The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917)

Summary of the O.T. doctrine of the Holy Spirit:

(1) The personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit appear from the attributes ascribed to Him, and from His works.

(2) He is revealed as sharing the work of creation and therefore omnipotent Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Psalms 104:30 as omnipresent Psalms 139:7 as striving with men Genesis 6:3 as enlightening Job 32:8 enduing with constructive skill ; Exodus 28:3; 31:3 giving physical strength Judges 14:6,19 executive ability and wisdom ; Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25 enabling men to receive and utter divine revelations ; Numbers 11:25; 2 Samuel 23:2 and, generally, as empowering the servants of God ; Psalms 51:12; Joel 2:28; Micah 3:8; Zechariah 4:6

(3) He is called holy Psalms 51:11 good Psalms 143:10 the Spirit of judgment and burning Isaiah 4:4 of Jehovah, of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, good, knowledge, the fear of the Lord Isaiah 11:2 and of grace and supplications Zechariah 12:10.

(4) In the O.T. the Spirit acts in free sovereignty, coming upon men and even upon a dumb beast as He will, nor are the conditions set forth (as in the N.T.) by complying with which any one may receive the Spirit. The indwelling of every believer by the abiding Spirit is a N.T. blessing consequent upon the death and resurrection of Christ John 7:39; 16:7; Acts 2:33; Galatians 3:1-6.

(5) The O.T. contains prediction of a future pouring out of the Spirit upon Israel Exodus 37:14; 39:29 and upon “all flesh” Joel 2:28,29. The expectation of Israel, therefore, was twofold--of the coming of Messiah-Immanuel, and of such an effusion of the Spirit as the prophets described. See Matthew 1:18.

Malachi 2:15

And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the . And wherefore one? That he might seek a seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none against the wife of his youth.

Genesis 1:2

And the earth was without form, and ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the moved upon the face of the waters.

Job 26:13

By his he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

Job 33:4

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the hath given me life.

Psalms 104:30

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou the face of the earth.

Psalms 139:7

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy ?

Genesis 6:3

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always , for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Job 32:8

But there is a spirit in man: and the of the Almighty giveth them .

Exodus 28:3

And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the , that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Exodus 31:3

And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of ,

Judges 14:6, 19

6 And the of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

19 And the Spirit of the came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

Judges 3:10

And the came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

Judges 6:34

But the Spirit of the LORD came upon , and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

Judges 11:29

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon , and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

Judges 13:25

And the began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Numbers 11:25

And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the : and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

2 Samuel 23:2

The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his was in my tongue.

Psalms 51:12

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy .

Micah 3:8

But truly I am by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

Zechariah 4:6

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto , saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Psalms 51:11

Cast me not away from thy ; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Psalms 143:10

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the .

Isaiah 4:4

When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the , and by the spirit of burning.

Isaiah 11:2

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the and of the fear of the LORD;

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have , and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Joel 2:28-29

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall , your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see :

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my .

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917)

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