The Completion of 7

7 has huge significance. Of all the numbers, this probably is the most revered. Though I couldn’t find out precisely why.

God seems to like it. Maybe that’s the reason. It is all over the Bible, especially in Revelations. 7 churches, 7 trumpets, 7 stars . . .

It comes up easily in everyday speech: 7th heaven, 7 deadly sins, 7 seas. In science, too, you will find 7 colors in the rainbow, 7 phases of the moon and 7 circles of the universe.

Of course, there’s 7 days in the week. This seems to be more a religious divination as it doesn’t come out evenly in lunar counting. There are 7 holy days in the Jewish year and the Menorah has 7 branches.

Hindus use the number frequently. Hinduism is thought to be our oldest religion. There are 7 octats in Indian music. 7 chakras or energy centers in the body.

Earlier this year, The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom did a survey of favourite numbers. Guess what won? 7.

Evidently the number 7 figures prominently in mathematics, too. And the Harry Potter fans have found the number in unlikely places. Such as Ginny Weasely being the 7th child of the 7th generation of pure bloods. There are, coincidently, 7 letters in Weasely. I wonder if JK Rowling did all this deliberately or whether it just happened (as it can in storytelling).

James Hadley, LL.D., Professor of Greek in Yale College, said this, “It is well known that men of different times and nations have associated with particular numbers the idea of a peculiar significance and value. It is also well known that, of all numbers, there is no one which has exercised in this way a wider influence, no one which has commanded in a higher degree the esteem and reverence of mankind, than the number Seven.” He had a lot to say about 7.

Some sources say the number stands for togetherness. Another says, similarly, it is about completeness, or a unit. Perhaps we can speak of it as God’s number for our oneness.

Which brings us back to the beginning and the completion of my number series.

Next week I’ll be posting three different pieces to all The Positive Slant Blogs on Asking.