Well, we're just about done Proverbs. Back at the beginning, some of you were wondering "what's the definition of wisdom"? Now that you've spent a month at it - what stands out to you? How would you recognize wisdom in someone else? How do you know when you're being just a tiny bit foolish?
Anway...let's do Esther next! It's only 10 chapters long, so it will take us from February 1 (on Thursday) through to February 10.
A little background that may help - this is a point in Israel's history long after the "early days" of Abraham, long after the "nomadic days" of Moses, long after the "glory years" of King David and King Solomon. They had a bunch of kings after that who weren't so good, the nation split, people started worshipping other gods, the prophets screamed about it, no one listened, and WHAM - they were invaded by another country, and put into exile.
So the setting for Esther's story is of Jewish people who have made a life for themselves, while living in a country that is not their own. They have managed to preserve their culture, but there's probably an undercurrent of racism, since everyone knows their country was basically wiped out.
It's a unique book of the Bible. First - no mention of God, all the way through (but there are hints!!) Second - how does one reflect God in a place you don't want to be, where you feel pretty powerless? (It's a story of influence in high places, which is neat, since we're praying in City Hall for one of the Councillors, on the day we start reading this - just a little commercial, there, haha!)
My suggestion...exercise your imagination in this one!!! Picture it, feel it, smell it, hear it, be the different characters...it's quite a story!
