Genesis 1:2, Joel 2:28, Psalm 51:11
Present From the Beginning
The Holy Spirit's work did not begin at Pentecost. From the very first verse of Genesis, the Spirit is present and active:
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. — Genesis 1:2
The Spirit of God brooded over the formless creation, participating in the work of bringing order, life, and beauty out of chaos. He was present at creation's beginning and has been active throughout all of human history.
How the Spirit Worked in the Old Testament
The Spirit's work in the Old Testament was real but different from His New Covenant work in several important ways.
Empowerment for specific tasks. In the Old Testament, the Spirit came upon particular individuals for particular purposes. Bezalel was filled with the Spirit to design and build the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3). The judges — Samson, Gideon, Othniel — were empowered by the Spirit for military leadership. Saul and David were anointed by the Spirit for kingship.
Prophetic inspiration. The prophets spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). The Spirit came upon them to reveal God's word, sometimes in dramatic ways — Ezekiel's visions, Isaiah's proclamations, Micah's indictments.
The Spirit could depart. Perhaps most significantly, the Spirit's presence was not permanent for Old Testament believers in the way it is for New Covenant believers. After David's great sin, he prayed: "Take not your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:11). Saul had the Spirit removed from him (1 Samuel 16:14). This impermanence was a feature of the old order, not the new.
The Promised Outpouring
The Old Testament prophets looked forward to a day when the Spirit would be poured out not just on a few but on all of God's people:
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. — Joel 2:28
Ezekiel promised a new heart and a new spirit for all of God's people (Ezekiel 36:26-27). This promise found its fulfilment at Pentecost — the Spirit poured out on all believers, permanently indwelling every member of the new covenant community.