The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

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The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
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The Holy Spirit The People

• In the OT the Holy Spirit did NOT indwell or
  universally grace all believers/Abrahams
  seed/those in covenant with God
• The Spirit fell upon, entered, dwelt, temporarily
  and conditionally upon
• Political Leaders
• Prophets

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The Holy Spirit Political Leaders

• In the nearly 2000 years of history recorded in
  the OT, very few political leaders are described
  as being endowed with the Spirit
• Joseph (Gen. 4138)
• Joshua (Num. 2718)
• Moses (Num 1114-25)
• Judges Othniel (310), Gideon (634), Jephthah
  (1129), Samson (1325, 146-19, 1514)
• Saul (I Sam. 106, 116)
• David (I Sam. 1613) no post-Davidic leaders
  are described as being endowed with the Spirit

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The Holy Spirit Prophets

• The Holy Spirit was also responsible for
  inspiring Prophetic activity
• Numbers 1116-17, 25-26
• Numbers 242,3
• I Sam. 1010
• I Peter 111
• II Peter 121

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The Holy Spirit The People

• The presence of the Holy Spirit was not
  universally present in all covenant believers
  (Numbers 1129)
• Gods Presence/Spirit dwelt universally amongst
  the people in specific places, but not in all
  their hearts (Isaiah 637-14 Haggai 25)

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The Holy Spirit The People

• Gods Spirit fell on, rushed on, descended on
  certain people but not for all eternity or
  unconditionally (Judges 1620 I Samuel 2816,17
  Psalm 5111)
• The temporary presence of the Spirit did not
  guarantee a conversion to holiness (Num. 318
  Jude 11)

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The Holy Spirit The People

• The purpose of the Holy Spirit in the OT was
  two-fold
• To empower those He rested upon to perform a
  specific work for God
• To distinguish them/set apart from the rest of
  the people

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The Promises of Things to Come

• Although there were no post-Davidic leaders
  endowed with the Holy Spirit, the Messianic
  Prophecies spoke of one who was coming with the
  same kind of anointing of Spirit that David had
  (Isaiah 112, 421, 4816, 611).
• This led to many peoples rejection of Jesus as
  the Messiah

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The Promises of Things to Come

• The OT gives several promises of a future day
  when Gods people would have a greater experience
  of His Spirit Isaiah 3215, 443 Jeremiah
  3131-31 Ezekiel 3626,27, 3714, 3929)
• Joel 228,29
• John 739, 1417

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Pre v. Post Pentecost

• Limited to some / Available to all
• Came upon, with / Lives in
• Temple / Heart
• Sanctifies, sets apart, distinguishes
• Empowers for a specific work