THE NEW MOON:    In spite of clear condition,s all reports indicate the new moon has not  been seen Saturday evening; the new moon day will therefore begin at sunset tonight.  This is a rare case when observers did not confirm our calculations, or the British Astronomy posts.  Since the lunar cycle is 29 and 1/2 days, and no month can be longer than 30 days;  Monday will be the New Moon day, beginning Sunday at sunset.

We are only beginners at reviving the Temple Calendar practice, and are working very hard to perfect the method of calculation, which we always confirm by sighting.  Indeed even the ancient Israelites set aside TWO days for the Feast of Trumpets in case the New Moon was not seen on the expected day and the Feast did not begin until a day later than expected.

The method of calculation in ancient Israel was very simple.  They just counted 28 days after the new moon had been seen and then looked for it that night; if it was not seen [which was not expected as the moon has a 29 or 30 day cycle], they looked again the next night [the evening of the 29th day]; it it was not seen on the evening of the 29th day,  the new moon was automatically declared beginning on the evening of the 30th day, as the moon cycle is less than 30 days and no month may have more than 30 days.

This system of ancient Israel is infallible for establishing the correct sighting date of each month, however it it is not useful in calculating forward perfectly.

The New Moon day begins at sunset tonight. Monday will be the first day of the eleventh biblical month. We are commanded to worship God on the new moon. We do this with a Bible Study with like minded persons, and if necessary alone with our families and God, or alone with God. The MOST important thing is to spend time with God in worshipful study. For more information please see: God’s Commanded New Moons and the Beginning of Biblical Months

For information on the Biblical Calendar: Understanding the Calendar of the Bible For information on the apostate Rabbinic Calendar used by the major COG Groups: The History of The Calendar of Israel

Welcome the eleventh biblical month with the shofar.

OUTREACH SITE:   Helpful additions have been made to the post:  How to Avoid or Treat, Colds
and Flu  Bibi has dragged the residents out of the new village on the Mount of Olives, in spite of a court injunction  Bibi Flouts High Court: Election in Ten Days

Job: Bildad’s Second Discourse

Today I am getting into some real solid meat about the meaning of Job; which is much deeper and different  from what the COG Groups teach.  Please read this slowly and give it some serious thought.

Bildad asks how long will Job regard his friends as stupid and lacking knowledge?  He then assumes that Job is an evildoer and proceeds to list the awful fate of evildoers.

Bildad is absolutely correct in his description of the fate of commandment breakers [COG Groups and brethren take note]; but he is in error in condemning Job, just because Job is suffering.

Herbert Armstrong fell into the same error as Job’s friends, in proclaiming that all sickness is the result of some sin!  Herbert simply did not understand Job. which is about the trials of the righteous. Instead it was Job’s friends and HWA who were self righteous and NOT Job; who was faithful in all his sufferings!

It was these self righteous men who condemned the righteous Job just because he suffered!  There is a very carnal self righteous tendency to condemn the stricken, just because they are stricken; and to judge by the hearing of the ears and the seeing of the eyes according to our own carnal thinking; instead of judging the heart and spirit as God judges, for God himself said that Job was perfect in in righteousness.

The COG Groups misunderstand the Book of Job almost completely.  WHY?  Because they have the same self righteous outlook and attitude as Job’s three friends!

it was Job’s three  friends and we in the Church of God Groups who were / are self righteous and wrong; priding ourselves on our numbers, income and wealth as a sign of our righteousness before God, looking ion the afflicted as sinners and misunderstanding that God afflicts [corrects] those he loves not necessarily because they have sinned, but to bring them into even grater perfection as Jesus Christ learned through the things that He suffered, Heb 5:8.

Job 42:7   And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

Brethren, today the major COG Groups are apostate from any zeal for the practical application of God’s commandments.  They are proud and self righteous, doing as they think right instead of enthusiastically obeying God, and refusing sincere repentance when they are contrary to God’s word.  They justify themselves and attack the messenger who warns them seeking  to save them.

I will cover this more thoroughly when I get to Job 42; where Job, who did not understand why he had been afflicted, learns that God is far above the wisdom of man, and acts to fulfill his own purposes, often testing and allowing the righteous to be afflicted that they may bring forth much fruit.  John 15.

Job 18

1   Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, 18:2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

He asks Job; who are you that God should change his plan on your account, and not punish your wickedness?

18:3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight? 18:4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?18:5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

18:6 The light shall be dark in his [the body of the wicked and he shall die] tabernacle, and his candle [properly LAMP, meaning light, life] shall be put out with him.

The wicked will fall in his evil counsel.

18:7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down. 18:8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.

18:9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him. 18:10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

18:11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet. 18:12 His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.

18:13 It [wickedness] shall devour the strength of his skin [flesh]: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength. 18:14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle [tent, body], and it shall bring him to the king of terrors [death itself] .

18:15 It [death] shall dwell in his tabernacle [physical body], because it is none of his [the body is not under our power to live forever, that is the gift of God to the obedient to ALL the commandments of God]: brimstone [the lake of fire] shall be scattered upon his habitation.

18:16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off. 18:17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

18:18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased [destroyed from life itself] out of the world.

This does NOT mean that the wicked will not have family who will repent; it means that being dead and destroyed forever, because of unrepentant wickedness; he is disowned by the righteous.

18:19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.

18:20 They that come after him shall be astonied at his day [end], as they that went [lived] before were affrighted [at his evil power and authority in this life] .

18:21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

 

Job Answers Bildad’s Second Discourse

 

Job 19

Since Job was accused ten times  by this point; it is clear that what is recorded is only the high-lites of the situation.

1 Then Job answered and said, 19:2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? 19:3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.

Job declares that IF he has sinned, his friends have not revealed what the sin is; but have only accused him based on his suffering.

19:4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself [unknown to his friends]

Job lists his sufferings and still he is faithful and relies on God.  In spite of all he is suffering, Job does not sin against God.  This is a remarkable statement of faith and trust in God during unexplainable suffering.

19:5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: 19:6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

19:7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment. 19:8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

19:9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 19:10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

19:11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. 19:12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.

19:13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.19:14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar [closest] friends have forgotten me.

19:15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. 19:16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

19:17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body. 19:18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. 19:19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

19:20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

19:21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

19:22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? 19:23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 19:24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!

A prophecy of Christ

Job maintains his trust in God, in spite of all his afflictions 

19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 19:26 And though after my skin worms [I die and maggots] destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins [internal organs]  be consumed within me.

Job tells his friends to look to their one state with God instead of judging him because he is afflicted, for they shall also face punishment for attacking him in his trials.

19:28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me [Job's friends need to acknowledge that the issue is not in Job but in themselves] ? 19:29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath [wrongfully accusing and attacking] bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

Hebrews 11 and the faithfulness of the righteous through their sufferings

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

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