be with us.
3. The second instance in which the Spirit came upon Saul. Some of God's people were in great danger because of Nahash the Ammonite. When Saul heard it the Spirit of God came upon him, and his anger was kindled against the enemy. Then it was that Saul went down and the Lord that day wrought salvation in Israel.
V. THE SPIRIT FILLING JOSEPH (Genesis 41:38)
We are going back in the pages of history to Joseph. However, we are going forward in the manifestation of the Old Testament work of the Spirit.
1. Joseph and his checkered experiences. We all remember of Joseph's dreams. We also remember how his brothers hated him, and upon their first opportunity they sold him to the Ishmaelites and caused Jacob, his father, to think of him as destroyed by wild beasts.
We also remember that, in Egypt, Joseph became servant to Potiphar, and was falsely accused by his master's wife and cast into prison.
We remember afterward how Joseph was lifted out of prison and exalted to Pharaoh's right hand.
In the course of events, Pharaoh dreamed two dreams. It was then that we find that Joseph told unto Pharaoh his dreams, interpreted their meaning unto him, and advised him as to the course he should pursue. Then Pharaoh said unto his servants, "Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?"
2. Pharaoh's correct conclusion. God did not say that Joseph was indwelt of the Spirit, but Pharaoh said it. We accept Pharaoh's conclusion because we believe Joseph was filled with the Spirit. It was the Spirit of God who gave Joseph the power to interpret dreams; it was the Spirit of God who gave Joseph the skill and the wisdom to advise Pharaoh's course of action. Do you marvel then that Pharaoh, against the natural inclination of his own heart (for he was a heathen), said unto Joseph, "God shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art"?
3. God's message to us. The God who was with Joseph will also be with us, if we will hear His voice and walk in His ways. The Spirit of God who was in Joseph, is in us if we are children of God; and He will cause us to know the mind of God, to understand the Word and the will of God. He will also make us wise above our fellows. He will lead us into the place of a victorious service, even as He led Joseph.
VI. THE SPIRIT FILLING BEZALEEL (Exodus 31:1-3)
As we look into the Word of God in the Old Testament Scriptures, we are so happy to discover that God filled a man with the Spirit and with wisdom and with understanding and knowledge in all manner of workmanship.
1. The individuals in whom the Spirit dwells. Too many of us imagine that the Spirit of God is given exclusively to preachers. We find, however, in today's lesson that the Spirit of God filled Bezaleel, a stonecutter, and a worker in silver and brass and gold.
Shall we, then, isolate the Holy Spirit to operating merely through the pulpit? May we not recognize Him in the men of the pew?
There are some who will include with the preacher, the deacons, and perhaps other administrators in church life. Thinkest thou that the preacher and the deacons, and the officers of the church, alone need the Spirit's filling? What we wish to emphasize just now is that all men, everywhere, in every phase of life, in every activity, need to be filled with the Spirit if they are going to serve the Lord.
We desire also to emphasize that men should seek to glorify God in every walk of life. Whatever we do, we should do it as unto the Lord.
2. The work which the Spirit accomplishes. Those who would seek to limit the Spirit in His infilling to preachers and the like, would also seek to limit the Spirit in His ministrations, to spiritual service.
Bezaleel, however, was filled with the Spirit of God in all manner of workmanship. He was filled with the Spirit to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stone, and in carving of timber.
Have you never thought of the Spirit of God as being interested in our daily round, our work in the factory, or the shop, or in our particular trade? Why should He not be? Does He not want to make every child of God capable and faithful in his daily round and trivial task, in order that the Name of God may thereby be glorified? Cannot the world see Christ in us in our toil, as well as in our preachment?
VII. THE SPIRIT INSPIRING THE PROPHETS (2 Peter 1:21)
Our verse reads: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
1. The Prophets afford a marvelous insight into the workings of the Holy Spirit in Old Testament days. The context of our key text assures us that the word of prophecy is a sure word because holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The context of our key text tells us that prophecy is not of any private interpretation, because holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The context of our key text tells us that we would do well to take heed to the "Word of God, because holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2. The Prophets themselves searched their own writings. In Peter's First Epistle we read that the Prophets of old inquired and searched diligently relative to the things they prophesied, Here is a remarkable proof that they were not writing the dictations of their own brains, or else they would not have needed to search the meaning of their own words.
3. David wrote by the Holy Ghost. In Acts 1:16 we read: "This Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas."
We read of a minister who said that he would accept nothing as inspired which was written by the pen of David. Alas, alas, upon that basis the whole Bible must be cast aside.
4. All the Prophets wrote by the Holy Ghost. In addition to our key text we call your attention to the words of the Apostle Paul, as he gave this, the confession of his faith; "But this I confess unto thee, * * so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets." He believed all things written in the Law and the Prophets, because he wrote, "All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God."
As we close, we ask you to give deep and due consideration to the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the days before Christ, and as you think of that work, consider how the same Spirit still works.
AN ILLUSTRATION
S. D. Gordon thus illustrates the meaning of Comforter and His method:
"Here is a boy in school, head down, puzzling over a 'sum.' It won't 'come out.' He figures away, and his brow is all knotted up, and a worried look is coining into his face, for he is a conscientious little fellow. But he cannot seem to get it right and the clouds gather thicker. By and by the teacher comes and sits down by his side. It awes him a little to have her quite so close. But her kindness of manner mellows the awe. 'How are you getting along?' 'Won't come out right,' in a very despondent tone. 'Let me see did you subtract that ?' 'Oh-h! I forgot that,' and a little light seems to break, as he scratches away for a few moments; then pauses, 'And this figure here, should it be ?' 'Oh-h-h, I see.' More scratching, and a soft sigh of relief, and the knitting brows unravel, and the face brightens. The teacher did not do the problem for him. She did better. She let him feel her kindly interest, first of all, and gave just the light, experienced touch that showed him the way out, and yet allowed him the peculiar pleasure of getting through himself. That is what 'Comforter' means.