Singing The Seasons - The Megillot: Esther

There is a small collection of books that sit nestled toward the back of the Hebrew Bible. In the Ketuvim, the Writings, wedged between the three large poetic books of Psalms, Proverbs and Job, and the post-exilic writings (Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah and Chronicles), are the Five Megillot - the Five Scrolls. Small but rich and complex in their subject matter, these five books found their significance both in the biblical narrative, but also in the liturgical calendar of Israel. 

Esther is a complex book but a simple story: a story of salvation, redemption,  boldness and courage in the face of mighty opposition. But it's complex, as there is no explicit mention of God's name, and there are some questionable decisions made by some of the chief protagonists. Esther packs a punch, it invites us to dig deeper into the context and the subtext of the story it tells and continues the story of God's people as they journey toward the second temple period and the seismic changes that would come with the advent of Christ.

Resources/Links mentioned in this episode, or as references or helpful for Bible Streams:

• Book: Tremper Longman III & Peter Enns (eds) - Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings

Big thanks to Tim Whittle for editing and extra production on this podcast. 

Get more info at Riverlife Church, and find us on Facebook and Instagram. Music credit: Scott & Annie McKinnon, 'Revive'.

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