THE HOLY SPIRITAS EFFECTIVE DIVINE POWER: THE WITNESS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

Abstract

This article seeks to survey the presence and activity of the Spirit (riiah) in the OT. From the dawn of creation the riah-yhwh operates as -he power by which God created the heaven and its hosts. The Spirit of God is not only a dynamic principle of creation, it also sustains creation. The divine raah is the empowering Spirit (cf. Exod 31:3; Ezek 2:2; 3:12). The divine ruah appears as an occasional charismatic force that empowers sclected persons, such as the judges and prophets, and endows them with extraordinary power, insight, wisdom etc. to accomplish specific tasks within the salvation history. The Spirit of God is generally understood as the force behind the prophetic activity. Many of the OT prophetic oracles were given under the inspiration of the Spirit. The divine riah is active in effecting spiritual renewal of the people.