Twelve days - six geese and seven swans

The twelve days of Christmas . . . let's see, the next gifts from "my true love" were six geese a-laying and seven swans a-swimming. They're sort of built the same, right? So let's take these birds together today!

The six geese are the six days of creation; He brought plants, animals, and other organisms into life and formed them for six days, and then on the seventh day, He paused. 

On day one, He created outer space and made the earth, though it was not "formed," yet. He divided the light from the darkness.  Day two saw the creation of the sky, or atmosphere. God called it "heaven." On day three, He created the dry land and named it "earth," and gathered the waters into what He named "seas." He also created all of the plants this day.

I really think that creating all of those plants would have been so interesting; the more I study the science of God's creation, the more amazed I become!  Now, let's see, on day four He created all of the stars and heavenly bodies - we would say, I guess, that He made the galaxies that day, both the one we live in and all of those beyond. Day five was when God created all of the creatures who live in the sea, and also all of the vast species of birds. On day six, God created all of the creatures that live on dry land, and also created man, as well. 

So, at the end of the sixth day, God's creative work is done and He rests on the seventh day. Did He need the rest? Was He tired? Well, I kinda think that flies in the face of our faith in an all-powerful, always faithful God, no? I believe that He rested to set an example for humans:

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. (Exodus 20:9-10)

For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord.  (Exodus 31:15a)

God felt it was so important to set aside one day that it is noted in verse after verse as well as having punishments described. Why?

Rest is important - even crucial - to our wellbeing. God was making a statement by pausing on day seven. He was setting an example for humankind to follow! God knew that some of us humans would make work our idol. That others would suffer sleep deprivation because we are misguided and think we must "do it all." He can meet us in that place of rest; He can refresh us, rejuvenate us, prepare us for the coming week.

What about those seven swans?

Those swans the children sang about were the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church took note of Isaiah 11, a prophecy of the Messiah, and chose seven gifts for each believer to aspire to:

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— 

 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 

 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 

Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. (Isaiah 11:2-5)

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church says it this way: "The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit....are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord."  In the New Testament, the Spirit is described as giving gifts that equip the believer for the work of the Lord. You can check those out in Romans 12, in Corinthians (12-14), and in Ephesians 4 and I Peter 4. In those verses, the "gifts" are noted as prophecy, ministry, teaching, etc.  

I don't feel it's something to argue or fuss over.....haven't we all used memory aids at one point or another? To memorize the Beatitudes, to commit to memory other significant portions of our faith . . . these were to inculcate the faith and behavior of the Christian life. 

I will point out one important thing: the gifts of the Spirit are not limited to these! The Holy Spirit in our hearts will produce many other effects - meekness, chastity, truth, holiness, and sobriety. We probably would have a difficult time listing all of the gifts that God bestows upon us! The truth is that our God comes to us with arms full of blessings for our lives -- He is well supplied with gifts, and wants us to live life ABUNDANTLY!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10, NASB)

“And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail. (Isaiah 58:11)

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Our twelve days of Christmas posts will continue tomorrow . . .