The Pulpit Commentary on Nehemiah 9:20

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The Holy Spirit as a Teacher.

"Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them." This assertion is more emphatically true of Christians than of Israel. We live under "the dispensation of the Spirit," when the "promise of the Spirit" is more abundantly fulfilled. We have here—

I. A WONDERFUL DISPLAY OF DIVINE MERCY. It is in the midst of the narration of Israel's pride and stubbornness that this statement is made. So it is to a rebellious world that God's Spirit comes to instruct, restore, and save.

II. AN INVALUABLE GIFT.

1. Its nature. Special Divine influence and operation—the Holy Spirit acting on and in the minds and hearts of men.

2. Its goodness. "Thy good Spirit." Intended not to describe the personal goodness of the Holy Spirit, but the value of his influence to men. Amongst the gifts of God to Israel named in the context, this was incalculably the best. The gifts of God which we call providential are invaluable; those of his grace are of far higher value, and of these this is the greatest. Without the Spirit no other Divine gift would avail for our highest and everlasting well-being. This renders all other blessings truly blessed. The good Spirit makes all things good to us, even those which we call evil, yea, those which in themselves are evil.

III. A GRAND OPPORTUNITY. "To instruct them." Each one of us may have the inestimable advantage of a Divine Teacher who not only speaks to the ear, or the eye, but enters the heart, and whose instructions are the most essential to our welfare. He makes "wise unto salvation." The only conditions are faith in him and his teaching, willingness to learn and practise his lessons, and prayer for his influences.

IV. A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY. In proportion to the value of God's gifts are the responsibilities they impose. No responsibility can, therefore, be so heavy as that which arises from the gift of the Holy Ghost; the presence amongst us, the influence upon us, of a Divine Person proffering and pressing his aid to lead us to God, goodness, and heaven. Happy those who receive him into. their hearts as a permanent guest and guide—the life of their life, the soul of their soul. But let us take heed lest we "grieve the Holy Spirit of God," or "do despite unto the Spirit of grace," and he depart from us utterly and for ever, leaving us to the "sorer punishment" which falls on those to whom God comes most nearly and graciously, and is rejected by them.

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