Thank you to Ian for this week’s MWB
The Holy Spirit empowering, enabling and giving wisdom
The story of Israel in the Old Testament reveals cycles of rebellion – turning to other gods – defeated by their enemies – crying out to the LORD – God raising up and empowering leaders to deliver them; this also reveals God’s faithfulness, compassion and grace. This is, perhaps, best seen in the book of Judges in which we find the phrase – “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him.” – for a variety of complex characters who became deliverers in Israel. – Othniel Judges 3 v.10 – – Gideon ch.6 v.34 – – Jephthah ch.11 v. 29 – – Samson ch.14 v.6. – – “The Spirit of the Lord empowering”.
From there we are led to 1 Samuel – to the story of Hanna and the little boy Samuel who became a man who listened to God and in ch.10 v.10, the first king of Israel, Saul – “The Spirit of God came upon him in power.” Sadly Saul turned away from the LORD. But, again we find God’s provision, ch.16 v.13 – “From that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.” – Whilst David followed the wisdom given to him by the Spirit of the LORD all went well, but came that moment of folly which provoked his prayer in Ps.51 v.11 – “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” David knew his dependence upon the Holy Spirit and God’s grace and in his last words (2 Sam.23 v.2) was able to say – “The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue”.
Of course we can go back to Moses, a man who also had the Spirit of the LORD upon him and, when the LORD’s Spirit came upon his 70 elders, was caused to say in Numbers 11 v.29 – “I wish that all of the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them.” In Exodus 31 v.3, speaking of Bezalel, the LORD says – “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.” – so the Tabernacle in the wilderness was built as the LORD directed.
In the story of the people of Israel in the Old Testament we find God’s faithful working to empower, enable and provide wisdom through the presence of The Spirit of the LORD, and, of course, in God’s mercy and grace, that working of the Holy Spirit continues in the LORD’s people to this day.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength – – – Phil.4 v.13