The Divine Work of the Holy Spirit: Part 9 - Indwelling in the Old Testament

TBC Glassboro Sermons and More · The Divine Work Of The Holy Spirit: Part 9 - Indwelling In The Old Testament

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given to a person to perform a specific task. 

• The Spirit of the Lord came upon [Othniel], and he judged Israel. - Judges 3:10
  
• So the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called together to follow him. - Judges 3:34Now the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, so that he passed through Gilead and Manasseh; - Judges 11:29
  
• The Spirit of the Lord came upon [Samson] mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand; - Judges 14:6 

Charles Ryrie stated the phrase the Spirit of the Lord came upon, “seems to imply the temporary and transitory character of the Spirit’s relationship to the Old Testament saint.” (1)  The temporary nature of the Holy Spirit’s Old Testament ministry is underscored by the departure of the Spirit from Saul after his rebellion.

• Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him.            - 1 Samuel 16:14
  

As well, following his sin, David pleaded that God would not remove the Holy Spirit from Him

• Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.                         - Psalm 51:11 
  

Furthermore, according to Leon Wood, “An evaluation of these texts shows that all involved empowerment for a physical activity. None of them had to do with salvation from sin in any sense.” (2)

While the Holy Spirit was given to specific people in the Old Testament it was more of an anointing instead of an indwelling.  In John 14:16-17, Christ stated that following Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would permanently indwell all believers.  

• I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. - John 14:16-17
  

ENDNOTES:

1. Charles Caldwell Ryrie, The Holy Spirit, Rev. and expanded. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1997), 54.
2. Leon Wood, The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976), 122–23.