(2) “By his Spirit the heavens are garnished” (Job 26:13).  The expression could be better translated, “The heavens are made fair,” or beautiful.  That is, he set the constellations in their order.  He gives one illustration when he says:  “His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.”  Reference is here made to the beautiful constellation of “Serpens,” or Draco, of graceful and striking appearance.

(3) God’s Spirit made me man; ’twas the Almighty’s breath that gave me life.  This higher life that was given to man by an inbreathing of the Spirit distinguishes man (homo) from all other animal species.

2.  The relation of the spirit to created man.

(1) Gen. 6:3.  God tells Noah:  “My Spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh:  yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.”  Here the work of the Spirit passes from the form of omnipotence to one of pleading or striving.  The Spirit no more impresses his will upon the material universe, but expresses (rolls it out) to a rational creature.  By the preaching of the faithful Noah the Spirit plead with the antediluvians to do right and escape the destruction that was coming upon a corrupt and wicked world.  From this time onward the Spirit comes on men in various ways, qualifying them with supernatural power for the performance of special duties. (See Num. 11:25; Judg. 3:10; 1 Sam. 18:10; 10:11.)

(2) But we find no case of the Spirit falling on man to cleanse him from sin, or to confer upon him a special blessing.  Later on in the prophets the Spirit becomes a revealing and inspiring Spirit. (See Isa. 61:1; Ezek. 2:2; Zech. 7:12; 4:6.) As a result of this revealing power, we have the great facts of the New Testament set forth in detail.  The life, nature, character and mission of the world’s Redeemer stand forth in beauty and symmetry.

3.  The relation of the spirit to the individual man.

The idea of holiness is not usually associated with the Spirit in the Old Testament.  The term “Holy Spirit” occurs but three times in it.  David prays (Ps. 51:11):  “Take not thy holy Spirit from me.”  Isaiah says (63:10):  “They rebelled and grieved his holy Spirit;” and again (63:11) he asks:  “Where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?” It is, however, called “good Spirit” twice (Neh. 9:20; Ps. 143:10).

It is mainly in reference to Messianic days that we find this ethical and personal relation to the Spirit of God.

These three relations of the Spirit are in perfect harmony with God’s law of progressive development in the world.  We find him at first working upon a chaotic material universe; second, upon society, and, third, upon the individual character.

The work of the Spirit upon the material universe makes it a fit dwelling-place for man.  His work upon society makes man fit to dwell in the universe, and his work upon the individual character makes man fit for a righteous and holy fellowship with similar characters.