Psalm 1 (summary): Blessed

This first psalm contrasts the person who walks with God and is happy obeying his word, with the wicked person who will perish. Happy is the man, says the psalm, who does not walk/stand/sit in godless ways. To the contrary he loves God's word and prospers like a fruitful tree planted by a stream. However, says the psalm, the wicked are like straw blown in the wind whose end is perdition. 

Personal work

Our personal work counselling those in spiritual and psychological need continued yesterday with another important session. Please pray for this aspect of our ministry.

Today I have upgraded my engine to a 7.7 version and thank the Lord for my health and strength! I won't have much time to celebrate as we have a senior leadership meeting this afternoon in my office and I will be chairing a church meeting in Itaporanga tonight to solve a problem there.

I went to Green Pastures which is faintly greener after the odd shower we have had, but the rain situation here is increasingly critical. What would happen if a town like Patos, with a population of 108,000, ran out of water I hate to think. At Green Pastures Wild Cats, Wild Tortoises, Armadillos, Deer and Foxes are plentiful and I heard Rufous-browed Peppershrikes and Campo Troupials singing in the trees.

Last night I chaired a meeting of the Pastor Frank Dyer's School teachers planning for this new semester. It was a good meeting.

I have finished my summary of the book of Job which was hard work! Now on to a long but enjoyable journey through the book of Psalms! I have now completed 40% of the chapters of the Bible.

Job 42 (summary): Job's final reply

 Job ends up repenting in dust and ashes as he says to God: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted". "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know". "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you".

Then comes the book's epilogue when God rebukes the 3 comforters for having spoken incorrectly, and he makes them offer burnt offerings in payment for their wrong. Then Job interceded for the 3 friends and God accepted this. After Job had prayed for his friends (prayer was key!) he became prosperous again and God gave him twice as much as he had before! All his family and friends comforted him and gave him gold and silver. God gave him 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys. And God yet gave Job 7 sons and 3 beautiful daughters. From this time on Job yet lived another 140 years until he died at a ripe old age.

Job 41 (summary): Leviathan

God continues talking and introduces the sea-monster Leviathan to the debate which was a dragon-like creature with fire coming from his mouth. The creature had air-tight armour-like scales which were impenetrable by javelin, spear or dart, and iron to him was like straw! God says "nothing on earth is his equal - a creature without fear". Thus God again cuts Job down to size by asking: "Can you pull in the Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope"? "Can you make a pet of him like a bird or put him on a leash for your girls"? Thus again God is saying to Job that if he can't cope with a creature how much less can he dispute and wrestle with the creator!

So it seems to me that God in no way seeks to justify what Job had been going through. God stands aloof and above criticism because he is God! And if Job can't wrestle with the sea-monster he should certainly not try it on him!

Job 40 (summary): God further questions Job

God now confronts Job for wanting to correct and accuse him. So Job admits he is unworthy and acknowledges that he has no answer. Then God asks Job if he wants to discredit his justice? God points out that Job cannot clothe himself with honour and majesty nor can he crush the wicked. God then tells Job to look at the enormous herbivorous animal called the behemoth which is extremely powerful with limbs like rods of iron. God says his maker is able to approach him but asks Job if he can capture him and piece his nose? Seeing that he can't Job must not accuse God!

Job 39 (summary): God questions Job

God continues questioning Job, this time concerning wildlife, which all is beyond Job's ability to answer. God asks about goats, deer, donkeys, oxen, ostriches, horses, hawks and eagles. The questions are about them giving birth, gestation periods, nesting, flying, living conditions, feeding etc. Thus God continues to humble Job to make him realize that things of creation and nature are so often beyond his understanding. So the logic is that Job should not be dismayed if he cannot understand his suffering. 

Job 38 (summary): God speaks

Now comes the time for God to join the debate about Job's suffering, but God instead speaks from a storm presenting a long discourse about creation. God, to put Job in his place, asks him if he was there when he created the earth? He then asks who made and put limits on the sea and made the clouds? He asks Job too if he had walked in the depths of the sea or comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? He asks as well if Job knows where the snow and hail are stored and whether he understands the lightning and the wind? God further asks if the rain has a father and if ice or frost have a mother? God also questions if Job knows the laws of the heavens and who provides food for the raven? Thus God humbles Job by emphasizing his sovereign complexity and majesty.