April 27, 2026

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

Isaiah 63:11-14

Monday's Devo

April 27, 2026

Monday's Devo

April 27, 2026

Monday's Devo

April 27, 2026

Monday's Devo

April 27, 2026

Key Verse | Nehemiah 9:20

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.

Today's Focus

A Spirit-Led Church

This week, we’re taking time to learn more about what it means to be Spirit-led. Each day, we’ll be looking at passages throughout the entire Bible and implementing practices we’ve learned this year while studying Acts. (Don’t worry, we’ll be back next week with the regular Acts programming you know and love!)

Without the ministry of the Holy Spirit, there would be no Church. The Spirit calls, convicts, seals, comforts, guides, helps, distributes spiritual gifts, sanctifies, and intercedes for believers. With the Spirit, we have the power to accomplish God’s purposes. We desire to be marked by a sensitivity to the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14; Acts 1:8).

Isaiah 63:11-14

11  Then he remembered the days of old,
    of Moses and his people. 1 63:11 Or Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses
Where is he who brought them up out of the sea
    with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put in the midst of them
    his Holy Spirit,
12  who caused his glorious arm
    to go at the right hand of Moses,
who divided the waters before them
    to make for himself an everlasting name,
13      who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert,
    they did not stumble.
14  Like livestock that go down into the valley,
    the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest.
So you led your people,
    to make for yourself a glorious name.

Footnotes

[1] 63:11 Or Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses
Table of Contents
Introduction to Isaiah

Introduction to Isaiah

Timeline

Author and Date

Isaiah was called to his prophetic ministry “in the year that King Uzziah died” (6:1), around 740 B.C. He lived long enough to record the death of Sennacherib (37:38), in 681. However, most of the book can be dated only in very general terms because few specific dates are given.

Theme

The central theme of the book is God himself, who does all things for his own glory (48:11). Isaiah defines everything else by how it relates to God: is it rightly related to him as the center of all reality (45:22–25)? God’s people find strength only as they rest in the promises of their God (30:15). They find refreshment only as they delight themselves in his word (55:1–2). To serve his cause is their worthy devotion (ch. 62), but to rebel against him is endless death (66:24).

Simplified Overview of Isaiah

Isaiah 1–39 Isaiah 40–55 Isaiah 56–66
Date and Setting The eighth century B.C. (700s); the Assyrian threat Prophecies for the sixth century B.C. (500s); the Babylonian exile Prophecies about all times and occasions until the end
Audience God’s rebellious people craving worldly security God’s defeated people under worldly domination All who hold fast to God’s covenant
Actions God purifies a remnant of his apostate people through judgment God encourages his discouraged people in exile God prepares all of his true people for his promised salvation
Message “In returning and rest you shall be saved; . . . But you were unwilling” (30:15) “the glory of the LORD shall be revealed” (40:5) “Keep justice, and do righteousness” (56:1)

Key Themes

 1. God is offended by religious practices that come from an empty heart or a careless life (1:10–17; 58:1–12; 66:1–4).

 2. God’s true people will someday become a multinational community of worship and peace that will last forever (2:2–4; 56:3–8; 66:18–23). They will be the predominant culture of a new world (14:1–2; 41:8–16; 43:3–7; 60:1–22).

 3. God opposes human pride (2:10–17; 13:11; 23:9).

 4. The foolish idols that man creates are destined for destruction (2:20–21; 44:9–20; 46:1–7).

 5. God’s judgment will reduce Israel to a remnant. From this remnant he will raise up a holy people (1:9; 6:1–12:6; 40:1–2).

 6. God sometimes judges people by making them deaf and blind to his saving word (29:9–14).

 7. The only hope of the world is in one man. He is the promised Davidic king (7:14; 9:2–7; 11:1–10), the servant of the Lord (42:1–9; 52:13–53:12), the anointed preacher of the gospel (61:1–3), and the victor over all evil (63:1–6).

 8. God uses everything, even human sin, for his own glory (44:24–45:13).

 9. All people are called to repent of sin and trust in God alone (12:2; 26:3–4; 32:17–18; 50:10; 66:2).

10. Often, when God’s people feel abandoned by him (40:27), they foolishly trust in worldly powers (31:1–3; 39:1–8).

11. God will vindicate his cause with a world-transforming display of his glory (11:10; 40:3–5; 52:10; 59:19).

12. God is guiding all of human history (41:1–4; 44:6–8; 46:8–11).

13. God’s faithfulness and the certainty of his final victory should motivate his people to pray and to be obedient (56:1–2; 62:1–64:12).

14. The wrath of God is to be feared above all else (9:19; 13:9, 13; 30:27; 34:2; 66:15–16).

Outline

  1. Introduction: “Ah, Sinful Nation!” (1:1–5:30)
  2. God Redefines the Future of His People: “Your Guilt Is Taken Away” (6:1–12:6)
  3. God’s Judgment and Grace for the World: “We Have a Strong City” (13:1–27:13)
  4. God’s Sovereign Word Spoken into the World: “Ah!” (28:1–35:10)
  5. Historical Transition: “In Whom Do You Now Trust?” (36:1–39:8)
  6. Encouragement for God’s Exiles: “The Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed” (40:1–55:13)
  7. How to Prepare for the Coming Glory: “Hold Fast My Covenant” (56:1–66:24)

The Near East at the Time of Isaiah

c. 740 B.C.

The prophecies of Isaiah took place during the rise of the Assyrian Empire. Assyria posed a great threat to Israel and Judah as well as the entire Near East.

The Near East at the Time of Isaiah

The Global Message of Isaiah

The Global Message of Isaiah

A God-centered Vision of All Things

Dating from the eighth century B.C., and centering on God’s promises of protection, deliverance, purging, and restoration for his guilty and defiled covenant people, the book of Isaiah presents an incredibly rich landscape of salvation history in all its eternal and global scope. God has a purpose and plan, and his eternal decree will stand. It will be neither thwarted by strong and aggressive nations (Isa. 14:26–27) nor derailed by unfaithful ones (1:4, 9). God has a message for the world that he created, and he declares without equivocation,

“I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” (Isa. 46:9–10)

At the center of this global and eternal stage stands the Lord. He stands as the sovereign God (Isa. 43:13), the Holy One of Israel (1:4; 5:19, 24; 10:20; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19; 30:11, 12, 15; 31:1; 37:23; 41:14, 16, 20; 43:3, 14; 45:11; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7; 54:5; 55:5, 60:9, 14), our redeemer (41:14; 43:14; 47:4; 48:17; 54:5), and the only Savior of the world (43:11).

Judgment and Salvation for All Nations

A righteous God. God himself is our salvation (Isa. 12:2; 17:10; 33:2, 6). He alone is “mighty to save” (63:1). He is incomparably great (40:25), and he is “holy, holy, holy” (6:3). The message of the book of Isaiah to the world begins with warning. Human pride and boasting are utterly foolish and a great danger before this righteous God (2:11–17; 10:33; 13:11; 16:6; 23:9; 28:1–4). Indeed, a day of judgment is coming (2:12–22, 24:1–23), so let all the nations of the earth take heed. Whether it is corporate greed, national pride, individual self-dependence, or Babel-like self-exaltation (Gen. 11:1–9), this is a message for our world today. Sin will not go unpunished. The sovereign Lord is watching.

A saving God. But warning gives way to merciful promises of salvation. The message of the book of Isaiah to the world is that there is indeed a Savior, the Messiah, who has humbly, painfully, and gloriously won salvation for sinners and for all who would trust in him (Isa. 4:2; 7:14; 9:6–7; 11:1–5; 42:1–4; 52:13–53:12; 61:1–3). Death itself is swallowed up, and our reproach is removed (25:8). What an astonishing salvation! There is no one in our world today too sinful to be saved, too hurt to be healed, too lost to be found, or too far away to be brought near. God, our Savior, is Immanuel, God with us (7:14). He saves. It is who he is.

A global God. This salvation is for all nations. God’s promise to Abraham to bless the nations of the world (Gen. 12:1–3) is affirmed throughout the book of Isaiah. Even as the seraphim declare that “the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isa. 6:3), so it shall be, and so it is coming to pass even today, that the whole world will be filled with God’s glory (Hab. 2:14; Num. 14:21; Ps. 72:19). In Isaiah 19 we read that one day even the hated nations of Assyria and Egypt, both of whom at some time enslaved Israel, will be included within God’s gracious purposes (Isa. 19:16–25).

A trustworthy God. Our confidence in our global missionary endeavor is not in our techniques, resources, or strategies. It rests instead upon the promises and faithfulness of God. As declared in Isaiah 25:5–7, the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind will see it; the feast of the Lord Almighty will be enjoyed by all peoples, and the veil of sin, ignorance, and death will be removed from all peoples and nations! No tribe, language, people, or nation will be excluded from the salvation of the Lord (Rev. 5:9). This is not the language of exaggeration. It is the declaration of the invincible determination of our almighty and trustworthy God (Isa. 46:9–10).

Gospel Freedom and Proclamation to All Nations

A divine liberation. The gospel is a message of freedom to a world that is weary from bondage. So many among the nations are burdened—burdened by the relentless demands and empty promises of mankind’s religions, philosophies, and idols. Such things are “borne as burdens on weary beasts” (Isa. 46:1). But God’s message to a weary world today is that, rather than being a burden to us, the Lord himself has borne his people; he has carried us from the womb, and will carry us to our dying day, finally saving us (46:3–5).

A proclaimed salvation. God’s people worldwide have the glorious privilege of proclaiming this message of freedom: “‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the LORD” (Isa. 43:10, 12; see also Acts 1:8). Indeed, our very lives are an indispensable part of our witness that God uses to attract the nations to himself. As Christ taught, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The glory and goodness of God is reflected in and through his people, by their words and by their actions.

A fearless proclamation. As we serve our God, make known his deeds among the peoples (Isa. 12:4; 66:19), and herald the good news from high mountaintops (52:7), we are commanded not to fear (40:9). Because God is our salvation, we “will trust, and will not be afraid” (12:2). To those persecuted because of their witness to Christ around the world today, we have the great comfort of Isaiah 43:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

    and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isa. 43:2)

God will protect, renew, and restore his global people. Our assurance rests in his deeply comforting words to us:

“Because you are precious in my eyes,

    and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

    peoples in exchange for your life.” (Isa. 43:4)

He has proven this love in an ultimate way by sending us his Son to give his life in exchange for ours.

A Message of Cosmic Significance

We have a glorious message to proclaim to the world. We are to be “beautiful feet” bringing good news of happiness and salvation to the nations (Isa. 52:7). We are privileged and called to “walk in the light of the LORD” (2:5). We are to present to the world the open invitation of God—the invitation for cleansing and forgiveness (1:18). The invitation to receive compassion, feeding, care, and life (55:1–3). The invitation to seek the Lord and turn from our wicked ways (55:6–7).

With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation (Isa. 12:3), and on that day we will all say,

“ Give thanks to the LORD,

    call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the peoples,

    proclaim that his name is exalted.

“Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;

    let this be made known in all the earth.” (Isa. 12:4–5)

Datable Events in the Book of Isaiah

Datable Events in the Book of Isaiah

Uzziah’s death; Isaiah’s call ch. 6 740 B.C.
Days of Ahaz ch. 7 c. 735
Assyrian invasion chs. 36–38 701
Sennacherib’s death 37:38 681
Babylonians will destroy Jerusalem 39:6–8 586
Israel will return from Babylonian exile chs. 40–48 538
Simplified Overview of Isaiah

Simplified Overview of Isaiah

Isaiah 1–39 Isaiah 40–55 Isaiah 56–66
Date and Setting The eighth century B.C. (700s); the Assyrian threat Prophecies for the sixth century B.C. (500s); the Babylonian exile Prophecies about all times and occasions until the end
Audience God’s rebellious people craving worldly security God’s defeated people under worldly domination All who hold fast to God’s covenant
Actions God purifies a remnant of his apostate people through judgment God encourages his discouraged people in exile God prepares all of his true people for his promised salvation
Message “In returning and rest you shall be saved; . . . But you were unwilling” (30:15) “the glory of the LORD shall be revealed” (40:5) “Keep justice, and do righteousness” (56:1)
Activity of the Writing Prophets during the Reigns of the Kings of Israel and Judah

Activity of the Writing Prophets during the Reigns of the Kings of Israel and Judah

Timeline King of Judah // Event Prophet to Judah Prophet to Israel King of Israel // Event
780 B.C.       Jeroboam II (781–753)
770          
760 Uzziah     (c. 760) (c. 760)    
  (Azariah)     Amos Jonah    
  (767–740)            
            (c. 755)  
            Hosea Zechariah (753–752)
              Shallum (752)
750   Jotham       Menahem (752–742)
    (750–735) Micah (c. 742) Isaiah (c. 740)     Pekahiah (742–740)
740             Pekah (740–732)
  Ahaz (735–715)         Hoshea (732–722)
730            
720           Fall of Samaria (722)
710 Hezekiah (715–686)      
700      
680 Manasseh (686–642) Nahum (c. 660–630)  
660 Amon (642–640)    
640 Josiah (640–609) Zephaniah (c. 640–609)  
    Habakkuk (c. 640–609)  
620   (c. 627)     
600   Jeremiah     
  Jehoahaz (609)      
  Jehoiakim (609–597)   (c. 605)    
  Jehoiachin (597)   Daniel    
  Zedekiah (597–586)     (c. 597)  
        Ezekiel  
  Fall of Jerusalem (586) Obadiah      
    (after 586)      
580          
560          
540          
520 1st return of exiles (538) Haggai (c. 520)  
  Temple rebuilt (516/515) Zechariah (c. 520)  
500      
480      
460 2nd return of exiles (458) Malachi (c. 460)  
440 3rd return of exiles (445)    
  • Major prophets
  • Minor prophets

Joel is not displayed as the dates are uncertain and estimates range from the 9th to the 4th centuries B.C.

Micah’s prophecy was likely directed toward both Judah and Israel.

Study Notes

Isa. 63:10–11 his Holy Spirit. . . . his Holy Spirit. Again Isaiah emphasizes how God gave himself to Israel. But they rebelled. See Psalm 78; Isa. 1:2; 66:24; Acts 7:51. The Savior of Isa. 63:8 thus became their enemy. See 1:19–20 and 43:27–28.

Study Notes

Isa. 63:1–14 God comforts his people with a vision of his victory over all evil in the future and of his loving goodness in the past.

Isa. 63:12–14 his glorious arm . . . a glorious name. God displayed his power in Israel’s history. Isaiah has hope for the future because God must be glorified (see Eph. 1:6, 12, 14).

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would come upon certain people for special purposes. The Spirit gave leaders wisdom, helped judges win battles, and empowered prophets to speak God’s truth (Exodus 31:3; Judges 14:6; 1 Samuel 16:13). For example, the Spirit came on people like Moses, Samson, and David to help them do what God had called them to do. The Spirit was active, guiding and strengthening God’s people, but his work was often temporary and specific, pointing forward to a time when God’s Spirit would be given more fully to all his people (Joel 2:28).

The Spirit in Isaiah

In Isaiah 63:11-14, the prophet (Isaiah) looks back at how God saved his people (Israel) during the Exodus and reminded them that the Holy Spirit was with them the whole time. God’s Spirit was among them to lead and guide them, like when he brought them safely through the Red Sea and led them in the wilderness.

The Spirit is described as giving them rest and directing their path, much like a shepherd cares for a flock. But the larger context shows that even though God’s Spirit was present and faithful, the people still rebelled and grieved him (Isaiah 63:10-14). This passage highlights both the Spirit’s role in leading and caring for God’s people and the sadness of their disobedience in response to his guidance.

Observation

As you read Isaiah 63:11-14, slow down and observe the text by asking the five W’s: Who? What? When? Where? And Why? Ask questions like, “Who is in this passage? What’s happening? When did this take place? Where are they? Why is this being remembered?” Pay close attention to what it says about God and his Spirit guiding his people. Then connect it to our key verse, Nehemiah 9:20. As you observe, look for how the Spirit is leading, teaching, and caring for them.

Interpretation

Try tracing the Spirit’s role across the Old Testament. Read Genesis 1:2; Numbers 11:25-29; Judges 6:34; 1 Samuel 16:13-14; Psalm 51:11; and Ezekiel 36:26-27. Write what the Spirit does in each. Then return to Isaiah 63:11–14 and ask, “How does this fit the pattern?”  This should help you see that Isaiah isn’t saying something random. He’s reminding the people of a consistent way God has been working through his Spirit all along.

Journaling Prayer

After seeing how God’s Spirit consistently leads, teaches, and strengthens his people, take a few minutes to respond in prayer. Start by writing a simple prayer of praise, thanking God for his Spirit and the ways the Spirit has always been faithful to guide his people. You can use what you observed in the passages to shape your words, like thanking him for giving wisdom, direction, or care.

Then, turn your prayer toward your own life. Ask God to help you listen to his Spirit and follow his leading. You might write, “God, teach me through your Spirit like you did with your people,” or “Help me trust your guidance.” Keep it honest and simple. Take a moment to sit quietly, asking God to make you more aware of his Spirit at work in you. What a gift it is that the Spirit of Jesus desires to meet with us!

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Monthly memory verse

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

– Romans 8:13-14