Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 58

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SEVEN

 SEVEN

The question was raised a short time ago about the significance of the number seven in the Bible. It is a number which occurs about 461 times in the NKJV of the Scriptures. Although not all of these uses are in a significant way, in many ways this number plays a prominent part in the overall narrative.

Seven, in the Bible, is considered to be the number representing spiritual perfection and completion. In Hebrew, seven is shevah, from the root shave which means “to be full.”* To swear an oath in Hebrew is “to seven oneself.”*

God rested on the seventh day after creation. 

(Genesis 2:2) 

There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

(Isaiah 11:1-2)

When Christ fed the multitude, He had seven loaves and after everyone was fed,

 there were seven large baskets full of fragments. 

(Matthew 15:34-37)

It took Solomon seven years to build the Temple in Jerusalem. 

(1 Kings 6:38) 

There are seven annual holy feast days. 

(Leviticus 23)

Similarly, in the Book of Revelation, there are multiple sevens: 55 sevens, 5 sevenths and 35 (5x7) phrases of sevens. These include: seven churches, seven letters, seven Spirits, seven golden lamp stands, seven stars, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven trumpets, seven thousand people, seven heads, seven crowns, seven plagues, seven golden bowels, seven hills, seven kings and seven last visions.

In Genesis, in the story of Joseph, when Pharaoh had his dream, it was of seven fat cows followed by seven lean ones; and then by seven plump heads of grain followed again by seven lean ones (Genesis 41:2-7).

Noah took, into the ark, clean beasts by seven, fouls of the air by seven, and after seven days the flood came upon the earth (Genesis 7). After the flood, Noah sent forth birds at seven day intervals to test whether the waters had receded or not (Genesis 8). 

At the time of Passover, the Hebrews were told for “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread…on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you…In the first month, on the fourteenth (2x7) day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first (3x7) day of the month at evening.” (Hebrews 12:15-16,18)

There are many other examples of seven bring used in the Scriptures but a case in  which it is not so evident is in the first verse of the Bible. The verse: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” does not at first glance seem to have anything to do with seven. But in the Hebrew, not the English, there is a symmetry which is hard to think of as just coincidence. In Hebrew, every letter also represents a number and as a result, one obtains the following pattern.**

The number of Hebrew words	Seven
The number of letters equals 28 and 28 divided by 4 =	Seven
The first three Hebrew words translated “In the beginning God created” contain 14 letters; 14/2 =	Seven
The last four Hebrew words “the heavens and the earth” have 14 letters and 14/2 =	Seven
The fourth and fifth words have seven letters	Seven
The sixth and seventh words have seven letters	Seven
The three key words: God, heaven and earth have 14 letters and 14/2 =	Seven
The number of letters in the four remaining words also 14; 14/2 =	Seven
The shortest word in the verse is the middle word with 7 letters	Seven
The numeric value of the first, middle and last letters is 133 and 133/19  =	Seven
The numeric value of the first and last letters of all seven words is 1393 and 1393 divided by 199=	Seven

There is a symmetry in the Bible based along numeric values and this is only one of a number of numbers used repetitively in Scripture; but it alone is enough to give one plenty to think about.

*From the Significance of Numbers in Scripture - Agape Bible Study

** The Signature of God  pg. 231 by Grant R. Jeffery

NOTICE - Church Service

 

Next Sunday June 25th at Summer Street at 6 PM

Pastor Vince Hanley and MHM singers.

All Welcome

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 57

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - PROGRESS OR PROPHECY - PART TWO

 PROGRESS or PROPHECY - PART TWO

It is said in 2 Timothy that: “…in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves…proud…unloving…despisers of good…” (3:1-3). A few weeks ago, it was mentioned how the progress that mankind seemingly has made has been tempered with an apparent sense of inwardness and self-satisfaction rather than true advancement in life and living. This statement is similar to what Timothy indicated above. So, is it truly progress that society is making or fulfillment of the prophecy as stated? So to continue what was started a few weeks ago in that we have learned to add years to life but not life to years.

As history tells us, we have been able to go to the moon and back but we often have trouble crossing the street to meet neighbours.

In effect, we have conquered outer space, but not inner space.

Indicating that we have done larger things but not better things.

In many ways, we have cleaned up much of the air but have continued to pollute the soul. We have split the atom but intensified our prejudices.

And in addition:

• we write more but learn less.
• we plan more but accomplish less. And
• often exert more effort but meet with less success.
• we have learned to rush but not to wait

And much of this has resulted in us having higher incomes but lower morals; steep profits but shallow relationships.

We have:

• more food available but less appeasement from our diet
• an increased variety of food but with less nutrition
• more acquaintances but fewer friends
• faster food but slower digestion

We have built more computers to hold more information and to produce more copies than ever but we commune with each other less than ever, have more leisure but less faith and often two incomes but more divorce.

We have become taller in stature but shorter in character

We: 

• talk too much but love too seldom and lie too often 
• take quick trips 
• have a throw away mentality
• succumb to one night stands
• have pills that do everything from cheer us up, to quiet us down, to even cause death but we still have overweight bodies.

It is a time when there is much in the show window but nothing in the stockroom.*

All of this really indicates that we have truly become lovers of ourselves, proud of our outward show, and less concerned about our inward character. It is really a fulfillment of what was said in Timothy and in many ways reflects the reality of our world.

Isaiah may also have reflected on our times when he stated: “Woe to those that call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. “(Isaiah 5:20)

Charles Dickens wrote:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

it was the age if wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity,

it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness,

it was the spring of hope , it was the winter of despair.**

I wonder if someone, looking back from sometime in the future, would consider the above to be a fit description of our place in the world today.

It does give one something to think about.

*As for Progress or Prophecy One. From an unknown author as reported in the study guide to Romans by Dr. David Jeremiah.

** Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities  

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 56

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WORTHY

 WORTHY

          In Romans 16, Paul indicates that Phoebe should be received “in a manner worthy of the saints” (16:2). In the days when Paul wrote those words, greetings between people and the reception given by one person towards another were often more generous and complete compared to what might be expected today. And even more so when it was between Christians whom Paul often referred to as saints. In Paul’s epistles, if you were a true believer and follower of Christ, you were considered a saint and if this were the case, then one Christian should be greeted and received by another in a manner worthy of such a designation. And what type of behaviour was it that made a person to be considered a saint and true Christian?

There are apparently seven ways in which one would be considered worthy.

Firstly, “…let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ…that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27)

Secondly, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord…pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” (Colossians 1:10).

Thirdly, “I…beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love…” (Ephesians 4:1-2).

Fourthly, I commend Phoebe…“that you may receive her…in a manner worthy of the saints..for…she has been a helper of many…” (Romans 16:2).

Fifthly, “…you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and strangers…if you send them forward…in a manner worthy of God…” (3 John 1:5,6).

Sixthly, “You are witnesses…as you know how we exported, and comforted, and charged every one of you…that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Finally, “…we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you…” (2Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Standing fast with one spirit and one mind, increasing in knowledge and being fruitful in works with lowliness, gentleness and long suffering, receiving others in a proper manner as befitting other brothers and sisters in God’s family and then going forward with them with faith and power as witnesses; this all should make us somewhat worthy of the calling God has bestowed upon us as saints.

Just something else to think about.