God’s spirit offered hope for the future
Daily Scripture
Isaiah 11:1-5, Joel 2:25-29
Isaiah 11
1 A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse;
a branch will sprout from his roots.
2 The LORD’s spirit will rest upon him,
a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a spirit of planning and strength,
a spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.
3 He will delight in fearing the LORD.
He won’t judge by appearances,
nor decide by hearsay.
4 He will judge the needy with righteousness,
and decide with equity for those who suffer in the land.
He will strike the violent with the rod of his mouth;
by the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be the belt around his hips,
and faithfulness the belt around his waist.
Joel 2
25 I will repay you for the years
that the cutting locust,
the swarming locust, the hopping locust, and the devouring locust have eaten—
my great army, which I sent against you.
26 You will eat abundantly and be satisfied,
and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has done wonders for you;
and my people will never again be put to shame.
27 You will know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the LORD your God—no other exists;
never again will my people be put to shame.
28 After that I will pour out my spirit upon everyone;
your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.
29 In those days, I will also pour out my
spirit on the male and female slaves.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Much of what the Old Testament said about God’s spirit was not as full and clear as what we’ll see in coming weeks in Jesus’ and Paul’s teachings. But even in their hardest times, God’s Hebrew people clung to the trust that God would ultimately defeat evil. And New Testament Christians eagerly linked passages like today’s to their experience of Jesus. When they read prophetic passages like Isaiah 11, they were confident that Jesus was fully the “king endowed with the Spirit of wisdom and power” * the prophet had looked for. And yes, when Jesus’ Acts 1:8 promise came true just 50 days after Jesus’ crucifixion, the apostle Peter joyfully declared that finally the prophet Joel’s promise had become reality (Acts 2:14-24). Guided by God’s spirit, in the Old Testament “a future is awaited in which all Israel will share in the Spirit of prophecy (Joel 2:28). At the heart of the hoped-for new covenant lies universal and immediate knowledge of God.” **
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Part of Israel’s Scriptural hope was that the Messiah would bring “the day of the LORD” (cf. Isaiah 2:12-18). “To the people it meant the day when Yahweh would intervene to put Israel at the head of the nations, irrespective of Israel’s faithfulness to him” (cf. Acts 1:6), but “in the New Testament the Day of the Lord (as in 2 Thessalonians 2:2) is the second coming of Christ.” *** Jesus defeated death, but Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas and the emperor in Rome went about their business seemingly unaffected. So, a major part of the Old Testament hope came true in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, but another part remained unrealized for God’s people to cling to. We live in what some call “the time between the times,” grateful citizens of God’s kingdom yet eagerly looking ahead to the day when God declares, “Look! I’m making all things new” (Romans 8:18-25, Revelation 21:5). How can God’s spirit give you hope similar to the hope your Old Testament ancestors in the faith held?
Prayer
Lord God, thank you for those who knew you and followed you centuries ago. Send me your Spirit to sustain and energize my walk with you as he did for them. Amen.
GPS Insights
Bianca Howze
Bianca Howze is a senior at Kauffman School on the Paseo in Kansas City. Last year, Bianca attended every single Wednesday Night Youth Group. The only one to do so!!
I’m a senior in high school and the last 4 years of my life have seen a lot of hardships. First, we lost our home. That was the beginning of my struggle with feeling lost. My father and my siblings were struggling as well. Then, COVID lockdown hit and my depression skyrocketed.
I’ve struggled with my faith over the years. My father, on the other hand, has always been a strong believer and a fierce advocate for God, even when life is not filled with sunshine. I used to get upset and frustrated when I would come to my father with a problem, and he would tell me about God. I would ask, “What has God ever done for me?” “I live in a hotel, my father and sister don’t have a good relationship, I have to stay in a homeless shelter now, and I’ve been in and out of mental hospitals as my mental state deteriorates. Where is God in my life?” I was 13 years old navigating a lot. Sometimes, my situation would become worse, and I’d ask again, “What has God ever done for me?”
I feel differently today. I am a senior in high school now. I have a future filled with hope because I recently earned a scholarship to an amazing university. My father and sister’s relationship is stronger than ever. I have a solid group of friends. I’ve found faith in God through our Downtown youth group. They have opened me up to accepting God’s love. Without God, I would not be here or be able to see my blessings. It wasn’t obvious to me in the beginning, but I’m realizing that God was making a way through my trials. He’s done everything for me. I’m grateful and hopeful.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Max Turner, article “Holy Spirit” in New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, USA, 2000, p. 552.
** Ibid.
*** J. S. Wright, article “Day of the Lord” in The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, USA, 1996, p. 261.
