Eight Days a Week?
As far as I can tell, of all the major units of time - days, weeks, months, and years - only the week is not based on planetary movement. Our year is based on one revolution of the earth around the sun. The month, give or take a day or two, is based on one revolution of the moon around the earth, and our day is based on one rotation of the earth upon its axis. These three constructs of time come with demonstrable and meaningful manifestations - seasons, tides, sunrises, and sunsets. They cannot be ignored. If you live in Alaska, near the equator, or on the Bay of Fundy, you would certainly attest to that.
But the week is different. Where did it come from? There are a number of hypotheses. Some believe the ancients divided the month by the number of planets (seven) then visible to the naked eye - yielding four weeks per month. I prefer the explanation provided in the book of Genesis that the week was created by God. It was not derived from the planetary movements he created, but instituted based on his creative agenda. The first chapter of Genesis describes how God created light (where darkness already existed) and then divided light from darkness to create “the first day (Gen. 1:5).” He then went on creating for another five days. After that, Scripture says that on the seventh day, he ceased from his work. An eighth day is never mentioned. The seven day cycle just keeps repeating - a Divinely-instituted pattern to govern humanity.
The week, to me, is a unique and beautiful gift from the Divine. It stands alone in the way we mark time, providing an important shape and cycle for our lives, a reminder of our need for work and rest (with work being the greater part and preceding rest). It provides a different unique cadence for renewal - not the rapidity that comes with each new day nor the slog of month or a year, but seven beautiful and perfectly packaged segment of time. Created for us, not us for it.
Scripture tells us to remember it and live by it. There is a submission to it. Unlike the constructs of time that compel our notice, the week requires our partnership. In return, it provides a sturdy structure through all seasons while connecting us to the Creator.
“Eight days a week” is one too many.” 😁
