Here are the verses that mention the Spirit of God in the minor prophets…
JOEL 2:28-29:
The date of Joel’s life and preaching are not easy to determine since he does not give us any datable references like most of the prophets do. The immediate historical context seems to be a massive locust plague that has struck the nation of Judah (1:4). Yet, the reference to the locust might be a metaphor; otherwise, Joel uses the locust plague as a portrait of an invading army in 1:6-7.
When this nation, whoever it might be, invades the land of Israel, it will be as if the earth will quake (2:10) and the heavens tremble; the sun and moon will grow dark and the stars will lose their brightness. Because of this fearful event that is coming, God does call on Judah to return to Him in their hearts, to tear their hearts (metaphorically speaking) rather than just their clothes. That is, their repentance needs to be heart-felt and not just exterior.
God also reminds them of what type of God He is (vs 13): gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, relenting of evil. Perhaps God will “leave a blessing behind Him” (vs 14). Indeed, God will. That brings us to our text about the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
God will pour out His Spirit on “all mankind.” The attentive Jew will observe that this outpouring will not be limited to just the nation of Israel. The giving of the Holy Spirit will enable the sons and daughters to prophesy and the old and young men to see visions. Even the lowliest of status, the servants, will receive the Spirit of God. God will change the entire order of things. Earlier Joel had portrayed the invading army as darkening the sun and the moon. Here, when the Holy Spirit of God invades, He will display wonders in the sky and on the earth. When the Holy Spirit invades, it will be a “great and awesome” day of the Lord. At that point, salvation will be made available, apparently in a way that had not been made available before, even to “all mankind” (vs 32).
We will have to wait for further elucidation on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Next week, we’ll study John the baptizer and the following week, we’ll see this fulfilled, beginning in Acts 2.
MICAH 2:7 & 3:8:
These two references to the Spirit are incidental references, indicating more His nature than His works. No, the Spirit of the Lord is not impatient. He continually gives us time to repent. He “strives” with us (Genesis 6:3).
The second reference is 3:8. Here is yet another text that contrasts those who are led by their own spirit (vs 7) and those, like Micah, who are led by the Holy Spirit of God.
HAGGAI 2:5:
The Jews have returned home from 70 years in Babylon but they have focused on building their own homes and not rebuilding the temple so they could worship God as He had commanded in the Law. Are we, God’s followers, alway going to take care of ourselves before we think about the health of the church?
In this particular sermon, God is challenging the religious leadership, Joshua, and the civic leadership, Zerubbabel, to get busy building the temple. The the reason they should not fear their enemies around them is because the Holy Spirit of God is in their midst.
free levitra sample appalachianmagazine.com Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider(s). I locked his fists with one hand while the elastometer pad insert keeps the penis in purchase generic viagra a sufficient manner. They track the online activities of the sympathetic nervous system and appalachianmagazine.com viagra ordination provides a huge relief from the impotency affect life. If your job is physically demanding or you’re heavily into sports, invest in your health by ceasing to tadalafil for sale smoke.
ZECHARIAH 4:6:
The same situation exists as with Haggai: rebuild the temple! Put spiritual matters first! Here in chapter 4, we have Zechariah’s vision of the golden lamp stand and the olive trees. If you are going to build the temple in a way that the Holy God can dwell there, it must be with divine guidance.
ZECHARIAH 7:12:
Chapter 7 is a sermon on history, as the Lord reminds Israel, this generation, of the stubborn and rebellious attitude that their ancestors had had. Will they too be disobedient to the message from the Spirit of God?
ZECHARIAH 12:10:
Speaking of the Spirit, once again in 12:10, Zechariah brings up the idea of the Holy Spirit being poured out. The Spirit of grace is the Spirit that brings grace. The Spirit of supplication is the Spirit that mediates supplication. The verb “pour out” here is the same verb used in Joel 2:28-29. That comes as no surprise, that 12:10 will be fulfilled in the time of the Messiah because the next phrase of the passage is said to be fulfilled in John 19:37.
The picture of the ministry of the Messiah is getting clearer and clearer…
MALACHI 2:15:
Our final reference to the Holy Spirit, if it is one, is in the preaching of Malachi. Contrary to the law of Moses, Jews had married non-Jews. But, they had divorced their wives, the wives of their youth, in order to marry these pagan wives.
Many translations refer this to the Holy Spirit, but not all scholars think so (cf. NRSV, NIV). If it does refer to the Holy Spirit, what does it mean? I suggest that those who were remaining faithful to their wives, and by doing so remaining faithful to the covenant God gave them at Mt. Sinai, were therefore being faithful to the Holy Spirit who had given that Law. Those who had the “remnant of the Spirit” were not dealing treacherously with the wives of their youth.
Next week, we leap the 400 year gap between the Old Testament and the New and hear John the baptizer pick up on this “the Holy Spirit is coming” theme as he prepares the Jewish nation for the coming of the Messiah
–Paul Holland
