A few weeks ago a member of my small group raised an interesting question regarding Psalm 51:11 and it’s reference to the holy spirit. It is easy for us to breeze right past such references when we are so used to the language of the New Testament and even sometimes (regretably) take the presence of ‘the Helper,’ God‘s Holy Spirit for granted. We as Chistians received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2). How then could the Holy Spirit be removed from the Psalmist? GREAT QUESTION! I consulted a pastor, a few well versed leaders in the congregation, http://net.bible.org (an excellent resource for multiple translation comparison along with foot notes, cross references and translation notes, and The New Interpreter’s Study Bible NRSV. Here is what I found:

 

• The original word in Hebrew for Spirit is xwrw or ruwach, which has many possible meanings such as wind, breath, mind or spirit, perhaps reflecting the abstract understanding of the ancient writers of the OT. The original word in Hebrew for Holy is ksdq or qodesh which means holy, sacred, separate or of God.

• The personal Spirit of God is mentioned frequently in the OT, but only in this verse and in Isa 63:10-11 is he called “your/his Holy Spirit.”

• While NT believers from the Pentecost forward enjoy the permanent gift of the Holy Spirit and need not fear that it would be taken from them. In the OT the personal Spirit of God is imparted to certain individuals who have been called to special tasks and has only temporarily resided in them. For example, when God rejected Saul as king and chose David to replace him, the divine Spirit left Saul and came upon David (1 Sam 16:13-14).

• God’s spirit was present from the time of creation and presumably is as infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient as are the Father and the Son, by nature of being God Three In One. In the creation account the writer refers to “us” and “we,” inclusive terms which likely refer to the Holy Trinity.

• Further God breathed life into Adam giving him spirit. As Adam (and subsequently every man to follow) is created in the image of God, the spirit spoken of here could simply refer to the life-force given by God that would have been as it is today considered to be holy.

• Mentioned many times in the OT and the NT prior to Pentecost (Luke 1:35, Luke 1:67), the Spirit of God may also simply refer to an attribute of the divine; His spirit which is holy.

• Finally, translators have capitalized “Holy Spirit” in this passage in the NIV, NASB, NLT, and NKJV but not in the NRSV, KJV or BBE. The NRSV it has been suggested by some is more precise translation of the Bible. While I don’t intend to suggest that other translations are less than reliable or true, it is likely that the capitalization in the other translations was a product of the reflex to capitalize God, Jesus, He, His and Holy Spirit, etc. by translators and Christians who are much more familiar with the NT.

So what is the answer? The answer is that you must decide what it’s meaning is for you. There are centuries between us and the writing of this passage and much debate among scholars over the use of the words Holy Spirit in the OT. At the least I hope this insight has brought you into a state of discernment. After all as disciples of Christ and the Holy Word that is what we are tasked to do.