Yes, the Book of Job has a lot to say about the “Spirit.”

Though today some of my readers will think I have “stretched” the verse a little! Yet I do believe the “truth” I’m explaining is valid.

Our Text today: “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” Job 32:8

There seems to be a “parallel” set of words in our verse. The “spirit” in man and the “Inspiration” of the Almighty! And the One teaches the other!

The “inspiration of the Almighty” here gives understanding, prudence, wisdom, discernment (all synonyms) to the “spirit” in man!

This is the same idea Paul elucidates in Romans 8:16. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Here’s God’s HOLY SPIRIT “bearing witness” (communing together) with our human “spirit,” thus proving we are indeed “saved” by the Grace of God!

Again I say, that’s a lot like Job 32:8. “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

The word for “spirit” as concerning “man” is “ruach,” used a total of 378 times in the Bible (Old Testament) and the normal word for the Holy Spirit as well. It means (in addition to “spirit” of course) “breath, wind, air,” and even “courage” once! (Joshua 2:11 is the “courage” instance.)

And the noun for “inspiration” is “neshamah,” rare indeed, found only 24 times in Scripture! It means “breath, spirit,” and even “blast” (of air) 3 times! It is derived from the verb “nasham,” meaning “to pant” and is used of a woman in labor pangs, about to give birth! A very strong word indeed!

God’s MIGHTY Spirit, energized and intense, instructing me!

My innermost being, my human “spirit!”

Wow!

PROOF I am saved!

Here’s our Job verse in action, quoting Jesus Himself now! “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

Job again: “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

All I can do or say … is bow and worship my Heavenly king, my Lord and Saviour … and praise His Name, thanking Him for the education!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Everyone knows the Holy Spirit aided in creation! We see Him there before “light” was even called into existence. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT OF GOD moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:2-3

But the Book of Job adds to the discussion!

Especially Job chapter 26, where verse 13 beautifully announces of God: “By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens ….”

Wow!

Creation again, using a Piel stem verb (in Hebrew suggesting great vigor, energetic action, fervency of purpose) spelled “shiprah” (translated “hath garnished”).

God, via the Holy Spirit, “made to glisten” the Heavens! Made the stars shine!

Yes, “shiprah” is a “hapax legomenon” in Scripture. That means the exact word is only found once in all the Bible, here in Job 26:13.

But its “root” means “to be pleasing, to be beautiful, to be bright.”

And aren’t the “heavens” just that?

Next clear night, go outside and look upward!

And the stronger telescopes and amazing outer-space viewing platforms we have today … merely accent our verse!

What color!

What span, distance, light years of power!

What awe His Handiwork inspires!

Yes, Job is right, of course. “By His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) He (God the Father) hath garnished the heavens ….” His “fingerprints” are in the sky!

But also, “by His Spirit,” He has saved my soul!

“By His Spirit” He sanctifies our lives!

“By His Spirit” He teaches us the Word of God!

“By His Spirit” He convicts me of wrongdoing!

Is there no end to the workings of God the Holy Spirit?

The universe his canvas, the Holy Spirit is God’s Artist Supreme!

By the way, is He “garnishing” your life today?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Yes, we all know the Holy Spirit as the “Comforter.”

But what if I told you He can also be the “Discomforter?”

He can be “for” us as we walk life’s journey, serving the Lord.

But He can too be “against” us, when we veer from God’s Will for our lives!

Now let me share today’s verse. “Yet many years didst thou (the Lord) forbear them (the Jews, Israel), and testifiedst AGAINST them BY THY SPIRIT ….” Nehemiah 9:30

The “Spirit” of God … against them!

Read the whole verse now. For more detail. “Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.”

Wow!

Some interesting words! “Forbear” (in Hebrew) is “mashak,” meaning such things as “to drag, to seize, to scatter!”

“Testified” (in Hebrew “ud”) is the word for “repeating” something. God warned these people again and again! Admonished them, protested their actions!

The Holy Spirit did these things … in the name of God. “By Thy Spirit,” Nehemiah quotes!

Note this too. The Prophets preached … the Holy Spirit then sought to restrain!

But … because the Israelites would NOT heed God’s warnings … God turned them over to enemy nations! They lost their freedom!

Needlessly.

Oh, had they only listened when the Holy Spirit testified “against” them!

So now we know … not only can the Spirit be “grieved.” Ephesians 4:30

And not only can He be “quenched.” First Thessalonians 5:19

He also can become “opposed” to a wayward child of God!

Think about it!

“Yet many years didst thou (Lord) forbear them (Israel), and TESTIFIEDEST AGAINST THEM BY THY SPIRIT ….” Nehemiah 9:30

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

If the Holy Spirit is “against” something you’re doing … better listen! Heed that first admonition! If not, stricter measures are coming!

 

The “priority” of the Holy Spirit!

How important is He in the lives of believers?

One verse, Old Testament, helps put the answer in perspective.

Nehemiah is praying. He is thinking of God’s goodness to the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness. Then he observes: “Thou (Lord) gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.” Nehemiah 9:20

Look at the “list” in the verse.

“Thy Spirit,” the Holy Spirit is first!

Then “food and drink” follow!

As if to say that the Holy Ghost is far more critical to a Christian than is his or her very diet! More significant than the food one eats! Wow!

And isn’t that, in essence, what Jesus said to the devil long ago? During the temptation in the wilderness? “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4, God’s Words (spiritual things) sustain life … more than daily bread?

Again …

Our Lord was teaching us how to pray. Matthew 7:11 has His words recorded: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give GOOD GIFTS unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give GOOD THINGS to them that ask him?”

But look how Luke records the same event, the same response. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask him?” Luke 11:13

All good things in sum … THE HOLY SPIRIT!

The Best Gift of all!

The “Spirit” here outweighs the body (food and drink), obviously!

Now let me try to equate the Holy Spirit and the very Word of God!

In Colossians 3:16-17 we are told: “Let THE WORD of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

But in Ephesians 5:18-20 (the parallel passage) we read: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with THE SPIRIT: speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In Colossians the Word does these wonderful things, triggers them.

In Ephesians the Holy Spirit does!

Amazing!

So, back to the first line in today’s lesson, THE PRIORITY OF THE SPIRIT!

I hope I have proved my case.

He (the Holy Spirit) is indispensable in pursuing the Christian life.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Oh, what “loyalty” the Holy Spirit builds into us!

Loyalty, love for Jesus, of course.

But let me give you an example. “Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee.” First Chronicles 12:18

The “Spirit” here is the Holy Spirit, we believe.

And He (the Spirit) “came upon” Amasai, the great soldier. This Hebrew verb, “labash,” actually means “to wear, to dress, to clothe, to put on!” Absolutely beautiful, God the Holy Spirit “wearing” this man!

Now watch what Amasai is led to say. “Thine we are, David.”

This is dedication!

Someone once defined “loyalty” as “using adversity to test my commitment to those whom God has called me to serve.” I love that!

Yes, the Spirit of God can guide me in reference to those whom I should support, follow, place in positions of honor in my life!

In fact, He has!

The “Son of David” (a New Testament Name or Title of Jesus) is the Recipient of my love and worship! I will be loyal to Him.

Why so?

Because the Spirit of God has so motivated me!

Yes, the Spirit “points” to Jesus, always.

Jesus taught us in, John 16:13, about the Holy Spirit. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF.” Never self-aggrandizing!

The next verse, Jesus continues. “For HE (the Spirit of God) SHALL GLORIFY ME: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”

Wow!

As the Spirit led Amasai to pledge allegiance to David … so the Holy Spirit leads us to do so to Jesus. To say to our Lord: “Thine are we, Jesus, and we’re on Thy side, thou son of God. Peace, peace be unto Thee, and peace be to Thine helpers. For Thy God helpeth Thee.”

Yes, the “loyalty” of the Spirit indeed.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell