Welcome to the 22nd week of the year! This is the first week in the fourth seven weeks (fourth 49 days) of the year. The Bible keys for understanding the 22nd week are 1) the first day of creation narrative, the 22nd book of the Bible, the 22nd chapters of the Bible, and the first five chapters of the 4th book of the Bible.
Week 22 is a first-day-of-creation week. God created light on the first day of creation. God is Light and there is no darkness in Him. Light came first because God is First. God is first and the first is God’s. Week 22 is God’s because it is the first week of the fourth seven weeks of the year. It is for honoring God. It is for seeking His pleasure. It is for hearing His Word. It is for doing His will and bidding. Week 22 is a book of Genesis week in a 49-day season expressing the book of Numbers. God’s intention in the book of Numbers was to set up Israel as light to rule over the darkness of the nations. In the book of Genesis, God raised His vessels from Adam up to Jacob and his family. Week 22 is preparation day for the fourth 7 weeks.
Week 22 is a Numbers 1-6 week. Numbers has 36 chapters. Let us give up five chapters for each week of the fourth seven weeks; except the first week that would have six chapters. The first section (six chapters) of the fourth book of the Bible is applicable to the first week of the fourth 7 weeks of the year. In the first four chapters, God focused attention on His people. Firstly, God commanded Moses to conduct a census of Israel excluding the tribe of Levi. After numbering Israel, he numbered the heads of the tribes and the fighting men. Then, in the third chapter, He focused on the House of Aaron. The fourth chapter is about the duties of the three families of the tribe of Levi – Kohathites, Gershomites, and the Merarites. The fifth chapter is about isolating ceremonially unclean people. The sixth chapter is about the Nazirite. As God raised a people for Himself in the book of Genesis, that is how He raised people for His work in the first four chapters of the book of Numbers. Week 22 is for marking out God’s vessels and agents for the 7-week season (fourth 49 days of the year). It is also for isolating unworthy contaminated vessels. Week 22 is the season of people avowed to God. Week 22 is selection-day for blessing or cursing.
Week 22 is a book of Song of Songs week. Song of Songs is the 22nd book of the Bible. The book is about a romantic relationship between two lovers – a bridegroom and his bride. This book reveals that the 22nd day is for romance between God (Christ) and the believer. The 22nd book of the Bible, Song of songs, is about love. This book is a love-book. The word ‘love’ is used 38 times in 34 verses of this 8-chapter, 117-verse book. Love for God must be foundation of the fourth 7 weeks; and that foundation is to be laid on the 22nd week. Make the 22nd week a week of demonstrating your love and commitment to God. The 22nd season is a season of love to the Lord. Love is tested in the 22nd season. Self gives way in the 22nd season. Abraham was tasted in the 22nd season. He gave up his only son to satisfy the Lord’s heart. The 22nd season is a time of praising God. Praising God is a demonstration of love for Him.
Week 22 is a Genesis – Second Samuel season in the fourth-49 days. Every seven-week season is like going through the Bible. It has an Old Testament side and a New Testament side. The first four weeks (28 days) is the Old Testament side and expresses the 39 books of the Old Testament. The remaining three weeks constitute the New Testament side and expresses the 27 books of the New Testament. The 22nd week is the first week in the Old Testament side of the fourth 49 days; and expresses the first 10 books of the Bible. They are books of divine election – books of people chosen or called by God for different assignments. Week 22 is a season of separation and devotion to God.
Week 22 is a 22nd-chapters-of-the-Bible week. The 22nd chapters reveal that the 22nd season is for demonstrating how much God and His Word mean to you. In Genesis 22, Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac, his son, as God demanded. In Luke 22, Jesus prayed to the Father and said, “…Not my will but yours be done”. In Acts 22, Paul began to stand trial for the gospel. He believed in Christ enough to suffer for Him. The 22nd chapter of Revelation ends with the love cry of the Spirit and the Bride: “Come, Lord Jesus”. The 22nd chapters of the Bible also reveal that the 22nd season is an end; and a new beginning. Two books of the Bible end at the 22nd chapter (First Kings and Revelation). First Kings ends with the death of Ahab; the book of Revelation ends with John’s vision of the restoration of all things. The 22nd is the end! The Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters. The 22nd letter is the last. The 22nd set of psalms has the Last Word! The last word is “Praise the Lord!” The Lord is “the First and the Last; the Beginning and the End”; the first and the 22nd! He is the Triumphant Lord Who alone is to be praised.
Week 22 is a Psalm 148-150 season. The 22nd section of the book of Psalms is applicable to the 22nd Week of the year. Those three psalms belong to what should have been the 22nd seven psalms; but the section has only three psalms. The three psalms ending the book of psalms are psalms of praise to God. The End comes and meets us half-way in the 22nd season. In this season, ‘it ends before the end; and begins where it ends’. God is the End in the 22nd season; and He has no end. So, in the 22nd season, there is both an ending and a new beginning. I pray that this week will be the beginning of a pleasant ‘new day’ in your journey through this year and season.
There are no prayers in the the 22nd section of Psalms (148-150). It is all about praising God – man commanding all things and beings to praise God. In the previous psalms, man speaks to himself and other men to praise God. In the 22nd section of psalms, the authoritative word ‘let’ is used. That is the same word God used in creation: “Let there be…Let us make”. The word ‘Let’ is used about 10 times in the 8-chapter, 22nd book of the Bible, Song of Songs. In the 22nd century, man would have come into alignment to turn over everything to God.
Week 22 is a Psalm 119:169-176 season. Psalm 119 has 22 divisions of 8 verses each. The 22nd section of this psalm is titled ‘tav’ after the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Week 22 is a ‘tav’ season. ‘Tav’ connotes ‘truth’, ‘sign’, ‘life’ or ‘death’. This 22nd (tav) season points us to the end, the truth, and to life or death. The 22nd section of Psalm 119 contains the 8 last prayers of the psalmist in this chapter. Psalm 119:169-176 says, “Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word. [170] Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. [171] My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. [172] My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. [173] Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. [174] I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your law is my delight. [175] Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. [176] I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments”. This is a season to handle with prayer. You can personalize the prayers of the psalmist in this section.
In the 21st season, the Lord may give so much – beyond your imagination; but in the 22nd season, the Lord may ask you to give up things He had given you. This week, be ready to surrender all to the Giver of all things. Happy 22nd week!
