Holy Spirit in Psalms & Proverbs
Holy Spirit in the Old Testament • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 5 viewsIn today’s message, we will read about the places the Holy Spirit was mentioned in the book of Psalms & Proverbs.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
August 10th 2025
Series: Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Sermon Title: Holy Spirit in Psalms & Proverbs
Topic: How the Holy Spirit speaks through different kinds of people in the OT.
Key Passages: Psalm 33: 1-6, Psalm 104:30, Psalm 139: 1-7, Psalm 51: 10-12, Psalm 143: 1-10, Proverbs 20:27,
Topic: Holy Spirit, Psalms, Proverbs
Sermon Blurb: In today’s message, we will read about the places the Holy Spirit was mentioned in the book of Psalms & Proverbs.
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Sermon:
Hello, Family Church!
Welcome, whether you are here in person or online.
Family Moment –
Start with something personal from your family life recently to help people get to know you.
Celebrate salvation / rededications / baptisms last week.
Celebrate new disciples and disciple-makers.
PAUSE
Today, we continue our series by exploring the Old Testament and all the places where the Holy Spirit appears.
We have been looking at all the places in the Old Testament where the Holy Spirit is directly referenced and what he does in people's lives.
Last week, we walked through the book of Job and looked at when the Holy Spirit showed up in a guy's life that went from AMAZING to worst case scenario.
If you missed that message, go to our website, app, or your favorite podcast location to hear it.
PAUSE
Today, we will look at two books that are more or less the center of the Bible.
Anyone want to guess what books we are in today?
That’s right, Psalms & Proverbs.
Psalms & Proverbs are two LONG books with all kinds of wisdom in them.
And the Holy Spirit is mentioned six times across those books and that is what we will focus in on and learn from today.
PAUSE
If you have your Bible with you, and I hope you do, would you open it with me today to the Psalms?
Psalms
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PAUSE
Now, as you are getting to the book of Psalms, let me give everyone a little background because we do not like anyone at Family Church feeling like they are lost or an outsider.
And again, in your Study Bible, there are several pages of introduction you can read later today before the book of Psalms…
PAUSE
The Book of Psalms is the Bible’s songbook, prayer book, and devotional guide.
For thousands of years, God's people have turned to the Psalms for comfort in sorrow, strength in trials, and praise in joy.
Psalms is a collection of inspired songs that teach us how to speak to God and trust Him in every season of life.
The Psalms were written over a span of several centuries by various authors, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
King David wrote at least 73 of the Psalms.
Solomon, Moses (Psalm 90), and so many others wrote the rest of them.
But the entire book is unified in its purpose: to glorify God and draw His people into worship.
In fact, the purpose of the book is really all about the worship of God.
To exalt God's holiness, faithfulness, power, and mercy.
To give voice to the full range of human emotion.
From cries of despair to shouts of joy.
Psalms teaches us how to bring our whole heart before God.
They validate our pain and point us back to trust in God.
PAUSE
And for many generations, churches literally ONLY sang the Psalms in services…
And for all the people who think we should ONLY sing Hymns…well…
There was a day when people thought you should only sing Psalms…and the Hymn people changed that…
So maybe don’t be so hard on the generation that now wants to change from what they feel is too old school…
Which is literally when people moved from singing Psalms to Hymns!
PAUSE
The Psalms are not just emotional songs.
They teach a lot of doctrine.
They teach us about God's character, His covenant, His justice, His kingship, and His coming Messiah.
And they point toward Jesus.
Many Psalms are Messianic, meaning they are prophecies about the coming of Jesus in the future.
Jesus Himself quoted the Psalms often.
And the New Testament writers saw them as foundational to understanding Jesus’ mission.
PAUSE
I would put it this way….
The Psalms are a lifeline for believers.
When you don’t have the words to pray, the Psalms give you a voice.
When life is overwhelming, they anchor you in God's unchanging promises.
When your heart grows cold, they rekindle worship.
In a world filled with noise and chaos, the Psalms invite us to slow down, to remember who God is, and to respond in faith, repentance, and praise.
PAUSE
So….with that background, let’s look at the places where the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit, is directly referenced and what that can teach us about how the Holy Spirit operates in our lives.
Flip to Psalms chapter 33.
Let’s read the first 6 verses…
Psalm 33: 1-6 1 Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
Stop there…
Do you see that these were all written to be songs?
In fact…our worship team helped us recreate these songs to be sung like they used to be with the instruments they had back then…
Let’s listen to Psalm 33….
Pretty cool right!!!
4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
And verse 6 is where the Holy Spirit is mentioned…
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
Breath of God is one of the ways the Holy Spirit is referenced in the Old Testament.
Which directly ties to Psalm 104 verse 30…
Psalm 104:30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
See in both of those verses what we can clearly see about the Holy Spirit is that….write this down…
The Holy Spirit is active in creation.
(Repeat)
In chapter 30…the Holy Spirit’s breath made the starry hosts….
Here in chapter 104, when the Holy Spirit came, if you look up at verse 27, you can see they are talking about how all creatures were created by the Spirit.
So, the people created these Psalms as songs to remind them that the Holy Spirit was active in creation.
PAUSE
Which all that also ties to another passage in the Psalms about the Holy Spirit.
Flip to Psalms 139.
If you have your Bible, I am sure it says at the top of this Psalm, a Psalm of David FOR the director of music…
Because again…these were all written to be sung at the tabernacle or temple….AKA their version of church back in the day!
And…you know what….I think we have this one in song form as well…
You want to play Psalm 139 tech team….
Let’s read the first 7 verses…
Psalm 139: 1-7 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
And here is where the Holy Spirit is specifically mentioned.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
What should that tell you about the Holy Spirit’s role in your life?
Well, write this down.
The Holy Spirit is omnipresent.
(Repeat)
That means the Holy Spirit can be at all places at all times and with all people.
And that is one of the BEST parts about the Holy Spirit!
PAUSE
Did you know that was one of the reasons Jesus said it would be BETTER for him to leave his disciples?
Think about it.
When Jesus was here on earth, he could only be around and with a few people.
When Jesus returned to heaven, he said he would send us the Holy Spirit and it would be BETTER for us…
The Holy Spirit is BETTER because the Holy Spirit can do what Jesus could not…
The Holy Spirit can be with ALL people at ALL times!
Do you see that church?
Do you see the benefit of having the Holy Spirit in your life?
PAUSE
Let me show you two more places in Psalms where the Holy Spirit is directly referenced, and then we will look at the one place in Proverbs.
Let’s go backwards in Psalms first, flip back to Psalms 51.
Let’s start reading at verse 10.
Psalm 51: 10-12 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do you hear that desire from King David…
God help me have a pure heart…because I know my heart is not.
Renew…send me…your spirit again!
And he goes on to say…
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Do you hear that desire from King David…
God, please keep me close to you!
God, please keep your Holy Spirit close to me.
And he goes on to say…
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Do you hear that desire from King David…
God, remind me of the joy of when you saved me!
God, give me a willing spirit to receive that fresh again.
God, sustain me with the knowledge that I am saved by you alone.
PAUSE
Let’s look at the last place in the Psalms where the Holy Spirit is directly referenced.
Psalm 143 verse 10…but we will read this whole Psalm.
Psalm 143: 1-10, 1 Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.
7 Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.
And here is where the Holy Spirit is mentioned by King David.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
This passage ties back to the last point…
Remember the Holy Spirit is omnipresent.
He is everywhere.
Look at what we read…
He is there in the good times and bad.
When our enemies attack us as well.
And David specifically asks in verse 10…to do something…write this down
The Holy Spirit guides us.
(Repeat)
If you do not know what to do in life.
The BEST thing you can do is pray and seek the Holy Spirit to guide you!
PAUSE
Now let’s move over one book to the book of Proverbs.
For those of you who have not read the book of Proverbs let me give you a little background.
The Book of Proverbs is God's handbook for wise living.
In a world full of confusion, moral compromise, and foolishness, Proverbs calls us to walk the path of wisdom…
A path that begins with the fear of the Lord and leads to Godly character, discernment, and a life that honors God.
The primary author of Proverbs is King Solomon, the son of David, renowned for his God-given wisdom.
Proverbs is a collection of short, memorable sayings designed to communicate practical truth.
PAUSE
Now the Holy Spirit is not directly reference ANYWHERE in the book of Proverbs…
BUT….there is one place most scholars would say the Holy Spirit is implied…
So let me show you that in closing…
Proverbs 20:27, The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
God's “lamp” sheds light on our innermost being.
Well, who is the “lamp” that inhabits you and me?
Who is the “light” that shines through us?
Yes…the Holy Spirit.
Here is the final point..
The Holy Spirit is the light of God within us.
(Repeat)
PAUSE
Let me close with this…
God is a God of creativity.
Music is an expression of His creativity.
And signing the Psalms is GREAT!
Singing the Hymns is GREAT!
Singing modern worship songs is GREAT!
The point is… God inspires us to be creative, and we ALL need to allow that creative expression of God to be played out through people.
Think about it this way…if God cared about the specific instruments we used…
If God cared about the specific way a song was sung.
If God cared about the music score.
If God cared about it being done ONE SPECIFIC WAY…
Where would we find that church?
That’s right…in the Bible…
And there is not one single place in the Bible with a musical score, four-part harmonies, or a specific list of instruments…
So that should tell us to allow the Holy Spirit to lead every generation in the songs of their heart that connect them with the Holy Spirit…
PAUSE
Let me give you your life application today.
If you are new, or newer, to Family Church, we LOVE to end our messages with something for you to talk about with someone else.
Something to help you apply the message to your life.
So here is this week’s Life Application…
Life Application: The Holy Spirit wants to guide your life. How could you lean more into His leading vs your leading? As a result of today’s message, I will _________________________.
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