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Writer's pictureJack Selcher

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament--Part Four

Updated: Nov 2


Jesus in the style of an Eastern Orthodox icon

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament—Part Four completes our consideration of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. Through a vision, the Holy Spirit enabled Ezekiel to see what was happening in Jerusalem while he was in Babylonia.


The Spirit revealed the people who were planning evil and giving untrustworthy counsel. He told Ezekiel how to respond (Ezekiel 11:1–5, 24).


Later in the book of Ezekiel, God promised Israel would be restored. He would give them a new heart and spirit. They would become responsive to His will and ways.


He would put His Spirit in them to enable them to obey Him (Ezekiel 36:26–27). Similarly, in Philippians 2:13 NLT, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”


Once again the Spirit carried Ezekiel away in a vision to a valley covered with dry bones. That symbolized God’s people without hope in exile. God promised His Spirit would bring the community back to life and He would never again turn His face from them (Ezekiel 39:29).


That message gave hope to despairing people. God had a place for them. They would return from Babylonia to their land (Ezekiel 37:1, 14).


The new birth the Holy Spirit engineers enables us to live with great expectation that God will keep His promises to us as He did to them (1 Peter 1:3). We confidently expect He has a place prepared for us (John 14:1–3).


The LORD promised He would pour out His Spirit upon all men and women without distinction. They will experience an intimate relationship with Him. They will prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions (Joel 2:28–29).


The Apostle Peter saw the fulfillment of Joel 2:28–29 in the events of Pentecost and the giving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17–21). We’re not quite finished with our study of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.


The prophet Micah warned that God would judge Jerusalem and Samaria and bring disaster upon them (Micah 2:3–5). The people didn’t think a patient God would do that.


Micah insisted the LORD’s Spirit wouldn’t be patient with their behavior (Micah 2:7). God’s patience has limits. He used the Assyrians and Babylonians to judge Israel and Judah, respectively.


Micah encountered false prophets who prophesied all would be well for those who paid them but not for those who didn’t (Micah 3:5). They prophesied for profit. Their predictions didn’t come from God.


In contrast, Micah boldly declared Israel’s sin and rebellion. He wasn’t popular. The Spirit of the LORD empowers true prophets while false prophets make it up as they go (Micah 3:8).  


The prophet Haggai encouraged the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem in 520 BC, 66 years after its destruction. God was at work to restore it as He was in the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Because God’s Spirit remained among them, they weren’t to allow fear to hinder the work (Haggai 2:5).


Neither are we. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NLT).


Similarly, in the context of the Great Commission and the building of Jesus’ church, Jesus promised His presence--And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). Jesus is with us through His Holy Spirit.


We have one more Old Testament book to consider. Zechariah assured Governor Zerubbabel the Spirit would supply all the resources he needed to complete his temple rebuilding assignment. This verse reminds us we must trust the Holy Spirit to speak through us when we talk about Jesus to others (Zechariah 4:6).


Empty religious rituals without justice and obedience anger God. The people wept and abstained from eating to demonstrate their repentance, but God wasn’t impressed. They didn’t change their ways. They oppressed widows, orphans, sojourners, and the poor instead of watching over them.


Earlier generations didn’t listen to God’s law, or His Spirit-inspired prophets sent to warn them to turn from their wicked ways to Him. Like a porcupine with quills up, they were in full defense mode against God’s will for their lives. That made God angry (Zechariah 7:12), and He sent a whirlwind of judgment against them (Zechariah 7:14). The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament--Part One.  #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources 


See free spiritual growth resources for Christians at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com


God has empowered me to write “His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength.” It’s a free devotional discipleship resource. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead more than 2,400 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 4,563 people. I invite you to check it out. https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/his-power-for-your-weakness


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