I was awed this week as I studied for my sermon on Isaiah 63:10-14
I was reading along and then the teaching on the Holy Spirit came bounding into the picture. (Isaiah 63:7-19). The Holy Spirit is mentioned three times in a short few verses! This is truly amazing, as you can run your search engine and find only a few scattered references to the Holy Spirit in the OT. But here in Chapter 63, we see THREE verses that carry the teaching of the Word concerning the Third Person of the Trinity.
Isaiah 63:
9 In all their distress he too was distressed,
and the angel of his presence saved them.
In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them
all the days of old.
10 Yet they rebelled
and grieved his Holy Spirit.
11…Where is he who set
his Holy Spirit among them,
12 who sent his glorious arm of power
to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters before them,
to gain for himself everlasting renown,
13 …Like a horse in open country,
they did not stumble;
14 like cattle that go down to the plain,
they were given rest by the Spirit of the LORD.
This is how you guided your people
to make for yourself a glorious name.
Powerful stuff!
Out of these verses come a very neat sermon outline…. and food for the soul concerning the operation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His precious possession. YOU are HIS precious possession, child of God in Christ!
We find here that the Holy Spirit is truly a person, and He is bent on comforting us and helping us… and being ‘among us’ in times of stress and turmoil. In v. 14 we are told “they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord.”
REST… First of all, rest for our souls, in bringing us to salvation in Christ Jesus. Secondly, rest for our spirits as we are confronted with the daily challenges that come our way. REST… for the weary, 21st Century “road-warrior” rushing around in insane traffic to be where they need to be. REST… for the child of God who has been bombarded with bad news… poor health, others bad decisions, financial need… the stuff of life.
I was enthused to present this message, it gave me a sense of hope that God is there… and He is not silent. (To borrow a Francis Schaeffer phrase.)
Yes, the Holy Spirit in Isaiah !
