Welcome to the 23rd week of the year. This is the second week in the fourth seven weeks of the year. This week consists of Days 155 – 161 of the year. In 2023, this is the 23rd week of the 23rd year of the 21st century. We’ll consider Biblical patterns for the week, first, and then move on to the prayer points for the week.
- FIVE BIBLICAL PATTERNS FOR THE 23RD WEEK
The Bible keys to understanding the 23rd week are
a). the second day of creation narrative,
b). Numbers 7-11
c). the 23rd book of the Bible,
d). the 23rd chapters of the Bible,
e). The Second 10 books of the Bible (First Kings – Proverbs)
A Week 23 is a second day of creation week. Why? It is the second week in the fourth seven weeks of the year. So, the second day of creation is applicable to this week.
On the second day of creation, God made the firmament to divide the water-bloc that occupied all space and left room for nothing else. The firmament was created to give room and breathing space to other creatures and purposes.
The 23rd week is for releasing a heavenly force (by prayer, prophetic word, wisdom and collaborative relationships) to dismantle space blockers, evil monopolies and barriers to life and freedom. This is a season for breaking the power and might of united evil forces.
As a second day of creation week, the 23rd week is a season of receiving help from above. God named the firmament Heaven (Genesis 1:8). This is a week of releasing the power of Heaven to bear on situations on earth.
B. Week 23 is a Numbers 7-11 week. The five chapters following the first six chapters of the fourth book of the Bible are applicable to the second week in the fourth seven weeks of the year. This section of the book of Numbers is about the dedication of people and things to God – Nazirites, offerings of leaders, Levites, lamps, and trumpets. Israel also received counsel and direction from God, through Moses, in this section of the book. This is the week of dedicated vessels.and instruments. It takes dedicated people and vessels to release the power of God in this season.
C. Week 23 is a First Kings – Proverbs season in the fourth seven weeks of the year. Going through each week of the fourth 49 days is like going through the Bible. The first three weeks of the fourth seven weeks (weeks 22-24) is like going through the first 30 books of the Bible – 10 books for each week. The remaining four weeks of the fourth 7 weeks is like going through the remaining 36 books of the Bible – nine books for each week. The second week (the 23rd week) expresses the second 10 books of the Bible. The second 10 books of the Bible are 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms and Proverbs. These ten books are about Israel’s fame, decline, captivity, and return. The book of Job dramatizes this. The book of Psalms reveals the struggles and triumphs. The book of Proverbs reveals that the wisdom of the fear of God is the key to triumph in this season.
D. Week 23 is a Psalm 23 week.
Psalm 23:1-6 says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. [3] He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever”.
May you find help this week and also be a heaven sent help to someone, somewhere and somehow. The fourth verse of Psalm 23 reveals that the 23rd week is like the valley of the shadow of death; but it is also the season when the Lord sets tables for His anointed before enemies. This Psalm 23 week, you should experience the shepherding of the Lord as David testified in Psalm 23. You should also listen to His voice and follow Him as His sheep.
E. Week 23 is a book of Isaiah week. Isaiah is the 23rd book of the Bible and is applicable to the 23rd week. Isaiah prophesied in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The book of Isaiah is about ‘desolation’ and ‘restoration’. The first 39 chapters of the book is about judgments and desolations in the nations – Israel and others. The following 27 chapters are chapters of comfort and restoration. Isaiah was a great support to king Hezekiah against the kings of Assyria. His prophetic ministry broke the strength of Sennacherib. He prophesied the fall of proud and arrogant nations and their kings, and the rising of kings and nations. The 23rd book of the Bible is set against the proud and haughty. Isaiah prophesied about the virgin-birth and the Messiah. He prophesied about the new heaven and the new earth. The book of Isaiah is the miniature Bible. It has 66 chapters as the Bible has 66 books. Each chapter of Isaiah is a prophetic capture of a book of the Bible. Going through the 23rd book of the Bible is like going through the Bible itself. The 23rd week is an All-In-One week.
In the book of Isaiah, God is magnified and the future is made visible. This week, you should see the future, hear the Voice of God and declare the Word of the Lord as Isaiah did. The Lord should be magnified in your life and circumstances as in the 23rd book of the Bible. Isaiah is an all-encompassing book. Going through week 23 is like experiencing the 23rd book of the Bible. Each day of the week would have its pattern in ten or nine chapters of the book. The first three days of the week expresses the first 30 chapters of the 23rd book (10 chapters for each day). The last four days of the week expresses the last 36 chapters (31-66). It is a week to war via the prophetic word. It is a week to declare the word of God. It’s a week of seeing, hearing and declaring the counsel of our Superior God. This 23rd week is a week of destructions and rehabilitation. It is a week of war and battles against proud and oppressive monopolies. It is a season to overthrow the prevailing evil waters with the prophetic firmament of God. This week, may the Lord war against your adversaries and build you up. This week, may your life and person never be an obstruction to divine counsel and purposes.
In the season of the 23rd president of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, the United States began to be a naval power. He admitted more states into the Union than any other president; and he was the earliest president to have his voice recorded (with phonograph wax). The 23rd seven years of the United States (1930-1937) were the closing years of Herbert Hoover and the first-term years of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the longest serving US President who was elected for a fourth successive term. The 23rd seven years was the beginning of a great presidency.
- BIBLE READING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE 23RD WEEK:
Going through the 23rd week (Days 155-161) of the year is like taking a prophetic journey through the 23rd book of the Bible (Isaiah). So, the Book of Isaiah is a great guiding light for the week. This is the season to dethrone evil monopolies.
You may want to read the suggested passages as follows:
June 4: Isaiah 1-10
June 5: Isaiah 11-20
June 6: Isaiah 21-30
June 7: Isaiah 31-39
June 8: Isaiah 40-48
June 9: Isaiah 49-57
June 10: Isaiah 59-66
SUMMARY: This is a season to trust God completely and wait for His salvation.
WORD FOR THE WEEK
Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
- THOUGHTS AND PRAYER POINTS FOR THE 23RD WEEK
The Bible reveals 5 major things about the 23rd season.:
a). The 23rd season is a time to magnify God as Sovereign Lord and Way-Maker. It is a time to boast in God. The book of Isaiah is the 23rd book of the Bible. God is magnified in that book as Lord. Even the Lord Himself says there is none like Him. Idols and those who serve them are mocked in this book. The 23rrd week is a book of Isaiah week. It is also a Psalm 23 week. This is a week to express great confidence in the God of Israel. In this season, God reveals Himself as the Sufficient All-In-One to those who fear Him.
PRAYER: Pray the the name of the Lord will be magnified among His people and in the nations this week.
b). The 23rd season is for capturing the future. Isaiah saw and spoke of the future in the 23rd book of the Bible. He spoke of the virgin conception, the rising and falling of kings and nations, the restoration of Israel, and the new heaven and earth. This week is for securing the future. Abraham purchased the future in Genesis 23. Sarah died here and Abraham bought and paid for a burial ground for his family. That gave him a stake in the Promised Land. The government of Nigeria exhibited shortsightedness in the 23rd year of the nation (1983) when it sent 2 million Ghananians parking from Nigeria – ‘ Ghana Must Go!’ That administration was ousted December 31 of the same year.
PRAYER: Pray that the Lord will open Heaven’s portal to His trusted vessels and guide them to declare things in the mind of God – to give both direction and hope.
c). The 23rd season is a time to expose and mock fakery. This is the time to expose the emptiness of the lofty. The book of Isaiah mocks powerless idols. Jeremiah 23 prophesies against false prophets and shepherds. Jesus denounced hypocritical leaders in Matthew 23. In Acts 23, Paul called the high priest “whitewashed wall”. This season favors authenticity.
PRAYER: Pray that false and deceiving prophets in the nations will be exposed and silenced in this season.
d). This week is for breaking the strength of evil forces and monopolies.
PRAYER: Pray for the failure of the types of Sennacherib in our world today.
e). This is a week to be led and guided by the Lord as a shepherd does the sheep. 1 Samuel 23.
PRAYER: Pray for divine wisdom and direction in the tasks of the week.
HOW TO LIVE IN THE 23RD WEEK
1. Be confident in God just like the psalmist in Psalm 23.
2. Be prayerful. Seek prayer-support.
3. Be authentic. Be sincere before God.
4. Be far-sighted in your decisions and actions.
5. Preoccupy your heart with thoughts of the loftiness and sovereignty of God.
6. Be prophetic. Release the Word of the Lord from your mouth like a prophet. Words are powerful in the 23rd season. The future is in what you do with your mouth in this season.
DECLARATIONS FROM THE 23RD CHAPTERS OFTHE BIBLE FOR THE 23RD WEEK
1. As the Lord spoke against false prophets in Jeremiah 23, and as Jesus denounced the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 and exposed their superficiality, this week, the rod of the Lord’s Voice will rise against hypocrisy and falsehood in the land.
2. In Genesis 23, as Abraham took advantage of Sarah’s death to purchase a burial ground and secured the future in the Promised Land, this week, the Lord guide us to make decisions and take actions that would secure the future.
3. As God blocked and thwarted the efforts of Balak and Balaam to place a curse on Israel in Numbers 23, this 23rd week, the Lord will frustrate and neutralize any rod of sorcery raised against His people.
4. As God delivered David from the hand of Saul in First Samuel 23 and delivered Paul from the evil conspiracy of Pharisees and Sadducees in Acts 23 and saved humanity through the death of Jesus in Luke 23, the Lord will save His people from the hands of their enemies. This week, by His grace and wisdom, He will frustrate and destroy the plot of the wicked against His people.
5. As King David prospered by the Word of the Lord and faithful relationships in Second Samuel 23, this week, God’s people will prosper by the word of the Lord and through supportive faithful mighty men and women.
6. As Josiah, driven by the Word of the Lord, carried out sweeping reforms in Judah in Second Kings 23, and as Jehoiada led a revolution that enthroned young Josiah and dethroned Athaliah in Second Chronicles 23, this week, the wind of the Lord will overthrow and scatter evil seeds in the land.
Happy 23rd week!
