I’m a traditionalist in my theology, so I prefer the translations which have “the Spirit of God” instead of “the wind of God.” The latter does not make sense (to me), because why would wind hover? Plus, the early chapters in Genesis are about bringing order out of chaos, and wind does not bring about order.

The Spirit won’t contend with humans forever because they are mortal. They die. But they can bring God’s judgment on themselves. The passage here introduces awful things that humans did to provoke God to remove them with flood waters.

Joseph proposed plans to prepare for famine. The Pharaoh liked them and said to his rulers and advisors, the following. Maybe the Pharaoh intended the spirit of the gods (elohim is plural “gods”): Or the author of Genesis intended it to be the Spirit of God.

He does not tolerate longstanding rebellion and sin; he will judge it.

The Spirit can influence people, like Joseph.

This is a great overview of God’s leadership to the ancient Israelites. The Psalmist twice credits the Spirit to be among them, God’s glory and power, who was at the right hand of Moses. The Spirit also gave the people rest.

Moses needed the elders to take charge and help him. God sent his Spirit to the leaders, and they prophesied, though it is interesting that they prophesied only this one time.

Joshua reported to Moses that two men who were not elders were prophesying. Moses replied, in effect, “Good! I wish all God’s people would prophesy!” The prophet Joel, who lived long after Moses, predicts that all God’s people will prophesy. The prophet Joel, who lived long after Moses, predicts that all God’s people will prophesy. It will be fulfilled in Acts 2, at Pentecost.

Bezalel was to oversee all the decorations and even the structural parts of the mobile tabernacle.

Balak was the king of Moab. He hired the prophet Balaam to prophesy evil over the people of Israel. But the Spirit took over and led him to prophesy blessing. Note how the Spirit came upon him.

Moses needed a successor, and God said Joshua was the man. The NIV translation provides a footnote that says the phrase “spirit of leadership” could be translated as “Spirit of leadership.” I prefer their footnoted option. Most important of all, let’s all pray that God will grant many people the Spirit of leadership. (See Rom. 12:8 and Heb. 13:17).

The purpose was to wage war, judge, and have peace. (I only link to the verses because of the repetition.)

The Lord came upon Othniel, Caleb’s younger brother to be a judge and go to war. the rest of the passage says he was victorious. Israel enjoyed peace for forty years. Bottom line: the Spirit came upon him for service.

Judges 3:9-11

The Lord came upon Gideon to rally the tribes to fight against the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples, who allied to fight against Israel. Gideon was victorious, even though he had only three hundred men. This coming upon seems temporary, to accomplish a specific service to the Lord.

Judges 6:34-35

He was a mighty warrior in his own right. Still, the Spirit came on him to wage war against the Ammonites. However, he made a rash vow and his daughter had to die, as a human sacrifice. He was not wise enough to realize that the law provided a way out of his foolish vow (Lev. 27:1-8).

Judges 11:28-30

The Spirit of the Lord came on him as a young man, as the Lord blessed him.

Judges 13:24-25

The Spirit of the Lord came on Samson to fight thirty men of Ashkelon. He was victorious.

Judges 14:18-20

To fight against the Philistines, “The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him.” He got out of their ropes they tied him with.

Judges 15:13-15 

Samuel had just anointed him king, and Saul was about to join a company of prophets. The Spirit came on him and changed him, ready for service (1 Sam. 10:5-7).

The king of the Ammonites conquered the town of Jabesh and gouged out the right eye of each man.  When Saul heard about it, The Spirit came on him and he gathered the troops and defeated their enemy. Anger is often associated with judgment. (1 Sam. 16:6)

How can an evil spirit come from the Lord? This is God’s sending an evil spirit to judge a man in the Old Testament. This is most vividly portrayed in 1 Kings 22. (See the parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 18.) God asked if a lying spirit would deceive two kings, Ahaz and Jehoshaphat, through their prophets. One spirit volunteered, and the kings’ prophets were deceived. This happens when judgment was issued. In the normal course of a Christian’s life, the Holy Spirit does not depart, and an evil spirit does not take over. However, during s time of judgment, when a Christian is in unconfessed habitual sin, an evil spirit will attack because the door is open. This is God’s judgment and discipline (see Heb. 12:4-11 and the Lord’s discipline). (1 Sam. 16:13-15; see 16:16, 23; 18:10; 19:9)

Samuel led the company of prophet.  When three sets of Saul’s men approached one group after another. The power of the Spirit was powerful enough to affect them and change their course. here’s what happened (1 Sam. 19:19-21)

David’s last words said the Spirit inspired and spoke through him: And so the Spirit inspired David to write the psalms and inspired him to speak in other contexts not mentioned here (2 Sam. 23:2-4).

Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord and an administrator to King Ahab. He met Elijah on the road. The prophet told Obadiah to tell the king that Elijah was here. Obadiah was frightened because if Elijah was whisked away, the king would kill Obadiah, so the administrator refused. In this verse Obadiah. In the end, Elijah did meet Ahab because Obadiah told the king the message (1 Kings 18:12)

The Spirit carried Elijah off (2 Kings 2:15-17)

See Philip in Acts 8:39

David was banished from Saul’s presence and hid in the wilderness. Mighty warriors gathered around him and professed their loyalty to him. Now what about the men whom Amasai led? David questioned him. If the man intended to betray David, they should go away. But the Spirit came on the leader, and he spoke words of loyalty (1 Chron. 12:18)

David was not allowed to build the temple because he was a man of bloodshed. However, the Spirit put into his heart the plans for his son Solomon, so he could build it (1 Chron. 28:12).

Azariah son of Oded was a remarkable prophet. He is addressing King Asa during the king’s reforms. I really like the truths that Azariah spoke: The Lord is with you when you are with him (2 Chron. 15:1-3)

Jahaziel was a Levite, descended of Asaph, the musical leader in the temple. He spoke a prophecy of encouragement to King Jehoshaphat, when the kings of Moab and Ammon formed a coalition to attack Judah and the king. The king humbled himself and prayed a wonderful prayer of dependence on the Lord. God worked a great victory for Judah and the king. The promises are great (2 Chron. 20:14-15)

A second example of a priest receiving a prophetic word from the Spirit. Zechariah spoke out against King Jehoash of Judah and the people for their disobedience and rebellion. Their response was to stone him to death in the courtyard of the temple (2 Chron. 24:19-21).

In Nehemiah’s time, the Spirit instructed the people and inspired prophets to warn them. During a time of repentance, the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said to the people a long review of God’s goodness throughout the history of Israel. One blessing is that God sent gave the people his good Spirit to teach them. (Neh. 9:20).

Another part of the long review and exhortation says that God gave his Spirit to the prophets to warn the people. The prophets were “law enforcement,” that is, the Law of Moses. They paid no attention, but God had mercy on them, after his judgment on them. He restored them back to their land (Neh. 9:30-31).

A friend of Job named Elihu was angry at Job for justifying himself. Elihu was not right, but he has a basic belief about the Spirit. In this verse the NIV translators suggest an alternative translation of “spirit” and not “Spirit.” Perhaps they chose “spirit” because people without God do not have the Holy Spirit in them permanently (Job 32:6).

Elihu is still speaking. He believes, rightly, that the Spirit made him and gave him life. (Job 33:4)

Elihu is still speaking. Again the NIV suggests “Spirit” for “spirit.” It is true that if God withdrew his Spirit, people would perish (Job 33:14-15).

I tend to agree with the NIV, and the Holy Spirit does not quite fit because he does not permanently live in an OT person.  The reader can look up the verses and decide for themselves.

King David is praying for God’s forgiveness after the king’s sin with Bathsheba. He asks God not to take his presence or Holy Spirit, so David equates the Spirit and presence. He saw the Spirit withdraw from Saul (see III. D). Would God do the same to David?  Further, in the NT, the Spirit will not withdraw after we sin because he wants to work with us. He wants to grant us repentance. But he can be grieved

(Ps. 51:11).

David is extolling God’s presence and spirit. Wherever David goes God is there by his Spirit. This teaches the omniscience of the Spirit, on an equal level as God (Ps. 139:7).

Let’s go back to creation in the Psalms. The context says that the creatures in the natural world depend on the Spirit for their lives (Ps. 104:30).

The psalmist recounts the history of Israel, particularly during the wilderness. The people tested God at the waters of Meribah (Ps. 106:32-33).

The people refused to listen to the prophets, even though the prophets were inspired by God (Zech. 7:12).

Peter summarized the Old Testament prophets as being moved and carried along (2 Peter 1:21).

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. The Spirit will remain on him.

Isaiah 11:1-3

Judea and Jerusalem will be barren until the Spirit is poured out from on high and everything become fertile and functional. The Spirit can do the same to you.

Isaiah 32:14-16

God will put his spirit in the servant of the Lord. Matthew 12:19-21 quotes from these verses and applies them to Jesus.

Isaiah 42:1-3

Israel is barren, but God will pour out his Spirit and renew everything.

Isaiah 44:1-5

The Spirit of the Lord is on God’s servant. The Lord will anoint him to proclaim good news. Jesus quotes from this passage and applies it to himself at the start of his ministry (Luke 4:18-19).

Isaiah 61:1-3

God promises through his prophet Ezekiel that one day God’s Spirit will restore Israel and Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 36:26-28

God will put his Spirit in Israel, to restore his people.

Ezekiel 27:13-15

In a prophecy against Gog, a ruler who will devastate Israel, God promises through his prophet Ezekiel to pour out his Spirit on Israel and restore the people.

Ezekiel 39:29

Joel prophesies that the Spirit will be poured out on all people. Peter quotes this passage in Acts 2:17-18.

Joel 2:28-32

The Spirit filled Ezekiel to strengthen him in his calling. A voice from the throne of God is speaking.

He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” ² As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. (Ezek. 2:1-2)

The glory of the Lord sent his Spirit into Ezekiel and lifted him up.

The Spirit will permanently fill his people one day. I believe this is fulfilled in the New Testament, at Pentecost, in Acts 2 (Ezek. 36:27).

Micah was filled with the Spirit, to complete his ministry of a prophet (Micah 3:7-8).

Haggai said that when the people left Egypt, the Spirit remained with them. Zerubbabel was the governor of Jerusalem (Hagai 2:4-5).

In this verse the Spirit lifted Ezekiel to his feet and strengthened him in his calling:

Ezekiel 2:2

In the next passage, the Spirit lifted him up and took him away. I have the impression that this is what happened to Philip (Acts 8:39).

Ezekiel 3:14

Ezekiel saw a fiery angelic visitor, who lifted him by the hair. Then the Spirit lifted him up to see Jerusalem in vision.

Ezekiel 8:3

The Spirit lifted him up and brought him to the gate in Jerusalem and saw evil men plotting.

Ezekiel 11:1-4

The Spirit lifted him up and brought him to the exiles in Babylonia.

Ezekiel 11:23-25

The Spirit brought him to a valley, where he will watch bones come to life and and have flesh put on them.

Ezekiel 37:1-3

The Spirit lifted Ezekiel and brought him to the temple courts.

Ezekiel 43:3-6

An angel is speaking to Zechariah, and the angel wants the prophet to encourage Zerubbabel, the governor. The governor and the people had to work, but it is the Spirit who enables them.

⁶ So he 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 Almighty. (Zech. 4:4)