Do Not Grieve the Spirit

Paul wrote, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30). Long before Paul, the prophet Isaiah wrote about God’s people grieving His Holy Spirit.

Remembering God’s kindness. “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord And the praises of the Lord” (Isaiah 63:7). Isaiah chose to remember every kind thing God had done.

Great goodness. God had shown “the great goodness toward the house of Israel” (63:7). Lovingkindness is loyal love that keeps doing good.

Many kindnesses. Lovingkindnesses is a plural word. God’s kindness is not one gift but gift after gift, like waves that keep rolling in to the shore.

Why remember? Remembering God’s kindness keeps our hearts close to Him. Forgetting what He has done makes it easier to wander away.

My people. God said, “Surely they are My people, Children who will not lie” (63:8). God called them His children and looked for them to be true to Him.

Their Savior. “So He became their Savior” (63:8). God rescued them and cared for them.

Close in their troubles. Isaiah also wrote that God shared in their troubles and carried His people all through the old days.

But they rebelled. “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit” (63:10). The people God loved turned away from Him again and again.

He loves them. The Spirit was grieved because He loved the people who turned away.

Sad because He loves. A good father is sad when his children choose a harmful path, because he loves them. God’s sadness over sin comes from His love, not from a bad temper.

Sin is serious. “So He turned Himself against them as an enemy” (63:10). God takes sin seriously because He is holy and because He loves His people.

Sin, the cross and new life. Every one of us has sinned and grieved God. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again, and everyone who trusts Him is forgiven. The Holy Spirit then lives in them.

What this means for you. Remember God’s kindness each day, as Isaiah did. When you do wrong, tell God and turn back to Him. He is ready to forgive.

God’s people had grieved His Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10). But that was not the end of their story.

Remembering. “Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people” (63:11). The people remembered how God had helped them long ago.

Through the sea. They asked, “Where is He who brought them up out of the sea With the shepherd of His flock?” (63:11). God had led Moses and the people through the sea.

The Spirit among them. They remembered the One “who put His Holy Spirit within them” (63:11). Long ago, God’s Spirit was with His people.

Led by the hand. God “led them by the right hand of Moses, With His glorious arm, Dividing the water before them” (63:12). Moses led the people, but the power was God’s.

Not stumbling. He “led them through the deep, As a horse in the wilderness, That they might not stumble” (63:13). A horse on open ground runs without tripping. God kept His people steady.

Rest. “As a beast goes down into the valley, And the Spirit of the Lord causes him to rest, So You lead Your people” (63:14). Picture cattle walking down into a green valley to rest. The Spirit gave God’s people rest.

A prayer for help. They prayed, “Look down from heaven, And see from Your habitation, holy and glorious” (63:15). They asked God to see them and help them again.

Our Father. Then they prayed, “You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name” (63:16). After all their turning away, they could still call God Father.

Led step by step. God led His people the way a good herdsman leads his animals, one step at a time, down to a safe and quiet place.

God is patient. God was grieved, but He did not stop being merciful. He was ready to welcome His people back.

The way home. Every person has sinned. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him can call God Father, and the Holy Spirit leads them.

What this means for you. If you have done wrong, come back to God. He is patient and kind, and His Spirit leads His children.