Introduction
The Spirits of Yehovah: Are They The Same? is part II of Yeshua Is Coming Sooner Than You Think!1 In part I, I explained that Yeshua is continually coming through the Spirit of Yehovah and is sent into all the earth (see Revelation 5:6). However, the Holy Spirit – who is Yehovah1 – is a different Spirit than the Spirit of Yehovah and is poured out according to Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:16-18. These are different Spirits but the same God (Elohim)!
Here, in part II, I identify the Spirit of Yehovah, and the spiritual gifts given to those whom Yehovah chooses. Part III, The Spirits Of Yehovah: The Holy Spirit will describe the Holy Spirit and the purpose for the giving of this Spirit. Lastly, part IV defines The Spirits Of Yehovah: Evil Spirits. These are also sent by Yehovah yet have an entirely different purpose, involving an interesting sequence of events.
One God, Different Spirits
First and foremost, we must understand that there are different Spirits of Yehovah, but the same Elohim. Yehovah and Yeshua are One (Deut 6:4), yet we are attempting to understand the Creator of the universe using human, simplistic terms. It’s doubtful we’ll ever, in this realm, come to a complete understanding of Yehovah our God in all His complexity. However, we should be able to understand the different Spirits of Yehovah through the scriptures wherein they manifest. This is according to Scripture! If we don’t seek to understand these scriptures, how we can we begin to understand our God?
The Spirit Of Yehovah
The Spirit of Yehovah is one Spirit sent by Yehovah into all the earth at the end of days (Rev 5:6). Additionally, the Spirit of Yehovah is described as having seven Spirits within him and is resting upon the coming Messiah. Each Spirit wields unique qualities and grants miraculous gifts to individuals. Consequently, the Spirit of Yehovah resting upon Yeshua not only represents Yehovah, but also represents Yeshua himself. Furthermore, it is my belief that the Spirit of Yehovah has been represented by Yeshua since the most ancient of times!
Consider Isaiah 11:2, which states that the Spirit of Yehovah shall rest upon the coming Messiah, whom we know is Yeshua. The word used in Hebrew is וְנָחָה (venachah). וְנָחָה begins with the vav conjunction prefix. The Blue Letter Bible translates this word to a weqatal (future narrative tense).2 There are a few reasons this word was translated as future tense.3 First, a weqatal must open the sentence or clause. Second, it must have the vav (ו) conjunction prefix. Third, the vav prefix is attached to the most basic verb form, a qatal (past tense) verb. Finally, translating Hebrew words correctly depends upon being faithful to the context in which they are used.
Future Or Past – Or Both!
While meeting the requirements for translating this word to weqatal (future) tense, there are other options worth considering. As stated above, the vav prefix is attached to the most basic qatal (past tense) verb form. Therefore, the word וְנָחָה (venachah) can also be identified as a qatal (past tense) with a vav prefix, meaning “and.” In this case, it would then translate to “And the Spirit of Yehovah rested upon him” (Isaiah 11:2a).
I believe that Isaiah, wordsmith of wordsmiths, chose a word that would depict the future and the past at the same time. He could have been very specific, had he chosen the yiqtol (future) verb tense of יָנוּחַ but he chose not to do so. Above all, I believe that Isaiah wanted readers in ancient Israel to see the Messiah, with the Spirit of Yehovah resting upon him. Also, that Isaiah wanted that for us today! Why? Because Messiah has been coming continually and will continue to come. And, he will continue to come until that time at the end of days Yehovah has determined he is to be fully revealed!1
Gifts Of The Spirit Of Yehovah
Gifts from the Spirit of Yehovah are unique far beyond all gifts! Isaiah 11:1-5 identifies seven Spirits of Yehovah: (1) the Spirit of Wisdom (2) the Spirit of Understanding (3) the Spirit of Counsel (4) the Spirit of Might (5) the Spirit of Knowledge (6) the Spirit of the Fear of Yehovah (7) the Spirit of Right-Ruling. These are described in Isaiah 11:4-5 and named in Isaiah 28:6.3
Spirit Of Wisdom
The Spirit of Wisdom can easily be seen in the account of King Solomon (1 Kings 3:1-15). King Solomon loved Yehovah (1 Kings 3:3) and prayed to be given an understanding heart for leading the people of Israel. In verse 12 Yehovah not only gave to him wisdom, but also gave him discernment to understand right-rulings, and a wise and understanding heart. Solomon, then, must have received more than one of the Spirits of Yehovah!
It should be noted that having the Spirit of Yehovah did not resolve Solomon’s sinful nature. In fact, with 700 wives and 300 concubines, Solomon set himself up for failure. By turning toward gods of his pagan wives, failure came from his turning away from Yehovah (Exodus 20:3, “Have no other elohim (mighty ones) against My Face!”).
King Saul also was given the Spirit of Yehovah and failed. He too was unfaithful to Yehovah, having disobeyed His commands. To make matters worse he consulted a medium, which resulted in his losing the kingdom and, in the end, losing his life (1 Samuel 10).
Spirit Of Understanding
The Spirit of Understanding, according to Gesenius, can mean understanding, intelligence, skill, insight.4 With the Spirit of Understanding, Yehovah gives supernatural understanding and insight into His Word. So that others might be correctly instructed, Yeshua wanted his disciples to attain an understanding of Scripture by opening their minds (Luke 24:45). Shouldn’t we be praying that Yehovah opens our minds to understanding as well? I should think so!
“Then He opened their minds to understanding the Scriptures,” Luke 24:45.
Spirit Of Counsel
The Spirit of Counsel is a supernatural ability of counseling people to make right decisions according to Yehovah’s will. The Spirit of Counsel was undoubtedly given to rulers of Israel who were also judges in ancient Israel. It is also my belief that the Spirit of Counsel and the Spirit of Right-Ruling would naturally work together for those leading the children of Israel in righteousness.
Spirit Of Might
The Spirit of Might is demonstrated in a number of scriptures. At Judges 3:10, the Spirit of Yehovah came upon Othniel and helped him to defeat Kushan-Rish’athayim, king of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:10). The Spirit of Yehovah came also upon Jephthah when defeating the Ammonites (Judges 11:29). And our favorite from childhood is when the Spirit of Yehovah came upon Sampson from his birth. Throughout his life The Spirit not only “moved him” but gave him great strength (Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).
The most interesting of all those in ancient times given the Spirit of Yehovah is illustrated in the story of King David. At 1 Samuel 16:13, the Spirit of Yehovah came upon David and remained upon him “from that day onward.” The Spirit of Yehovah not only helped David mightily defeat his enemies but also moved through him in music.7 Additionally, at 2 Samuel 23:2, David proclaims about his prophesying that the Spirit of Yehovah has “spoken through me.” Surely during David’s lifetime, more than one of the seven Spirits of Yehovah was upon him.
Spirit Of Knowledge
In 2 Chronicles 20 is a man named Jahaziel, a Kohathite Levite who was living during the time of King David. 2 Chronicles 20:15b reads that the Spirit of Yehovah came upon Jahaziel, and he prophesied to all of Judah and to Jehoshaphat, “Do not fear, nor be afraid of the face of this great army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” In fact, Jahaziel’s name יַחֲזִיאֵל (Yaḥăzīʾēl) means “God sees” (rather, “Yah looks”). This indicates that the Spirit of Yehovah given to Jahaziel was the Spirit of Knowledge – knowing the events to come yet being encouraged, then encouraging the children of Israel not to fear.
Spirit Of The Fear Of Yehovah
The best description of the Spirit of the Fear of Yehovah is in the Letter to the Hebrews:
“Therefore, receiving an unshakeable reign, let us hold the grace (in Hebrew, "hold favor"), through which we serve God pleasingly, with reverence and awe; for indeed, our God is a consuming fire,” Hebrews 12:28-29.
When we comprehend the consuming fire described in Hebrews 12:28-29 and Deuteronomy 4:24, we have a reverence for Yehovah that is unshakable! Is the greatest problem today simply that so few people have this understanding? Dangerous times are rapidly coming upon us, so I have been earnestly praying that Yehovah’s people receive the Spirit of the Fear of Yehovah. The Fear of Yehovah is what sustains us, and what maintains us in Yehovah’s favor!
Additionally, Revelation 20:10 states that Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire at the end of this present world order. Wouldn’t the lake of fire be the consuming fire of Yehovah himself that destroys Satan forever? Can you imagine this event? Yehovah will throw Himself into Satan to destroy him! Wow!
Spirit Of Right Ruling
The seventh Spirit of Yehovah is the Spirit of Right-Ruling, named and described at Isaiah 28:6 and described in detail at Isaiah 11:4-5.
" ...and a spirit of right-ruling to him who sits in right-ruling, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate," Isaiah 28:6 (emphasis mine).
Therefore, I conclude that the seventh Spirit of Yehovah is the Spirit of Right-Ruling.
An example of the Spirit of Right-Ruling is seen in Judges 4 and 5, when Deborah ruled Israel, described as a prophetess who made right-rulings. Although the Spirit of Yehovah is not specifically mentioned, Deborah clearly had unique abilities and was one of the Bible’s most prominent figures. She served ancient Israel as prophetess, ruler (or, “judge”), military leader, songwriter and, interestingly, as a minstrel who encouraged Yehovah’s people (Judges 4-5). Deborah arguably had multiple Spirits of Yehovah gifting her in powerfully unique ways, as may have been the case with many rulers of Israel.
But Wait… There’s More!
In conclusion, there are seven Spirits of Yehovah. And all seven Spirits are embodied in The Spirit of Yehovah.1 The Spirit of Yehovah apparently rested upon Yeshua in the past, rests upon Yeshua today, and will rest upon him in the future (see Hebrews 13:8). Through the Spirit of Yehovah, we see Yeshua continually coming, constantly fighting for us and through us, with unique gifts and callings. Why? Because of his being sent into all the earth (Revelation 5:6).1 Furthermore, we are not fighting this battle alone. Why? Because Yeshua is here, today!
Stay tuned for part III, The Spirits Of Yehovah: The Holy Spirit. You’ll not want to miss details about what we should expect to see in these latter days!
[1] Baca, Janice. WritingOfGod.com/blog. Website: Yeshua Is Coming Sooner Than You Think! – Benai Emunah – Benai Emunah (writingofgod.com)
[2] Blue Letter Bible. Website: https://www.blueletterbible.org/wlc/isa/11/1/t_conc_690002
[3] Godtube. GodTube.com. Website: https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=7GPPZ7NX
[4] Gesenius, Friedrich Wilhelm. Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon (1846). Website: https://www.tyndalearchive.com/TABS/Gesenius/index.htm
[5] Gesenius, Friedrich, Wilhelm. Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon (1846). Website: https://www.tyndalearchive.com/TABS/Gesenius/index.htm
[6] Blue Letter Bible. Website: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6098/wlc/wlc/0-1/
[7] Baca, Janice. WritingOfGod.com/blog. Website: The Power Of God Is In Your Singing! – Benai Emunah – Benai Emunah (writingofgod.com)
