tenac, Yeah...I think you pretty well answered your own question.
However, perhaps a couple thoughts might help. It is clear that the Holy Spirit was always present and always working. Think of Genesis 1:2 and the spirit of God was on the face of the deep....Or with Samson who was empowered by the Spirit with great strength.
Perhaps the most telling OT verse about the Spirit and inspiration is found in II Samuel 23:2, David says of himself, "The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me, His words were on my tongue."
As for the New Testament in John 7:37ff
"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."
So, there's a sense in which the Spirit was not yet given...until after Pentecost (Acts 2), in terms of his fullness and continued presence, and another sense in which he has always been the One who works in our hearts and accomplishes God's will within.
If you want to think of it visually, I think the principle shift if you will is that while the "Presence" of God, the glory cloud, at one point inhabited the tabernacle and temple....it has now come to indwell believers and especially the assembly of God's people in worship....hence the visible sign of tongues of fire coming and resting upon the church in Jerusalem...and subsequenting on Cornelius' household (gentile believers) in Acts 10. ().
This indwelling is also the presumption of I Peter 2:8ff where we are called living stones being built into a spiritual house (where God dwells).
This good stuff to think about. Certainly some mysteries...but clearly realities. I think this is part fo the reason we all have to continue seeking the fellowship of our brethren for worship.
I've been reading some children's stories of the French Hugonauts in the 1700's. Their faith and perseverance were simply amazing.
Regards,
Randy
