God rested on the seventh day, Joshua marched around Jericho seven times, and the Menorah in the Tabernacle had seven branches. To honor the seventh month of July, it is interesting to look at what gives #7 its unique spiritual power.
Amazingly, in total the number seven is mentioned more than 700 times in Scripture. The Book of Revelation alone contains dozens of sevens – churches, bowls, lamps, seals, and the list goes on. In ancient Israel, the number seven was thought to be a symbol of divine perfection. As opposed to other numbers which derive their power from human endeavors, seven comes from God.
What evidence is there for God’s identity being related to the number seven? If we look at the famous “branch of Jesse” prophecy in Isaiah chapter 11, we find that the Holy Spirit would come to rest upon the Messiah in seven distinct facets:
1. “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him רוּחַ יְהוָה ruaḥ adonai
2. The spirit of wisdom רוּחַ חָכְמָה ruaḥ hohma
3. And understanding וּבִינָה ruaḥ bina
4. The spirit of counsel רוּחַ עֵצָה ruaḥ etza
5. And might וּגְבוּרָה ruaḥ gevura
6. The spirit of knowledge רוּחַ דַּעַת ruaḥ da’at
7. And the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2) וְיִרְאַת יְהוָה ruaḥ yirat adonai
Collectively, these attributes form the sevenfold essence of the Holy Spirit. When read in translation, this might seem like just a list of abstract qualities. But in the original Hebrew, the words form a spiritual package, exploding with power and offering new details that suddenly burst with meaning.
It should also be acknowledged or cautioned here that while world religions have used #7; occult systems and magical societies have also embraced it, and endless superstitions and mythologies give importance to the number, so be careful when reading about it and giving meaning to it, dare I say applying it for personal and gainful reasons.
All that said, for unknown reason, I have always been intimidated by the No. 7, but not so with some outstanding professional athletes who successfully wore the number on their jersey. Here are just a few of them.
John Elway, Ben Roethlisberger, and Michael Vick are among the top National Football names who wore #7. The National Basketball Association has had players find success with the jersey "7" thanks to Carmelo Anthony, Pete Maravich, and Kyle Lowry. Some of the Major League Baseball players to wear "7" during their illustrious careers include Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds, and Joe Mauer. The National Hockey League is represented by famous players like oldtimer Howie Mornez, Ray Borque, Paul Coffey, Phil Esposito and the great Tim Horton.
What evidence is there for God’s identity being related to the number seven? If we look at the famous “branch of Jesse” prophecy in Isaiah chapter 11, we find that the Holy Spirit would come to rest upon the Messiah in seven distinct facets:
1. “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him רוּחַ יְהוָה ruaḥ adonai
2. The spirit of wisdom רוּחַ חָכְמָה ruaḥ hohma
3. And understanding וּבִינָה ruaḥ bina
4. The spirit of counsel רוּחַ עֵצָה ruaḥ etza
5. And might וּגְבוּרָה ruaḥ gevura
6. The spirit of knowledge רוּחַ דַּעַת ruaḥ da’at
7. And the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2) וְיִרְאַת יְהוָה ruaḥ yirat adonai
Collectively, these attributes form the sevenfold essence of the Holy Spirit. When read in translation, this might seem like just a list of abstract qualities. But in the original Hebrew, the words form a spiritual package, exploding with power and offering new details that suddenly burst with meaning.
It should also be acknowledged or cautioned here that while world religions have used #7; occult systems and magical societies have also embraced it, and endless superstitions and mythologies give importance to the number, so be careful when reading about it and giving meaning to it, dare I say applying it for personal and gainful reasons.
All that said, for unknown reason, I have always been intimidated by the No. 7, but not so with some outstanding professional athletes who successfully wore the number on their jersey. Here are just a few of them.
John Elway, Ben Roethlisberger, and Michael Vick are among the top National Football names who wore #7. The National Basketball Association has had players find success with the jersey "7" thanks to Carmelo Anthony, Pete Maravich, and Kyle Lowry. Some of the Major League Baseball players to wear "7" during their illustrious careers include Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds, and Joe Mauer. The National Hockey League is represented by famous players like oldtimer Howie Mornez, Ray Borque, Paul Coffey, Phil Esposito and the great Tim Horton.
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