The number ‘7’ is well known through the Scriptures - creation was six days, with the seventh day being a day of rest; seven pairs of animals in Noah’s Ark; seven things that the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:16); we are not to forgive seven times, but seventy times seven; the seven “I am’s” of Christ; and there are so many more throughout the book of Revelation.
Today, I want to look at something I had never noticed before - the seven spirits of God. It is mentioned several times at the beginning of Revelation, but also in Isaiah 11:1-2, where it says, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord…”
This doesn’t mean there are seven spirits as such, because in the Trinity, there is One Father, One Son and One Holy Spirit. However, it is a beautiful description of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the LORD. The Spirit of wisdom. The Spirit of understanding. The Spirit of counsel. The Spirit of power. The Spirit of knowledge. The Spirit of the fear of the Lord.
These are all reference to the faultless, perfect Holy Spirit that was present in Jesus, during His ministry on earth (Revelation 3:1).
We also read about the Holy Spirit being present in Jesus, in John 13-16 (mainly in ch15, but it’s good to read the whole story). At the beginning of ch13, we read of Jesus, with His disciples, at the Passover Feast (also know as the Lord’s Supper), where Jesus washes His disciples’ feet and foresees His betrayal, explaining what will happen to His disciples. This led to uncertainty and troubled hearts amongst the men, but Jesus reminds them that He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” and no one can be saved unless it is through Him.
In ch14 and verses 16-31, Jesus tells His disciples that He will give them another “Comforter”, a Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby (as the Amplified Bible expands on the word “Comforter” in the King James Version). The Comforter will abide with His disciples, and with us, forever, and the Holy Spirit will “dwell” in us (v17).
The seven ‘spirits’ of God are descriptions of the Holy Spirit, part of the Trinity, that comforts us; helps us; advocates for us; intercedes for us; counsels us; strengthens us; dwells in us; and, never leaves us. What a powerful and mighty thought.
When you look at these simple, yet powerful words, remind yourself who you serve - the ONE true God that loves you and will do all of these things for you, but also the ONE true God that we can do all things THROUGH Him.
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