Welcome to the 17th week of the year! Week 17 is the third week in the third seven weeks (49 days) of the year. It is a core third-season week. The Bible patterns for understanding the seventeenth week are the third day of creation narrative, the third four chapters of Leviticus, the 17th book and 17th chapters of the Bible, and the third 10 books of the Bible.
Week 17 is a third day of creation week. On the third day of creation, God gave boundaries to the waters, displayed 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 seventeenth is a change-over season.
Week 17 is a 17th-chapters-of-the-Bible week.
This 17th week, as the 17th book and chapters of the Bible indicate, there will be mega victories for those who trust in God; and mega failures for the proud arrogant who despise God. This week, freshness will surge from dry and dead places; and good things will come from unexpected places.
In Genesis 17, God appeared to Abram at 99, made a covenant with him, changed his name to Abraham, changed Sarai to Sarah, and struck the circumcision-deal with him. The dry couple became fresh and fruitful – parents of multitudes, nations, and kings.
In Exodus 17, Moses struck a dry rock by the word of the Lord, and water poured out for Israel. In the same chapter, Israel defeated Amalek; and recorded her first victory in armed warfare.
In Numbers 17, Aaron’s dry rod budded, blossomed and produced ripe almond fruits overnight to distinguish and vindicate God’s priest. The Rod was given room in the revered Ark of Covenant.
In Joshua 17, the five daughters of Zelophehad received inheritance in the name of their father who had no son.
In First Samuel 17, David brought down Goliath with his unconventional sling and stone.
In Second Samuel 17, David’s friend and ally joined Absalom and helped to overthrow the wicked counsel of Ahitophel in answer to David’s prayer. Ahitophel committed suicide consequently.
In First Kings 17, Elijah the Tishbite came on the scene. He invoked drought over Israel because of Ahab and Jezebel. Ravens brought him food at Brook Cherith. He prophesied a continuous super supply of food to a widow’s empty store. He also raised the widow’s son from the dead. That was the first time a dead person was raised to life in the Bible. The 17th week is a time to invoke dryness upon the wicked; and a time to revive the dead and dry situations.
The captivity of Israel (the Northern kingdom) is recorded in Second Kings 17. They fell to the Assyrians for disregarding God.
In First Chronicles 17, God made an everlasting covenant with David concerning the throne of Israel.
In Second Chronicles 17, Jehoshaphat became king of Judah and started teaching and calling Israel back to God. This is a week of receiving the dead and dry.
In the 17th book of the Bible, Esther won a contest to become Queen of Persia. She changed the course of things in the nation. In this book, Mordecai and the Jews won a major victory against their enemies; a victory that laid the foundation for the Purim festival.
Jeremiah 17 says the one who trusts in God is blessed and shall see good; but the one who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm is cursed.
In Matthew 17, Jesus was transfigured before His disciples, cast out a stubborn demon, and directed Peter to fetch tax money from the mouth of a fish.
In Luke 17, ten lepers received their healing and cleansing from Jesus; but only one returned to give thanks.
In John 17, Jesus prayed His longest High Priestly prayer recorded in the Bible.
In Acts 17, Paul and his associates were said to have “turned the world upside down”.
This 17th week of the year shall be a week of outstanding testimonies for those who trust in God.
Week 17 is a Leviticus 9-12 week. The third four chapters of the third book of the Bible are applicable to the third week in the third 49 days 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 stand the risk of being overthrown and displaced.
Week 17 is a book of Esther week. Esther is the 17th book of the Bible. In the book of Esther, there were overthrows and replacements. Vashti was removed. Esther was crowned. 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 platforms for good – after the dysfunctional platforms which the king trusted were 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.
The seventeenth season is the season of the Great Search. In the seventeenth book of the Bible, Esther and Mordecai became the platform for the king’s operations – replacing Vashti, Bigthan and Teresh, and Haman. In the seventeenth century, the Indian American soil became the new world and new platform for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. John Bunyan wrote his classic Pilgrim’s Progress in this century too. Andrew Johnson (the self-educated tailor) was the seventeenth US President and successor of Abraham Lincoln. He was undesired and became the first president to be impeached by Congress. He still ended his term in office but as mere (powerless) figure head. The seventeenth seven years of the US was opened and closed by Cleveland Grover, the 22nd and 24th President. He was the first and only US President to serve two non consecutive terms. He lost power to Benjamin Harrison , the 23rd President in between, but bounced back to power again. The seventeenth season is a bounce-back season. Mordecai and the Jews bounced back in the book of Esther. In the 17th book of the Bible, the Jews escaped death. In the hundred and seventeenth 49 years of Israel’s history (5684-5733; i.e 1923-1972), the holocaust occurred and about 6 million Jews lost their lives. The 117th belongs to the 17th seven (113-119).
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 also 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 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 in 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 die; and the destroyer will be destroyed. I do not imply that COVID-19 will end this week. However, there shall be great deliverances this week. There will be great escape from death this week.
Week 17 is Ecclesiastes – Amos week in the third 49 days of the year. The third ten books of the Bible is applicable to the third week in the third 49 days of year. In these books, God spoke to Israel and other nations through prophetic voices. The seventeenth week is a season to heed the voice of Counsel and Direction. Those who listen to divine counsel prosper. Those who disregard divine counsel fail.
This week, give thanks and sing praises to God. Pray with great confidence and focus on Him. Expect divine intervention. Expect victory. Expect favor from high places. Prepare to celebrate. Happy 17th week!
