Why Seven
In the King James Version of the Bible, the word seven occurs 448 times. “The Bible begins with seven days, and ends with a succession of sevens. Seven represents rest and release from toil, also a divine work, in judgment or mercy or revelation.” (Fausset’s Bible Dictionary). Seven was a sacred number to the ancient Hebrews, used often in the Bible to symbolize perfection, fullness, abundance, rest, and completion.
The first mention of the number seven occurs in Genesis, when God created the world in six days, but rested from His work on the 7th day, setting it aside as holy. The fourth of the Ten Commandments states, “Remember the Sabbath day [that is, the seventh day], to keep it holy” (Ex 20:8). The number seven also had a ritual importance to the Hebrews. Several of the religious acts of the Old Testament received a sevenfold repetition, for instance, the sprinkling of blood (Lev 4:6), or the dipping of Naaman the leper in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:10,14).
There were other sevens in the scripture that held interest: Several / 12 /times seven.” of the Old Testament feasts were 7 days in length.
The candlestick in the Tabernacle had 7 lamps. Deuteronomy 28:7 – “The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.”
At the battle of Jericho, there were sevens. They marched around the city seven days. On the seventh day, they marched seven times, and the walls fell. In Job we read, “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.” Psalms 119:164 –
“Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.” Proverbs 24:16 –
“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…”
In Matthew 15 – Jesus had seven loaves and a few little fishes – and fed 4,000 – and had seven baskets left over. Jesus’ instructions regarding forgiveness is in multiples of 7:
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee,
In John’s Revelation of the seven churches, he saw seven candlesticks and he saw Jesus in the midst of them. New Life lewiston church family— that several chosen people caught a glimpse of a gathering . . . A coming together . . . A healing process and ministry. The vision is clear . . . The purpose is exact . . . The unity is strong . . . The passion is alive. . . We have begun . . .and He is in the midst of us. “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 30:17
This Is Not the End of Your Story
Body:
What you’re facing right now does not define you.
Your past does not disqualify you.
Your struggle does not have the final word.
There is hope.
There is healing.
There is freedom.
And it can start today.