Spirit of Skill ר֣וּחַ חָכְמָ֑ה

We are in chapter twenty-eight of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible. ר֣וּחַ חָכְמָ֑ה spirit of skill, spirit of wisdom. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. Let’s start with our chapter today since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 28:3-5 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a ר֣וּחַ חָכְמָ֑ה spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons to serve me as priests. They shall receive gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. Did you notice where this special ability or skill comes from? It comes from God himself who not only created the people who would be doing the work but who also gave them this spirit that is described as filling them. This wording is seen in our next use. Deuteronomy 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the ר֣וּחַ חָכְמָ֔ה spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. Right before Moses died he followed God’s instruction to appoint Joshua to succeed him as the leader of his people. God also equipped Joshua for the task again by filling him with a spirit of wisdom. Isaiah 11:1-2 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the ר֧וּחַ חָכְמָ֣ה Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. In this description we having the spirit resting on this descendant of Jesse. We will look at this idea of the spirit falling on or resting on in the future. It has with it the idea of being equipped for the task that God is sending you or appointing you to accomplish. This is talking about none other than Jesus Christ God’s son who was related to Jesse David’s father. This is similar to Jeremiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ The connection to Jesus as related to Jesse and David is in both of these references in the New Testament. Matthew 1:1, 6 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham … Jesse the father of David the king. Revelation 22:16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. In Ephesians Jesus is described as a conquering king who not only rescues us from being captive to sin but also calls us into service by equipping us for the task. These are identified as spiritual gifts in the New Testament which we will eventually get to and spend more time on. For today I will close with this great promise from our savior and the one who equips us to serve in his kingdom. Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.