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Interesting!
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Interesting!
Numbers in Scripture
Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance
by E.W. Bullinger
Chapter II
Desgn in the Word of God:
excerpt:
THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS COMBINED
In the same way we may take both Old and New Testaments together, and see how marvellously thirty-six writers so use their words that when all are taken together we find the same law at work! This would be absolutely impossible if "one and the self-same Spirit" had not inspired the whole so as to produce such a harmonious result. The instances are very numerous, and the following words and phrases are given merely as examples:â€â€
"Hallelujah":
24* in Psalms (22x6) 28 (22x7)
4 in Revelation (22)
* Viz., in seven Psalms, once each; in seven Psalms, twice each; in one three times, making 24 in all. Besides this seven-fold arrangement within the square numbers, the total of the squares yields a seven-fold result (28).
"Hosanna":
1 in Old Testament* 7
6 in New Testament
* Psalm 118:25.
"Shepherd," used of God or of Christ:
(h(r), 12* in Old Test. (22x3) 21 (3x7)
(poimhn 9** in New Test. (32)
* Gen 49:24; Psa 23:1, 80:1; Isa 40:11; Jer 31:10; Eze 34:12,23 (twice), 37:24; Zech 11:16, 13:7 (twice).
** Matt 26:31; Mark 14:27; John 10:11 (twice), 14,16; Heb 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25, 5:4.
"Jehovah Sabaoth," translated variously "the LORD of Hosts," "the God of hosts," etc.
Old Testament 285 287 (7x41)
New Testament 2
"Corban," an offering:
Old Testament (Nbrq) ... 82 84 (7x12)
New Test. (korban, Mark 7:11) 1
New Test. (korbanaV, Matt 27:6) 1
"Milk":
Old Testament (blx) 44 (4x11) 49 (7x7)
New Testament (gala) 5
"Isaac":
In Deuteronomy 7 7x18
Rest of Pentateuch 91 (7x13)
Elsewhere in Old Testament 14 (2x7)
New Testament, Luke and Acts 7
New Testament, Paul's Epistles* 7
* Including the Epistle to the Hebrews.
"Aaron":
In Old Testament 443 448 (43x7)
In New Testament 5
"Abaddon" (Destruction):
In Old Testament 6 7
In New Testament 1
Christ spoken of at the right hand of God:
Old Testament 2 (Psa 110:1,5) 21 (3x7)
New Testament 19
"After the order of Melchizedek":*
Old Testament 1 7
New Testament 6
* Psa 110:4, quoted in Heb 5:6,10, 6:20, 7:11,17,21.
"The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner":*
Old Testament 1 7
New Testament 6
* Psa 118:22, quoted in Matt 21:42; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:4,7.
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself":
Old Testament (Lev 19:18) 1 7
New Testament 6*
* Matt 19:29, 22:39; Mark 12:31; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14; James 2:8.
"Uncircumcision of the heart":
Old Testament 6* 7
New Testament 1
* Lev 26:41; Deut 10:16; Jer 4:4, 9:26; Eze 44:7,9; Acts 7:51.
The half of the important Prophetic period (Daniel's last week, or the last of the 70 weeks, Dan 9:27) is mentioned seven times. This, perhaps, ought to be reserved and considered in its significance under the number "seven." The point, however, now is the manner in which this seven is made up; for though the period is given in three different languages, two Testaments, and three forms (years, months, and days) the number is still seven:â€â€
Daniel 7:25, Chaldee, "Time, and times, and the dividing of time" 1
Daniel 12:7, Hebrew, "Time, times, and an half" 1
Revelation 12:14, Greek, "Time, and times, and half a time" 1
Revelation 11:2, 13:5, "Forty and two months" 2
Revelation 11:3, 12:6, Twelve hundred and sixty days 2
Have we not in all this a design which is far beyond nature? A supernatural design? Numbers must occur; and the only question is, Shall they be used by design or by chance? In order, or disorder? According to law, or without law? In the works of God they are used always in perfect order. Surely then we ought to look for the same order in His Word; and be surprised if we do not find it.
If we look at a window of coloured glass, made after the modern fashion, with pieces of various colours put in at haphazard, we see at once that there is no design. But if we observe another window in which the pieces of glass are arranged in a perfect and intricate geometrical pattern, or with human or other forms, we immediately acknowledge design, and say that the hand that formed that window must have been guided by a head that designed the whole!
This is our conclusion, then, as to the works and Word of God. Neither Moses nor any other person could have secured the above results. Moses used a certain word by Divine inspiration, not knowing, in all probability, how many times he had used it. It is inconceivable that, even had he known, he could have told Joshua how many times he was to use it; and that Joshua could have arranged with another; and that this could have gone on for fifteen centuries and ensured that the last writer should use the word only a certain definite number of times so as to secure a particular result! Impossible! No! Each writer must have been ignorant as to this final result; but each wrote "as he was moved by the Holy Ghost"; and hence, each contributed such a part as should end in perfecting the original design.
This sweeps away as with a flood, all the puny attempts of man either in attacking or defending the inspiration of the Word of God; for that word has suffered almost as much from the unwise defences of its friends, as from the malignant attacks of its enemies.
"The Law of the LORD is perfect."
We take the high ground of making everything else submit to it. Instead of making the Bible agree with science, science must agree with the Bible. If it does not, it is only because it is "science falsely so-called," and not real science. Scientia is the Latin word for knowledge. Whereas very much of what goes by the name of "science" to-day is not science at all. It is only hypothesis! Read man's books on this so-called science, and you will get tired of the never-ending repetition of such words as "hypothesis," "conjecture," "supposition," etc., etc. This is the reason that such theories, which are falsely dignified by the name of science, are constantly changing. We talk of the "Science of Geology," or of "Medical Science"; but read books on geology or medicine, for example, written fifty years ago, and you will find that they are now quite "out of date." But truth cannot change. Truth will never be "out of date." What we know can never alter! This of itself proves that the word science is wrongly used when it is applied only to hypotheses, which are merely invented to explain certain phenomena.
It is not for such theories that we are going to give up facts. It is not for conjectures that we are going to abandon truth. Man must offer us something better than his own thoughts if he wants us to give up the thoughts of God. In the Bible we have got something certain and something perfect. Every fact and truth which is discovered only helps to prove its truth and to exhibit its perfection. No monument that has ever been dug upâ€â€no manuscript that has ever been discovered, has ever been other than an evidence of Bible truth! We are not afraid of any phenomena which may be observed in the rocks, or of any monuments or tablets which may be dug up from beneath them. These are not, and never have been, contrary to the Word of God. It is only man's interpretation of them which is against that Word, because it is only his thoughts which oppose it.
"The Law of the LORD is perfect."
Man, and all his thoughts are imperfect; so imperfect that he has failed even to take proper care of God's perfect Word.
Like a beautiful stained glass window which has suffered from accident, or fire, or siege, and which man has endeavoured to "restore." We can see how exquisite are its colours and patterns; how perfect it once was. Here and there is a tiny piece wanting, or misplaced. But it does not hinder us from discerning the perfection of the original geometrical figure, or from admiring the delicacy of the features of the figure pourtrayed. The window is indeed marred. And one man has done much to repair the injury caused by the negligence of another. We can see the defect of the repairs; but we can see also that the design was originally perfect, and we praise and admire the wisdom of the designer.
So it is with the Word of God. Nothing can hide the perfection displayed in its design. Man has been false to his trust. He has not preserved it with the faithfulness which should ever characterise a steward. But because man has been unfaithful, we are not going to question the faithfulness of God! Because man has not properly cared for this precious gift of God, we are not going to question the perfection of that gift!
But this is what man has done and is doing;â€â€he is charging upon God the result of his own sin, neglect, and folly!
God has given man this "bread of life," and he is analysing it instead of eating it! God has given man His Word, and he is criticising it instead of believing it! This is the "wisdom" of man "up to date." This is the highest flight of his wisdomâ€â€"higher criticism"! Truly "the world by wisdom knew not God" (1 Cor 1:21). It never did and never will. Human wisdom ever leads from God. It is so with nineteenth century wisdom! It may seem very clever, very daring, very wise, for man to criticise the Word of God, but it is still true, as it is written (1 Cor 3:19).
"THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD IS FOOLISHNESS WITH GOD."
Then away with man's wisdom! we do not want it. What we want is God's truth, and if man's science does not agree with God's Book, then so much the worse for his science.
We will come to God's Word as those who are foolish in the eyes of the world, because we desire to be made wise unto salvation (2 Tim 3:15); and because we remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures" (Matt 22:29).
Whence but from Heaven could men unskilled in arts,
In several ages born, in several parts,
Weave such agreeing truths? or how, or why,
Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie?
Unasked their pains, ungrateful their advice,
Starving their gain, and martyrdom their price.â€â€Dryden
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