Bible TimePsalm 118: Power Out in Brazil and Paraguay
Estimates ranged upwards to 190,000,000 people impacted by a massive power outage that occurred within minutes of theoretical for this Psalm.
Psalm 118
Theoretical Time:
- 13000-10-24 DH 21:6:11 AA
- 2009-11-11 14:45:42 TMMT
- 2009-11-11 12:24:48 GMT
- 2009-11-11 07:24:48 EST
Psalms 118
1Give thanks to Yahvah; for he is good and his mercy endures forever.
2Let Israel now say that his mercy endures forever.
3Let the house of Aaron now say that his mercy endures forever.
4Let those who worship Yahvah say that his mercy endures forever.
5Out of my distress, I called on Yahvah; Yahvah answered me and relieved me.
6Yahvah is my help, I will not fear; what can man do to me? (54:13:6)
7Yahvah is my helper; therefore I will see my desire on those who hate me.
8It is better to trust in Yahvah, than to put confidence in man.
9It is better to trust in Yahvah, than to put confidence in princes.
10All nations surrounded me; but in the name of Yahvah, I will destroy them.
11They surrounded me; yes, they surrounded me; but in the name of Yahvah, I will destroy them.
12They surrounded me like hornets; they are quenched like the fire of stubble; for in the name of Yahvah, I will destroy them.
13I have been repelled that I might be overthrown and fall; but Yahvah helped me.
14Yahvah is my strength and song, and has become my salvation.
15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of Yahvah does valiantly.
16The right hand of Yahvah has exalted me; the right hand of Yahvah does valiantly.
17I will not die, but live, and declare the works of Yahvah.
18Yahvah has chastened me severely; but he has not given me over to death.
19Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go into them, and I will praise Yahvah.
20This is the gate of Yahvah, into which the righteous will enter.
21I will give thanks to you; for you have heard me, and have become my salvation.
22The stone which the builders rejected, has become the headstone of the corner.
23This is Yahvah's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. (41:21:42, 42:12:10, 43:20:17, 44:4:11)
24This is the day which Yahvah has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25Save me, Yahvah; Yahvah, deliver me.
26Blessed be he that comes in the name of Yahvah; (40:12:13, 41:21:9, 41:23:39, 42:11:9, 43:13:35, 43:19:38) we have blessed you out of the house of Yahvah.
27Yahvah, our god, enlighten us; bind our festival processions as an unbroken chain, even to the horns of the altar.
28You are my god, and I will give thanks to you; you are my god, I will exalt you.
29Give thanks to Yahvah, for he is good; for his mercy endures forever.
Itaipu Dam
Itaipu Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, producing 90 percent of Paraguay's power and 20 percent of Brazil's power. At around 12:20 GMT, around 10:20 PM local time, the power across much of Brazil began to fluctuate, and minutes later failed completely. The dam producing the electricity remained able to generate but large storms had apparently stopped distribution of power to various regions of the country.
The failure was only 3 days after 60 Minutes reported that previous Brazilian power failures had been caused by hackers.
Power remained out for hours. Parts of Brazil did not see power restored for 6 hours, though Paraguay saw power restored within minutes.
There was considerable concern for the safety of people in parts of Rio, the future host of the 2016 Olympic games. There were dramatic increases in crime. The area around the soccer stadium was especially hard hit. The mayor dispatched an additional 300 security personnel.
Matches
The timing is exquisite, with a 10:24 PM local expected time for this Psalm. News reports said the failures began "around 10:20 PM local time."
Verses 5 and 6 deal with the distress felt by millions when the power dropped.
Verses 7 and 8 deal with putting confidence in God instead of in man. In this case confidence in the electrical grid was unfounded.
Verse 12 uses the expression "quenched like the fire of stubble." The extinguishing of the lights across the region was like quenching them in water, a match.