restoring the weightier matters of torah, part six

restoring the weightier matters of torah 2015 jan 12
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part two 2015 jan 13
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part three 2015 jan 15
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part four 2015 jan 16
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part five 2015 jan 20

We must remember that the Holy Spirit, the Ruach haKodesh, does as He wills, not as we will.

The Spirit is in Hebrew, Ruach, Strong’s H7307. He occurs twice in the opening chapters of Genesis (first occurrences provide the Scriptural definition):

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Gen 1:2

The Spirit of God is always involved in the action of God.

And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” Gen 6:3

The Spirit strives with man. He deals with men, and has dealings with men. These first two occurrences of Ruach in the Bible teaches us that the Spirit is the demonstrative active presence of God in the world.

The Ruach haKodesh can be seen operating in dozens and dozens of places in the Hebrew Bible, besides the first occurrences above; the following are just a sampling (Brad had probably all the instances, but I could not write them all down fast enough):

And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Gen 41:38

So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. Exo 28:3

Then Moses said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” Num 11:29

Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. Deu 34:9

But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites gathered behind him. Jud 6:34

When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 1 Sam 10:10

Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’” 2 Chr 24:20

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? Psa 139:7

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. Isa 11:2

Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest. Isa 32:15

“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Eze 36:27

So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. Zec 4:6