We owe gratitude to our God and Lord for the mercies we received in the 16th week. We know we can trust Him, absolutely, to lead us through this week also.
Before going into the thoughts and prayers for the week, let us consider the Biblical patterns for the week.
BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR THE WEEK
Week 17 is a third day of creation week in the third 7 weeks of the year. The 17th is a concentrated third season. It is the third of the third seven! On the third day of creation, God gave boundaries to the waters, manifested the dry ground and released vegetation from the dry ground. On the third day, God removed the barrier (water) between heaven (firmament) and earth (dry ground). The third season is a game-changing season. On the third day of creation, dry ground took over from the waters and became the new platform for good. Dry ground brought forth new life. The 17th is a game-changing season. It is a season when freshness comes from dryness and life comes from death.
Week 17 is a Leviticus 9-12 week in the third 7 weeks of the year. The third four chapters of the third book of the Bible are applicable to the third week in the third 7 weeks of the year. Aaron’s priestly ministry began formally in the ninth chapter. His two sons, Nadab and Abihu died in chapter 10 chapter for offering strange fire. The eleventh chapter is about foods forbidden and unclean animals. The twelfth chapter is about the ritual following child-birth. This section is about manifestation for service, overthrows, and bringing forth. This is a week of rendering acceptable service before God and to men. Those who would not do what is expected (like Nadab and Abihu) are at the risk of being overthrown and displaced.
Week 17 is a book of Esther week in the year. Esther is the 17th book of the Bible. In the book of Esther, there were overthrows and replacements. Vashti was removed because she did not do the expected. Esther was selected from among the virgins and crowned Queen in the place of Vashti. Bigthan and Teresh were killed for plotting against the king. Haman was promoted, clashed with Mordecai, and decided to destroy the Jews. Everything turned against him. Mordecai and Esther and the king became the new platform for good – after the dysfunctional platform (Vashti, Bigthan, Teresh and Haman) which the king trusted was dismantled and removed. This is a week of backlashes against the wicked. Those who dig pits to harm others will fall into the pits they had dug. This week is for the manifestation of those who can be trusted to deliver desired results through service.
Week 17 is a Psalm 113-119 week. Psalm 113-119 are the 17th seven psalms. Psalm 113 shows that God is to be praised, in this season, for His loftiness, His humility, and for His gracious intervention in the lives of the poor and the barren. Psalm 114 reveals that, in this season, forces tremble; and obstacles flee, at the presence of God. It also reveals that God does unusual things in this season – turning (converting, translating, transfiguring) a rock into a pool of water; and a flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 115 shows this is a season of the Lord’s sovereignty; when idols (and those who serve them) are mocked; and the Living God is magnified, as Help and Shield, in those who serve Him. In this season, God stops death because “the dead do not praise God”. Psalm 116 reveals that this is a season of great answers to prayers. It is a season of testimonies of deliverance from death – in answer to prayers. It is not a season of tears or mourning. It is a season to experience how much God treasures the life of His own (not their death). Psalm 117 has only two verses. It is the shortest chapter of the Bible. It reveals that this is a season to praise God for His merciful kindness towards us and for His truth that endures forever. Psalm 118 reveals seven things about this season: 1). It is a season to give thanks to God for His goodness and for His enduring mercies. 2). It is season to trust in God instead of looking to princes. 3. It is a season of intense conflict in which we triumph through the name of the Lord. 4). It is a season of rejoicing and celebrating “the right hand” of the Lord. 5. It is a season to say NO to death. “I shall not die; but live and declare the works of the Lord”. 6). It is a season to bounce back. “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone”. 7. It is a season of marvelous works, joy, and celebration. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter of the Bible. It has 176 verses and is about confidence in the sufficiency of the word of God. This chapter reveals that the 17th week is a season to completely trust in the word of God and be preoccupied with it. It is interesting how the Holy Spirit arranged to have the shortest psalm (117) and the longest psalm (119) in the same group of the 17th seven psalms. It is to make a loud statement that, in the 17th season, God raises the lowliest to sit in the same place with the loftiest. I pray you experience that this week. This is a week to promote the humble and humble the proud. In this week of intervention and dominion, in this week of intercession and decrees, in this week of mercy and truth, put your trust in God and call upon Him. The plans of the wicked to kill and destroy will be suspended and reversed. The killer will be killed; and the destroyer will be destroyed. There shall be great deliverances this week. There will be great escape from death this week.
BIBLE READING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 17TH WEEK:
Going through the 17th week (Days 113-119) of the year is like taking a prophetic journey through the 17th seven Psalms (113-119) and the 17th book of the Bible (Esther). So, Psalms 113-119 and Esther 1-10 are great guiding lights for the week. This is the season of great favour and triumph over death.
You may want to read the suggested passages as follows:
April 23: Psalm 113 & Esther 1-2
April 24: Psalm 114 & Esther 3-4
April 25: Psalm 115 & Esther 5-6
April 26: Psalm 116 & Esther 7
April 27: Psalm 117 & Esther 8
April 28: Psalm 118 & Esther 9
April 29: Psalm 119 & Esther 10
SUMMARY: This is a week of manifesting hidden people and things. It is a week of overthrowing wickedness.
VERSE FOR THE WEEK
Jeremiah 17:5-8:”Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. [8] For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOT THE WEEK
The 17th book and chapters of the Bible indicate the following concerning the 17th season:
1. The 17th season is for crushing evil giants. God overthrew Amalek in Exodus 17, overthrew Goliath in First Samuel 17, overthrew Ahitophel in Second Samuel 17, and overthrew wicked Haman in the 17th book of the Bible. In the 17th book of the Bible, those who wanted kill the king were killed; those who wanted to kill Jews were also killed. The rebellious northern kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in Second Kings 17 for disregarding God. Those who disregard God go down in the 17th season. The deposed Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini, was executed in the 17th week of 1945 (April 28). Adolf Hitler committed suicide about the same week (April 30).
PRAYER: Pray that the Lord will overthrow people and systems that are expressions of Amalek, Goliath, Ahitophel, Haman in the nations. Pray that the Lord will overturn the plans and efforts of killers and agents of death in your nation and in other nations.
2. The 17th season is a time to defy dryness: God appeared to Abraham at 99 in Genesis 17 with a definite promise that 89 year old Sarah would conceive and birth a son for him. He changed his name and the name of his wife. He also named their son, Isaac, here. In Exodus 17, fresh water came out of a dry rock. In Numbers 17, God gave life to Aaron’s dry rod and made it bud, blossom, and bear ripe almond fruits overnight. In Joshua 17, the five daughters of Zelophehad received inheritance in the name of their dead father who had no son. Jesus healed ten lepers in Luke 17. Remember that God brought forth vegetation from dryness. This week, trust God and make dryness-defying moves.
PRAYER: Pray for the release of life fro and upon dry situations in your life and country this week.
3. The 17th season is a time to triumph over death. The first place the dead was raised to life is First Kings 17. Esther and Mordecai triumphed over death and killers in the 17th book of the Bible. Esther overcame orphanhood, overcome those who plotted to kill her husband, the king, and those who wanted to kill her people, the Jews. The spirit of death rises in the 17th season but is to be resisted. The Thirty Years War of the 17th century was an operation of the spirit of death but the numerous inventions and discoveries in the same century (blood circulation, cell, micro-organisms, etc) are life-saving.
PRAYER: Pray against the spirit of death this week. Pray for the reviving of dead situations around you this week.
4. The 17th season is for the vindication and manifestation of the humble: God vindicated Aaron in Numbers 17 when his dry rod budded and bore fruit overnight. God vindicated David in First Samuel 17 where he killed Goliath. God vindicated Elijah in First Kings 17. In Matthew 17, God vindicated Jesus at His transfiguration. God vindicated Mordecai in the 17th book of the Bible.
PRAYER: Pray that the Lord will manifest and vindicate the humble in the nations as He did for Esther and Mordecai in the 17th book of the Bible.
5. The 17th season is for mysterious (supernatural) provisions: God gave Israel water from a dry rock in Exodus 17. Ravens fed Elijah in First Kings 17. God sustained a widow’s last meal by the Word of the Lord from Elijah in First Kings 17. The widow, her son and Elijah ate off a last meal for so many days. In Matthew 17, Jesus sent Peter to fetch their tax money from the mouth of a fish he would catch.
PRAYERS: Pray that this will be a week of strange provisions for missionaries, ministries, businesses and families in need. Pray for refugees and persecuted believers. Pray that you will be sensitive and open (not doubtful) to ways God may choose to meet certain needs in your life.
6. The 17th season is a time of Favor from High Places. Esther received favor from her cousin, Mordeca, when her parents died. She received favor from the keeper of the women when the king needed a replacement for Queen Vashti. Esther received favor from the king to overthrow the wicked plot of Haman. This is a week of favor for God’s people.
PRAYER: Pray for open doors for God’s people standing before closed doors in the nations. Pray for the suspension or reversal of laws in favor of God’s people where it is necessary.
7.The 17th week is a season of unprecedented happenings. New things that had never happened before are recorded in the 17th book and chapters of the Bible. In First Kings 17, Elijah prayed, spoke and stopped rainfall for 42 months, ravens brought him food twice daily in a brook, the last meal of a poor widow was sustained for many days and a dead child was raised back to life. In the 17th book of the Bible Esther obtained favor that suspended the irrevocable law of the Medes and Persians. In Mathew 17, Peter fetched tax money from the month of a fish he caught by the word of the Lord. The 17th season is a time of strange and unprecedented happenings. In Acts 17, Paul met and spoke to Athenians who were eager to hear something new. They were searching for Truth.
PRAYER: Decree that strange things that will honor and glorify God will happen in the nations this week.
8. The 17th week is a season of satisfactory discoveries. It is a season of searching and finding. In the 17th book of the Bible, Esther was searched out and made queen of Persia. In Acts 17, the people of Berea searched the scriptures to know if what Paul taught them was accurate. In Revelation 17, John sought and received light concerning Mystery Babylon. The inventions and discoveries of the 17th century are the result of searching for something out there. In the 17th century, the Pilgrim Fathers left Europe in search of a new land that now is America. This week, set your heart to search and to discover.
PRAYER: Pray that the Lord will open your eyes to receive light from His word and from life. Pray that you will come into understanding and things you have been yearning for.
Happy 17th week of the year!
