Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
An aspect of God’s character for which we should all be thankful is His immutability. If something is mutable, it is subject to change. God’s immutability means not only that God does not change, but that He cannot change. Malachi records, “For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob” (Mal. 3:6). If God changed, there would be no hope for any of us. We would all be in danger of being consumed. God would not keep His promises. God’s faithfulness would be in question. But His immutability is a certainty on which we can rest.
But to say that God cannot change does not mean that He does not deal with men differently in various dispensations. Nor does He expect the same thing from men in each dispensation. For example, God deals differently with Israel than He does with the Church, since He has two distinct programs. Under the Law, Israel was commanded to offer animal sacrifices and observe various prescribed feast days. . . under grace, the Church is not commanded to make such offerings since our Lord has already offered the supreme sacrifice of Himself, and we are not bound to keep the feast days.
In the past two articles, we have been studying the Holy Spirit, our Divine Comforter. We have seen who He is—He is both God and a Person. We now begin to examine what He does. When studying His work, we must discover if there is a difference between how He has operated in the past and how He operates now and in the future. In this study we will answer the question: “The Holy Spirit: How Was He Active in the Old Testament?” His past activity falls into three areas.
He was active in creating the world.
As God, the Holy Spirit had a definite role in the creation of the world.
He was involved in the creation of the earth, moving over the face of the waters, forming it for man to inhabit (Gen.1:1-2).
He exercised limitless wisdom and direction in the act of creating (Isa. 40:12-14).
He was involved in creating the heavens (Job 26:13).
He was involved in creating the animals (Psa. 104:24-30).
He was involved in creating man (Job 33:4).
He was active in revealing the truth.
The work of the Holy Spirit was central in giving us the Scriptures.
He revealed the truth to the writers of Scripture (I Pet. 1:10-12; cp. Eph. 3:2-5).
While using human authors and their distinctive vocabulary, background, and personalities, the Holy Spirit moved upon these human instruments (“holy men of God”) to speak and record His revelation to man without error (II Pet. 1:19-21).
Some of these human instruments—the Old Testament prophets—declared that they were speaking by means of the Holy Spirit (II Sam. 23:2; Ezek. 2:2-8; Mic. 3:8).
The New Testament writers attribute quotes from the Old Testament to the work of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 22:43; Acts 1:16; 4:24-25; 28:25; Heb. 3:7; 10:15-16).
He was active in transforming the people.
Though different than His present work, the Holy Spirit actively worked in men’s lives.
His indwelling in believers was not universal nor permanent, as it has been since the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
He dwelt in certain people (Gen. 41:38; Numb. 27:18; Dan. 4:8; 5:11-14; 6:3).
He came upon certain people (Judg. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; I Sam. 10:10; 16:13; I Chron. 12:18; II Chron. 15:1; 24:20).
He filled certain people (Ex.28:3; 31:3-5; 35:31; Numb. 11:17, 25).
He left certain people (Judg. 13:25; 16:20; I Sam. 10:10; 16:14; Psa. 51:11).
Jesus contrasted the Spirit’s ministry in Old Testament times with that in the Church age since Acts 2: “the Spirit of truth. . . you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:17—underlining added)—previously, selective and temporary indwelling. . . in this Church age, universal and permanent indwelling.
His ministry involved restraining sin (Gen. 6:3).
The restraining likely involved the Spirit speaking through Noah to that wicked generation.
The Spirit wouldn’t contend with man forever—He restrained sin for 120 years until the Flood came (Gen. 6:3).
He empowered believers for service (Ex. 31:3; Judg. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 14:6; I Sam. 16:13)—He came upon certain believers to enable them to fulfill a specific purpose.
(Resources used: Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Vol. VI, pp. 66-79; The Holy Spirit, Charles Ryrie, pp. 30-44; Basic Theology, Charles Ryrie, pp. 346-349; The Divine Comforter, J. Dwight Pentecost, pp. 21-65)
As we view the Holy Spirit’s ministry in the Old Testament, it reminds us that the Holy Spirit has been essential is giving us this created world and the Scriptures. He worked in the lives of men then, and He works in men now. We should be thankful that He indwells us as believers now permanently and universally, not temporarily and selectively. What a blessing that He not only works in us, but also through us, to accomplish His purposes! Let’s yield moment by moment to the Spirit’s control!
Because of His Grace—Pastor Charlie