NUMBER SEVEN (7-17)

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) Number 7 is a great number of spiritual perfection. A number which, therefore, occupies so large a place in the works, and especially in the Word of God as being inspired by the Holy Spirit. As a number the actual word and number "Seven" is used as no other number is. Seven and its compounds occur in multiples of seven in the Old Testament.

i) Seven occurs 287 times, or 7 x 41.
ii) "Seventh," the fractional part, occurs 98 times, or 7 x 14.
iii) "Seven-fold," occurs 7 times.

b) It is interesting to note what other mention(s) for 7 can be found in the Bible.

1. How is seven linked to Israel?

a) Sometimes a single chapter or separate portion may be taken and dealt with by itself, and thus form a fruitful subject of Bible study. We give an example of Ezekiel 36.

I. Seven things concerning Israel today: -

1. Unclean in the sight of God (verse 29).
2. Possessed of stony hearts (verse 26).
3. Profaning God's holy Name (verses 20, 22).
4. Scattered among the heathen (verse 19).
5. Covered with infamy and shame (verses 3-6).
6. Subject to heathen rule (verse 6).
7. Desolate, forsaken, and a reproach (verses 3,4,30).

II. Seven things God will do to Israel's oppressors: -

1. Speak in jealousy against them (verse 5).
2. Turn their glory into shame (verse 7).
3. Dispossess them of their occupation in the land (verses 10,11).
4. Give them to Israel for a possession (verse 12).
5. Break their power to crush Israel (verses 13,14).
6. Vindicate and glorify His own name among them (verse 22).
7. Teach them that He is God (verses 36,38).

III. Seven things God will do for Israel: -

1. Gather them out of all countries (verse 24).
2. Bring them into their own land (verse 24).
3. Cleanse them from filth and idols (verse 26).
4. Give them new hearts and minds, and His spirit (verses 26,27).
5. Make them again His people (verse 28).
6. Cause them to flourish and multiply (verse 30).
7. Make their end better than their beginning (verse 11).

b) One or two examples may be given of the numbers in names, etc., though many more are given elsewhere.

• Enoch, "the seventh from Adam" = 84 ( 7 x 12).
• "Heirs of God," in the Greek = 1071 ( 7 x 153).
• "The Lamb," in Greek = 651 (= 7 x 93 or 7 x 3 x 31).

c) The multiples of seven as a rule partake of the same spiritual importance, and therefore we have not treated all of them specially.

The End ...