Summer Reading 2019: Ruth, Esther, Daniel







This summer we will be reading from 3 shorter books of Hebrew scripture: Ruth, Esther, and Daniel. Each of these is a story about keeping faith while living in exile, a stranger in a foreign land. Each is a portrait of faithfulness in crisis that defies reason, with God ever-present although never a character in the stories. These three books are considered “Writings” in Jewish tradition—poetry, prayer, philosophy, short stories—which do not claim to be divinely inspired. (Christian tradition names Daniel as one of the prophets, but because of its apocalyptic nature, it is included in the Writings rather than the Prophets in Jewish scripture.) Ruth and Esther are short stories about faithful women who are committed to God and to the covenant. Daniel contains stories like the lion’s den and the fiery furnace, as well as visions and dreams.

Please read these books according to the schedule below, as they will be the preaching texts each week. Occasional reflections and Bible study elements about these books will be here on the blog. If you have a study Bible, the introductory page for each book is helpful background material.

Bible study on Sunday mornings, 11am in the library:

June 16, Ruth
July 14, Esther
July 28, Daniel

6-16
Ruth 1-4
6-23
Esther 1-2
6-30
Esther 3-5
7-7
Esther 6-7
7-14
Esther 8-10
7-21
Daniel 1-2
7-28
Daniel 3-4
8-4
Daniel 5-6
8-11
Daniel 7-8
8-18
Daniel 9-10
8-25
Daniel 11-12

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