The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 79

:

GIFTS of Joshua, Othniel,

AND TALENTS

39

Barak, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, and others

Lord came upon them. Also of Zerubbabel it is said: " Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." Even of the heathen king, Cyrus, we read that Jehovah had called him to His work and anointed him with the Spirit of the Lord Isa. xlv. that the Spirit of the

rebuilding the temple,

—

This last instance introduces another aspect of the case, operation of the Holy Spirit in qualifying

For altho

this operation

men

viz.,

the

for official functions.

upon and through the

office

receives

its

fullest significance only in the dispensation of grace, yet the case

Cyrus shows that the Holy Spirit has originally a work to perform in this respect which is not only a result of grace, but belongs essentially to the nature of the work, even tho it is obvious only in the history of God's special dealings with His own people. It is especially noticeable in the struggle between Saul and David. There is no reason to consider Saul one of God's elect. After his anointing the Holy Spirit comes upon him, abides with him, and works upon him as long as he remains the Lord's chosen king over His people. But as soon as by wilful disobedience he forfeits that favor, the Holy Spirit departs from him and an evil Evidently this work of the spirit from the Lord troubles him. Holy Spirit has nothing to do with regeneration. For a time it may operate upon a man and then forever depart from him while the Spirit's saving operation, even tho suspended for a time, can never be wholly lost. David's touching prayer, " Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me," must therefore refer to gifts qualifying him David had the terrible example of Saul for the kingly office. before him. He had seen what becomes of a man whom the Holy of

;

and his heart trembled at the possibility coming upon him, and an end as sad as Saul's.

Spirit leaves to himself;

of an evil spirit

Like Judas, Saul dies a suicide. From the whole Scripture teaching

we

therefore conclude that

the Holy Spirit has a work in connection with mechanical arts and official

functions

— in

every special talent whereby some

men

excel

This teaching is not simply that such gifts and talents are not of man but from God like all other blessings, but that they are not the work of the Father, nor of the Son, but of in such art or office.

the Holy Spirit.

The gifts

distinction discovered in creation

and

talents

come from

the Father

;

may be

observed here

are disposed for each per-

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