Some time ago our friend John Lewis, whose occasional comments you may have read on my Blog, sent me the following which I am happy to share with you:

LOZITHA – His Majesty the King has declared 2012 a year of prosperity and gifts.

The king said yesterday that people would be surprised at seeing Swaziland showered with lots of gifts this year.

He said 2011 had been a very tough year but the country managed to pull through because it placed its trust in God.

Preaching at Lozitha Palace at a church service to mark the beginning of the year, His Majesty said the financial position of the country would improve this year, thanks to the intervention of the Almighty.

He said God, who made Swaziland pull through under difficult times in 2011, would do the same this year.

He advised the country against panicking and losing focus, urging citizens to make God their hope for economic revival. He said there were times when it appeared that public officers would not be paid their salaries but God intervened.

The king believes that God is the shepherd of Swaziland. He said a shepherd looked after livestock.

Likewise, God looks after the country. Triggering wild cheers and whistles from congregants, the king led the worshippers in a song titled, "Ufanelwe ukubongwa, ufanelwe naludumo, alishintji izwi lakho (you are worthy of praise and glory, your word never changes)." This song caused some Christians to speak in strange tongues. They stood up to join the king in song.

After that, the king tapped into spirit and began to evangelise on how God’s favour had stopped government from bankruptcy. He also said Jesus was unlike certain people who abused power by accepting bribes when asked to help others, particularly when they were to offer jobs to desperate people.

His Majesty said women looking for jobs were the most victims of abuse by unscrupulous people who demanded ‘something’ from them before they got the jobs. He was not specific but it was clear to all listeners that the king was condemning the prevalent practice of demanding sex from women before employing them. He said Jesus accepted people without restrictions or conditions because "He is a righteous shepherd whose love is unconditional."

Speaking at the same occasion, Her Majesty the Indlovukazi appealed for true worship. Apostle Maxwell Masakhona from Venda, South Africa, said there was divine protection, peace and unity in the country. He said certain countries did not have the good things that Swaziland had, saying it was time that Swazis appreciated those good things. Reverend Richard Dlamini said a person could live for 40 days without food, three days without water, some seconds without oxygen but a human being could not live without hope.

He said there was life where there was hope. He urged the country to hope for the best. Dlamini said hope should be in Jesus who happened to be the hope of all those who believed in Him.

Bishop Stephen Masilela said God was capable of creating natural resources like oil and conceals them under the surface if Swaziland would truthfully follow in His ways. He said military power, the art of science, availability of natural resources did not make a country survive but only God sustained a nation.

Bishop Masilela said Israel, a small nation, conquered great nations because they made the creator their God.

He said blessed was a nation whose God was Jehovah. After his sermon which lasted for about 30 minutes, His Majesty received a standing ovation from believers who crammed the Lozitha Palace Banquet Hall.

Dignitaries present were Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku who represented Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini who is presently out of the country, cabinet ministers, MPs, advisors to His Majesty and Her Majesty the Indlovukazi.

Well now, despite ninety percent of the population being devoutly Orthodox it would appear that Greece is not in the financial mess as we see it today because of nepotism, graft, tax evasion, corruption, greed, bribery, and billions flowing out of the country to safe havens like Switzerland, but simply that God has decided, unlike lucky old Swaziland, to simply turn a blind eye to Greece’s problems. Would you say that’s how it is?