20. Holy Spirit Judge

Gideon Stirs

Gideon Blows Trumpet The Holy Spirit Judge in Judges 6.34 stirs Gideon into action to declare war on the followers of Baal. "Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him." We note, "The Spirit comes upon him" literally, "the Spirit cloths himself with him." The Spirit wraps up Gideon! Similarly, Samson in Judges 14.6a is given strength at the necessary time by the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat."✞

Extraordinary Ways

Temple Plan David instructs his son Solomon by the Holy Spirit Judge in 1 Chronicles 28.12 about the Temple's form, size, and component makeup. "He gave him the plans of all the Spirit had put in his mind for the Lord's temple courts, all the surrounding rooms, God's temple treasuries, and the dedicated things treasuries." David, like Moses, receives instructions for the permanent Temple. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), the great Welsh minister, author, and Bible commentator, explains, "It must not be left to man's art or invention to contrive it, but divine institution must frame it." Thus the Holy Spirit Judge guides David and Solomon.✞

Prophet Moses

The Holy Spirit causes the prophet Moses, Balaam, two young men Eldad, and Medad, to prophecy. The Lord also enables the prophet, Moses, to prophecy. The Holy Spirit comes on two men in Moses' Camp for this particular purpose. Though this prophesying appears to challenge Moses' spiritual leadership, he gladly encourages it. Moses supports their prophecy in Numbers 11.26-29 as he believes it is from the Lord. "Two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. A young man ran and told Moses, 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.' Joshua, son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, 'Moses, my lord, stop them!' But Moses replied, 'Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!'" Moses is not jealous of his gift but wishes to share the Spirit with others!✞

Balaam Blesses Israel

Prophet Balaam Another prophet in Israel called Balaam is called upon by Balak to curse Israel, but when the Spirit comes upon him, he blesses them instead. We read in Numbers 24.1-2,9b, "Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him. 'May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!'" This blessing causes Balak to become very angry, and he strikes his hands together and refuses to pay Balaam for his prophetic services. The prophet Samuel later anoints Saul King with oil in 1 Samuel 10.6. The Lord's Spirit comes so powerfully upon him that he appears to become another person. "The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. He will change you into a different person." It appears that the presence of the Holy Spirit Prophet in Saul makes him act like someone completely different.✞

Holy Spirit Prophecy

Dove Fire The Holy Spirit causes King David and Saul to speak on the Lord's behalf. King David gives a prophecy in his last words in 2 Samuel 23.1-2. "These are the last words of David: "The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Highest, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel's songs. The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue." God speaks to the people through his prophets, and his Holy Spirit prophecy is the message on their lips. The Holy Spirit Judge encourages holiness according to Leviticus 19.2, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.'" The great reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546) in "The Church and the Life of Discipleship" repeats and confirms this truth, "God makes a covenant with his people and separates them from the world as his possession, and vouches for himself for this covenant."✞

Comforter

We often hear the Holy Spirit called the "Comforter." "Comforter" means "a person or thing that provides consolation." The word "comforter" is also often rendered as "advocate." This word goes back to the English reformer and Biblical scholar John Wycliffe (1320-1384 AD) and from the Latin word "fortis," which means "brave." The Comforter is, therefore, someone who "instills courage in another." When we consider the infinite holiness of God, it causes us to tremble. The theologian and historian J S Whale (1897-1997) talks about modern people running around the burning bush taking photographs from suitable angles instead of taking off their shoes from their feet. The place whereon they stand is holy ground. In one of his hymns, the English theologian and scholar F C Burkitt (1864-1935) writes, "The centuries go gliding. But still, we have abiding. With us, that Spirit holy. To make us brave and lowly." God speaks directly through humans after they receive the Spirit.✞

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