7-zain-22:

Oh Father, my soul cleaveth to dust...make me to walk in thy ways...to comprehend the law of love. Then may I speak of your awesome works. "My soul melteth for heaviness". Who can understand the things of the Spirit apart from Love. Twenty-two stands for revelation...the revelation of the Love of God expressed as Christ crucified. The Hebrew alphabet is composed of twenty-two letters for the communication of God's Love. There are 66 (3x22) books in the Bible for the expression of Christ's love. The book of Revelation is the only book in the New Testament which contains exactly 22 chapters (First Kings has 22 in O.T.). The twenty-second chapter has exactly 21 verses because we can never fully appreciate Christ in this world; and we need one more final, eternal verse to view Christ face to face, and that will be Revelation 22:22. John, the beloved prophet of Revelation..the one who leaned upon Jesus' breast...the one who tarried...wrote "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.". And that was the last verse of the Gospel of John. There is one chapter in the book of Revelation which contains exactly 22 verses; and that is the third chapter (3x22=66). This allows us to continue following this scarlet line through the Bible.

"He that hath an ear,let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches"(Rev 3:22) Search these 22 verses...Father lead me..."Blessed are the poor in spirit...the meek... the persecuted...pray to thy Father which is in secret...for treasures in heaven...consider the lilies...the pearls...Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you...narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it..."(Mattthews' sermon on the mount). Seek the revelation of Jesus..."Jesus Christ, and him crucified"...the five words of Paul (I Cor.2:2) (and I Cor. 14:19). Where is the key which will unlock the door? "These things saith He that is Holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David.."(Rev. 3:7)(the Way, the Truth, and the Life). This is the theme...the scarlet thread...of the Bible...Jesus. This is the meaning of Revelation. Where is this key of David? It can be found in only one place in the Bible...praise God. "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon His shoulder..." (Isaiah 22:22). What is this key of David? It is the cross which lays across His shoulder! What is the principle message of Paul? "Jesus Christ, and Him crucified". What other things do you have to tell us John...if you had a world of books? "...If I will that he tarry till I come..." (John 21:22). Twenty one is light and that is kin to revelation. "And the Light shineth in darkness;and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:5).

Begin in Genesis.."And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son" (Genesis 22). However, beloved..."And Chesed and Hazo and Pildash..." (Genesis 22:22)takes the air out of our little sails, for God's ways are higher than our ways...count one, two, three, and four will vanish...for we see through a glass darkly and are but dust in a dusty world, catching mere glimpses of that awesome Eternal Environment. "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee."...exactly here the psalm shifts from the cross to the resurection (Psalm 22:22). The book of Isaiah makes one of these shifts from Old Testament theme to New Testament content at chapter 40 (39 +27=66)..."The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness..."(Is.40:3...Mat.3:3). The things of Genesis are reflected in the first chapter of Isaiah (Sodom, and the garden,and let us reason together). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts is foretold by "For I will pour waters upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground..."(Is. 44:3). There are new heavens and a new earth (Is. 66:22). Perhaps, you might blow away some of the dust and see much more. The symmetry (... 22...22...66...22...22...) of Jeremiah's lament for the things come upon Josiah and Jerusalem is wonderous, looking forth to the only begotten Son.

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Josiah, Josiah...Jonathan...my Son, my Son...where are you?

I hear your cries and your groanings...I am near my Son.....

How were you pierced outside the walls fighting for others?

Ride sweet Chariot and proclaim righteousness.....wounded

for our transgressions and bearing our iniquity.....rise above

to New Jerusalem with singing and shouting to the man....

breaking through the stones and taunts. Oh awesome Lord,

the hope and delightful perfection of time and space.

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