Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, October 6, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-10-06-2017

This is devotional thought number 23 in our devotional series, “Removing the Veil: Sanctuary Living in the 21st Century.” Our subject is: Awaiting Perfection

Here’s the question for consideration: Are there any observable patterns in Scripture that can foster hope for a miracle?

“And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 24:15–17).

When I read the Bible, I do so slowly and prayerfully. I look for any jot or tittle that seems intriguing, out of the ordinary, related to something I have seen elsewhere in Scripture, and observable patterns. I learn so much that way. There are many gems embedded beneath the surface that the Holy Spirit wants to unearth as we mine for hidden treasures. In today’s Scripture focus, I observed the six and then seventh pattern. The Bible is chock full of six and seven combinations like the following:
1. After the sixth day of creation, the Bible says: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Genesis 2:1–3).
2. “See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” (Exodus 16:29).
3. “If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.” (Exodus 21:2).
4. “Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” (Exodus 23:12–13).
5. “It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:17).
6. “And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.” (Joshua 6:2–5).
“He shall deliver thee in six troubles: Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.” (Job 5:19).
There are more, but I will stop here. I have found that where this pattern occurs in Scripture, the six often signifies incompleteness, humanity, human cooperation, or preparation for climax. Sevens often (not always) signify, blessings, rest, completeness, perfection, or a miraculous work.

In the context of today’s...