Cosmic Spirit

Bavinck again on the Spirit’s role in creation: “At the beginning that Spirit moved upon the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2), and He remains active in all that was created.”

He expands the point this way: “By that Spirit God garnishes the heavens (Job 26:13), renews the face of the earth (Ps. 104:30), gives life to man (Job 33:4), maintains the breath in man’s nostrils (Job 27:3), gives him understanding and wisdom (Job 32:8), and also causes the grass to wither and the flower to fade (Isa. 40:7) . . . . He by His Spirit gives out all kinds of energies and gifts to His people. In the Old Testament the Spirit of the Lord is the source of all life, all weal, and all ability. He grants courage and strength to the judges, to Othniel (Judges 3:10), Gideon (Judges 6:34), Jephthah (Judges 11:29), and to Samson (Judges 14:6 and 15:14). He grants artistic perception to the makers of the priests’ garments, the tabernacle, and the temple, and He gives wisdom and understanding to the judges who bear the burden of the people alongside of Moses (Num. 11:17, 25). He gives the spirit of prophecy to the prophets, and renewal and sanctification and guidance to all of God’s children (Ps. 51:12-13 and 143:10).”