Bible TimePsalm 81: Big Valley Jamboree
A Country Music Festival near Edmonton, The Big Valley Jamboree, saw its main stage destroyed by a storm while a performance was going on.
Psalm 81
Theoretical Time:
- 13000-07-13 11:5:03 AA
- 2009-08-02 04:34:51 TMMT
- 2009-08-02 02:13:57 GMT
- 2009-08-01 22:13:57 EDT
26 Psalms 81
1Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.
2Take a psalm and bring here the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3Blow trumpets in the new month in the time appointed, on our solemn feast days.
4For this was a statute for Israel and a law of the God of Jacob.
5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out to the land of Egypt, where he heard a language that he did not understand.
6I removed the yoke from his shoulder, I released his hands from the bonds.
7He called on me in trouble, and I delivered him; I sheltered him under my glorious cover; I tested him at the waters of dispute.
8Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, I will testify about you. If you listen to me;
9there will not be a strange god in you; nor will you worship any strange god.
10I am Yahvah your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people would not listen to my voice; and Israel would have none of me.
12So they walked according to the desires of their own hearts and according to their own counsels.
13That my people had listened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways.
14I would soon have destroyed their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of Yahvah have lied to him; but they will tremble forever.
16He has also fed them with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock, he has satisfied them.
Stage Collapse at Big Valley Jamboree
The Big Valley Jamboree is held each year on a 400 acre site near Edmonton, Alberta. (Usually the first weekend in August.) The campground is opened on Thursday and runs through Sunday. Very much like the Biblical time of Tabernacles. 20,000 people typically attend a facility designed to house most of these people as campers.
Verses 1 and 2 of this Psalm deal with celebrating the monthly feast with songs and instruments. This festival near Edmonton is a strong match, both by the type of festival, and the timing, both at the start of the month and as an annual event. This particular year the weekend of the Jamboree was only 2 days away from the start of Tabernacles on the 30 day Biblical calendar.
On Saturday evening, just after 6:00 PM local time, Billy Currington was just finishing up his set when a severe thunderstorm swept across the grounds of the music festival. A sandstorm was kicked up, the plastic chairs used by the audience were tumbled and people began to flee. But biggest part of the disaster was the storm destroyed the main stage were Currington and his band were performing. At least 1 person was killed and another 75 were injured. Emergency crews worked across the night to make sure nobody was buried under the debris from the stage.
Dramatic before and after photos are posted on inews880.com. A more complete photo gallery is posted on the Calgary Herald.
Theoretical time for this Psalm was 8:13 PM local time. This is about the time the emergency crews were starting to bring in large cranes in order to lift the stage and search for anyone who might be buried. They continued to work through the night and across the next day. This is very tight timing to theoretical.
The Psalm mentions the name Joseph in verse 5, who as nations today includes Canada, another match.
Verse 7 continues and says God tested them at the waters of dispute, a reference to the type of destruction seen on that evening.
The Psalm then breaks to the reason for this disaster. Verse 9, they were worshipping strange gods. Verse 11, that they would not listen to God himself. Verse 12, they walked according to their own desires and counsels.
Verses 13 and 14 address the thought that if they had listened, God would have protected them.
Verse 15 suggests a monument, or memory of this event will be erected.
The final verse suggests they have been fed better, and this should not have happened. This idea is expressed in the nature of the Edmonton region. It is a grain and oil producing area. This matters because from those whom more is given, more is expected.