Holy Spirit Filled (Exodus 31)

Could people have been filled with the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament? Could they have been given gifts of the Holy Spirit? Is some kind of Sabbath rest still relevant to Christians? Let’s look at Exodus 31.

Who was Bezalel and why was he filled with the Holy Spirit?

The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. (Exodus 31:1-6a ESV)

What was the purpose of those gifts given by the Holy Spirit?

I have placed wisdom within every skilled craftsman in order to make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the mercy seat that is on top of it, and all the other furnishings of the tent— the table with its utensils, the pure gold lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, the basin with its stand— the specially woven garments, both the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons to serve as priests, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense for the sanctuary. They must make them according to all that I have commanded you.” (Exodus 31:6b-11 HCSB)

What else was important under the old covenant?

The Lord told Moses, “You are to tell the Israelis: ‘You are to certainly observe my Sabbaths because it’s a sign between me and you from generation to generation, so you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. You are to observe the Sabbath, because it’s holy for you. Whoever profanes it is certainly to die; indeed, whoever does work on it is to be cut off from among his people. (Exodus 31:12-14 ISV)

What were the consequences, under the old covenant, of violating the Sabbath? What do the words perpetual covenant mean? The Hebrew word for perpetual here is o’lahm and can mean of long duration, or of indefinite future. It does not have to mean what we understand as for all eternity.

Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:15-17 KJV)

Is there an example of the Hebrew word o’lahm being used for something else that no longer applies?

You shall gird them with sashes, Aaron and his sons, and bind caps on them, and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute. So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons. (Exodus 29:9 LSB).

Has the priesthood changed and who now is our high priest?

So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. (Hebrews 7:11–12 NASB).

Jesus gave over 300 commands in the New Testament. Can we find a single Sabbath command in the entire New Testament? However, did Jesus say something about rest, not in a day, but in something else?

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NKJV)

What did God then give to Moses that was very important?

When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. (Exodus 31:18 NIV)

Could people have been filled with the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament? Could they have been given gifts of the Holy Spirit? Is some kind of Sabbath rest still relevant to Christians? You decide!