The most popular imagery of the Holy Spirit that of a dove; this is drawn from Scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments. In Genesis 8:6-12, Noah’s ark symbolizes Heaven; Noah is a picture of God the Father, and the dove represents the Holy Spirit. All four Gospel writers make reference to the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus in the form of a dove after His baptism in the Jordan River. But who is the Holy Spirit, and how does the Spirit affect us as believers?
Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit is an equal part of the Trinity, and plays an important role both in the character of GOD and the lives of those who are called His children. The members of the Trinity are equal in standing (none of them are greater/lesser than the others), but they fulfill different parts in how GOD works His will. Years ago, my high school Bible teacher used this image to explain how the Trinity works together:
The Father acts like the brain, inspiring His plan for all creation; the Son acts like the mouth, speaking (and reflecting) the Father’s thoughts and will; the Holy Spirit acts like the lungs, bearing the Word as the Breath and working to carry it out.
Since the Spirit is one with Jesus and the Father, they are alike in character, but the Holy Spirit (as the portion of the Trinity that dwells among/within us as believers) is responsible for imparting to us the power to live/act as ambassadors of Christ. The nine “fruits” of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5:22-23, but they spring from one of the most precious gifts found throughout Scripture, especially in the Proverbs:
Wisdom is often spoken of as a female figure, and in one of my college classes (“Greco-Roman World”), I learned why we perceive the Spirit in this way. In many pagan religions, the image of GOD has been distorted, but there are a few things that remain constant throughout. One of them is the idea of a divine family unit, composed of a “father,” “mother,” and “child”; though the analogy has been much debated over time, it does give an example of how the family unit itself reflects the character of GOD. According to the Gospels, Jesus declares Himself as the Son, with the Father in Heaven; the Holy Spirit, therefore, fulfills the “mother” position, and thus “wisdom” is given a female image.
When visited by GOD in 1st Kings 3, Solomon asks for wisdom, recognizing that, on his own, he was insufficient for the task of governing GOD’s people. Solomon is thereafter credited with contributing many chapters of Proverbs over the span of his reign as Israel’s king, passing on the practical advice for everyday life. A constant theme throughout the Proverbs (culminating in chapter 31) is the contrast between a wise woman and a foolish one, and the admonition remains to include wisdom as an essential part of our lives:
“Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:5-7
“The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew.” Proverbs 3:19-20
“‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding, for by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone.’” – Proverbs 9:10-12
An essential part of the Tabernacle and Temple was the golden lampstand, referred to as the menorah. This image is used by Jesus to describe the relationship between Himself and His followers, but it is (more directly) and image of the Holy Spirit’s presence and essence. The seven branches (and seven lights) reflect seven qualities of the Holy Spirit that are imparted to those that the Spirit rests upon or indwells:
“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” – Isaiah 11:1-2
The analogy is repeated in the last book written by the apostle John, before he imparts the visions he was shown while a prisoner on the island of Patmos:
“John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 1:4-5a
The Holy Spirit is difficult to fathom, and impossible to define, but by better understanding the Spirit and how we relate to Him, we fulfill and deepen our walk with GOD in the moment and for eternity to come.