Yesterday the Dow plunged 777 points after the U.S. Congress rejected the $700 billion bailout plan for its financial institutions. This represents a 7% drop in the value of the stock market. The worst single day setback in two decades.
The recurrence of the number seven (777 point drop, 700 billion bailout plan dropped (at least for the moment) and 7% overall drop) prompted me to reflect upon the Biblical significance of the number seven. The dropped '7' certainly illustrates an underlying reason for the current mess.
The number '7' comes from the Hebrew root meaning 'to be complete', 'to be full', 'to be satisfied' or 'to have enough'. On the seventh day God finished His work and He rested from all the work that He had done. (Gen 2:2) He gave the Sabbath, the seventh day as a day of rest to His people, Israel. They were not to strive but were to rest in the provision of His work and His promised blessing. God also instituted the sabbatical, the 7th year rest, and the jubilee, the fiftieth year, after the seventh sabbatical year, as special periods of thanksgiving and rest.
But history has shown that excessively profit-driven cultures ignore God's command to rest in His sufficiency. We fail to be thankful. We turn from grace to greed. Instead of rejoicing in rest, we rejoin the rat-race. We fear our neighbor might have greater gains in the market place if we take our place resting in what God's grace has given us. Instead of having peace, we are restless and scheme to get the greatest possible share. We act irresponsibly. We live beyond our means. We borrow. We bet. We believe the lies. We tell ourselves we never have enough. We are never satisfied.
However there is joy for the one who hears the ancient gospel call in Isaiah 55:
Isaiah 55:1-3 (NIV)
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
The breaking of covenants has caused the financial system to unravel. When an economy is based on lies, greed, exploitation and irresponsibility, there is certain to be trouble. When we refuse to recognize God's sufficiency and His gracious provision as our provider and sustainer, we are left to face dire consequences of our covetousness.
What does the prophet mean: "Buy without money"? (Isaiah 55:1) He explains that it means to "Listen" "Delight" (55:2) "give ear" to God and "come to Him that we might live" (Isaiah 55:3). He explains that it means we are to trust in the (new) covenant promises ratified by Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of God. Receive by faith His gracious gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. He wants to be our sufficiency. We can rest in Him.
Pray that all of us will be turned ever more directly from greed to grace! Pray for our nation.
David
