The Season of Virtue: Expectation and Preparation In the Number 40 (Lord of Spirits Podcast)

Reflecting on the most recent episode of the Lord of Spirits podcast, titled The Season of Virtue.

They point out that an oft neglected aspect of the season of Lent is the number 40. Without this number we miss the story that the scriptures are trying to tell.

40 can be measured differently (days, months, years, generations), but where it surfaces always connotes, for the biblical writers and readers, the notion of preparation and anticipation. It is the result of measuring things in sixes (again, in ancient numerology) rather than 7’s, which would denote completion/ perfection/fulfillment.

We see this in:
The 6 days of creation.
The flood narrative
Both times Moses goes up the mountain
The wilderness motif (including Elijah)
When Goliath comes out and awaits the one would take him on
The scouting in Joshua before the promised land
The reigns of David and Solomon
The time given to Ninevah in Jonah
The genealogy of the Gospels
The time between the resurrection and ascension
Pentecost
The reign of Evil in Revelation

Just to name a few.

The hosts point out that the motif of anticipation and preparation can carry a duel focus for the biblical authors which is based on the two times Moses goes up the mountain. The first time Moses goes up is in positive anticipation and preparation. Where the people failed to prepare and anticipate, Moses goes back up for 40 days in prayer and fasting (repentance on behalf of or as a mediator for) the people. Given how this is applied to Jesus, Jesus is then positioned as a mediator in this same sense.

Why is this important? Because it becomes extremely evident that the Biblical writers/authors lived and breathed this pattern of expectation and particpation. Moses, Elijah, David, they are all depicted within the framework of sixes. There are three key places where the number 7 is applied, narratively speaking- to God in creation, to Jesus in his resurrection, and to the promise of new creation. All of which function together.

And where the 40 days is concerned, the duel nature (the positive pronouncement/the call to repentance) informs how we approach Lent in practice, and how we frame that in light of Jesus being its completion.