How Many Times (Seventy Times Seven)

White Heart's song 'How Many Times (Seventy Times Seven)' delves deep into the emotional and spiritual struggle of forgiveness. The lyrics express a profound sense of pain and betrayal, with the narrator feeling 'walkin' wounded' and grappling with the 'knife of fire' that is their suffering. This vivid imagery sets the stage for a heartfelt exploration of the difficulty in forgiving those who have wronged us, especially when the hurt feels insurmountable.

The chorus, with its repeated questioning of 'How many times must I stand in the waves of this crashing sea?' and 'How many times must I forgive all the hurt that's been done to me?' highlights the internal conflict between the desire for retribution and the call to forgive. The reference to 'seventy times seven' is a direct allusion to a biblical teaching from the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus instructs Peter to forgive not just seven times, but seventy times seven times, symbolizing boundless forgiveness. This biblical reference underscores the song's spiritual dimension, emphasizing the challenge and necessity of forgiveness as a path to healing and spiritual growth.

The song also reflects on the narrator's own shortcomings and the forgiveness they have received. The lines 'How many times have I nailed you up on the cross of pain?' and 'You bled from a broken heart and I was to blame' draw a parallel between the narrator's need to forgive others and the forgiveness they have received from a higher power. This introspection adds depth to the song, suggesting that understanding and accepting one's own forgiven state can be a powerful motivator to extend the same grace to others. The repeated refrain of 'Seventy times seven' serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing, often difficult journey of forgiveness, both given and received.