The Spirit Gives Hope

The Spirit Gives Hope

God’s promise to pour out his Spirit upon Israel is seen at different points in the Old Testament. The passage in which today’s watchword falls begins with the destruction of the armies of Israel’s enemies, Israel’s celebration and their restoration. This all becomes evidence of God’s visible presence in Israel’s midst. Today’s Watchword is God’s promise of His presence to Israel. I will never again hide my face from them, when I pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord. Ezekiel 39: 29.

When we read the Young’s Literal Translation, it says: ‘And I hide not any more My face from them, In that I have poured out My spirit on the house of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah!’ God affirms His presence in Israel with the promise of His blessings on His people and they are expected to respond by adhering to God’s ways. Those who practice godliness are certain to receive God’s favor. The Lord’s promise to Israel and to us is that the outpouring of His Spirit would signify His lasting presence. Peter alluded to this on the Day of Pentecost as he addressed the crowd, quoting Joel 2: 28 – I will pour out my spirit on all people. This outpouring of the Spirit on all people was to be something new, something different and something spectacular. Prior to this the Spirit of God had been seasonal and not readily accessible. We see for example in Judges 3: 10 where the Spirit of God rested on Othneil and he became a judge of Israel and went to war. We also read in 1 Samuel 10: 10 where the Spirit of God rested on Saul and he joined a group of prophets and started to prophesy. The promise of today’s watchword however is that the time would come when God’s Spirit would be both available and accessible, leading humanity to practice Godliness and be recipients of God’s grace.

The text, as well Joel’s prophecy and others in the Old Testament, pointing to the outpouring of the Spirit of God on all people, was interpreted by Peter as having been fulfilled through Jesus Christ who had told them to await the coming of the Holy Spirit. God had poured his Spirit upon them through the work, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. We note however that the passage within which the watchword falls speaks of the total defeat of the enemies of God’s people, which I would interpret today as the enemy of the church. Although the Holy Spirit has been poured out among us, and although we are enabled to live Godly lives through this presence, we still await the defeat and destruction of the enemy. This will definitely come in accordance with God’s promise to us. We live in this broken world, often reflecting its brokenness but always holding to the hope that the Holy Spirit gives. The hope that He who now dwells within us will defeat all that seeks to destroy us. Sickness, disease, death, human evil, spiritual wickedness, the broken pieces of earthly living. Indeed, all that comes between humanity and Godly living will one day be defeated for all eternity as God establishes His new kingdom for those in whom His Spirit dwells. My prayer for us is that we will all continue to live by the Spirit until that day when our hope for an eternity of God’s perfect reign is established. May the visible presence of God in our hearts and lives, provide the hope we need every day. Amen