IV.―THE NUMBER SEVEN A SCRIPTURE MEASURE.
WE have already shown that, from the most ancient times, and for centuries prior to Moses, the number seven was accepted as a time measure, and that it was invested with sacred importance. The way in which this number was honored in the sacred seven-staged towns of Babylonia is remarkable; but we shall confine our remarks to Scripture teaching on the matter. Running throughout the Bible is a vein of instruction which is marked, as it were, by a crystal formation of sevens. Whether in the books of Moses, or in the prophets, or in the New Testament, we find it. Is this design or is it chance? Is it from the mind of God or from the minds of editors, re-editors, or forgers―both of Ezra’s days and of Christian times? When a crystal―be its form what it may―is found in nature, science attributes its presence to the production of constituent parts, and scientists would scout the notion that it arose by hap, and not by a rule of law. How can the fact of the peculiar use of the number seven in the various books of the Bible be accounted for, unless upon the reasonable principle of one mind governing the whole Book?
The Scriptures have periods of sevens of days, weeks, months, and of years, and also of longer cycles. Again and again these sevens culminate in a definite conclusion of rest, so that one constant idea is before the mind. Not only do the sevens come to their end by effluxion of time, but the end so reached, is ever suggestive of what shall yet be. And this is the case from Genesis to Revelation. As upon the seventh day the holy Sabbath occurred, so with more or less clearness, upon the seventh period being reached, that period is characterized by a completeness of purpose, and not unfrequently by rest and joy.
The book of Daniel affords an illustration of the importance of the division of time into sevens. In the ninth chapter of his book we learn that he “understood by books the number of the years” which Jeremiah, the prophet, had foretold would be accomplished in a desolate land of Israel, and which period was fulfilled in Daniel’s time. This led Daniel to fasting and prayer. He had lived to see the end of the seventy years of Jeremiah’s prophecy, and now what would occur next? what would Jehovah do? In answer to his prayer, Daniel became the vessel for receiving and for communicating a further prophetic revelation, and one which was also based upon the time measure seven. Jeremiah’s seventy years were enlarged into a period of seventy times seven years, i.e., four hundred and ninety years. This long period was measured off for the accomplishment of vast issues― “to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.”
We have already touched upon the sevens of days and of months;
THE SEVEN OF SEVENS OF YEARS
was established in Israel before the land of promise was reached. At the end of the forty-ninth year came the year of jubilee, upon which debts were cancelled, slaves freed, and property restored to its original possessors. Israel’s social life was, therefore, permeated with this great occurrence. The year was the liberty and joy year in Israel―it was the acceptable year of the Lord. It was not only a social institution―important as that might be―it was also a lesson in looking forward to a time of greater liberty and joy.
Let the reader open the book of Isaiah and read from chapter sixty-one, verses one to three. Let him read aloud these words of the second verse― “To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God.” He sustained his voice as he read, “the acceptable year of the Lord,” for the prophetic sentence was not complete―more words and a further meaning were to come. Now let him open his Bible on Luke 4, verse 16. He sees Jesus standing up to read in the synagogue. The book of Isaiah is placed in His hands. He reads the portion we have selected, and He stops at the words “acceptable year of the Lord” ―just where the voice was sustained as the sentence was incomplete—and He closes the book. Can we doubt His intention?
“This day,” He said, “is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” With His advent
THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR
of Jehovah had come, but not until He comes a second time will “the day of vengeance” arise. From the time our Lord read that scripture in the synagogue, until this hour His voice has been sustained, as it were; He has not yet completed Isaiah’s sentence. And Isaiah’s prophecy is still in abeyance.
The year of the seven of sevens holds forth its testimony from the time of Moses, when it was first instituted, up to our own, and still it waits its entire fulfilment. A chain of intention and purpose concerning it runs through the testimony of the law, the prophets, and the ministry of Christ.
We are now dealing with details of prophetic truth, but we are calling attention to one great principle in the Word of God upon which it is made known—the time measure seven. We find this measure in Old and New Testaments, and on the completion of the seventh period we find God bringing in rest. The story of seven and the holy Sabbath occurring on the seventh period of time, are part and parcel of the testimony of inspiration.