Today is the first day of November, and the number nine is on my mind. “November” means nine. It was the ninth month in the ancient Roman calendar. Consider with me three biblical accounts that feature this number.
King Hoshea reigned over the northern kingdom of Israel for nine years (2 Kings 17:1). His is the dubious distinction of having presided over her last days. Because he did evil in the sight of Lord, He allowed Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, to come against him and make him his vassal. When Hoshea reached out to Egypt and stopped paying tribute to the Assyrians, they carried the northern 10 tribes into exile. God will not be mocked. He warned Israel in Deuteronomy 28 that if they failed to observe His law, He would scatter them among the nations. And so it was.
Following the (Babylonian) captivity of the southern kingdom, Nehemiah oversaw a remarkable reconstruction project. The walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt in just 52 days! (Nehemiah 6:15). Of course, it then had to be repopulated. This was done by casting lots to bring one of every ten Israelites from the surrounding areas to live in the city; the other nine remained in the “suburbs.” I am reminded that 10 out of 10 of God’s people–the first-born (N.T. believers) and the spirits of righteous men made perfect (O.T. saints)–will inhabit the new Jerusalem: Jesus said in John 18:9, “Of those whom Thou hast given me I lost not one.”
Finally, perhaps the best known nine in the Bible is the one in Luke 17:17 that tells us how many of the lepers Jesus healed failed to return to thank Him. We dare not forget the Host as we are enjoying His table as Spurgeon put it. To the same point another said, “I looked at Christ, and the dove of peace flew into my heart. I looked at the dove…and it flew away.”
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