The ESV Bible website has an amazing resource for 2009 Bible reading plans!  The page offers ten different schedules, each available in several wonderfully convenient formats.  You can get to the daily reading online, via RSS or email, in an iCal format, with a mobile phone browser or with a good old-fashioned printable copy.

The url is: http://www.esv.org/biblereadingplans

I’m currently debating whether to use the M’Cheyne plan or the new ESVSB plan this coming year – but I’ll decide by midnight tomorrow!

HT: Between Two Worlds

In a recent Sunday School class, I was placed in a small group of students and given a passage of Scripture to work through, finding lessons to share with the class.  I’ll spend the next few post in sort of mini-series on literary aspects of the story of Absalom’s attempted take-over of his father David’s kingdom as recorded in II Sam. 15.13-19.8.  Please take the time to read that passage before you finish this article.

The first literary feature I’d like to note is setting.  In a nutshell, the setting of this plot follows what I call a “W-shape” – see the illustration below.

It begins and ends with David hearing news in Jerusalem.  The first time, he hears the news of Absalom’s rebellion and flees; in the end, he hears the news of Absalom’s death and grieves deeply.  These are the high ends of the W.

The two low points are accounts of fleeing.  Again, we find a contrast.  David flees from Absalom and meets several people on the way; Ahithophel and Absalom flee and are killed alone.  (More will be said about the other people whom David met in a future post.)

And the center of the W is the hinge of the plot: Absalom is forced to choose between conflicting advisors in Jerusalem – his decision is the pivot on which the suspense of the story swings.  (Also, a subsequent post will focus on the plot structure.)

These changes in setting play an important role in helping us understand the story.  They focus our attention on the center of the narrative by sandwiching it between two pairs of matching bookends.

That’s what the book of Ruth teaches.  I learned and was edified as I was recently doing some outside reading on literary analysis of the Bible (reading a Biblical narrative and studying the literary features like character, plot, setting, etc).

Chapter 1 serves to paint a picture of emptiness.  It starts in a broad, nonpersonal emptiness: famine in the land.  The author then narrows our perspective to emptiness in a family – Elimelech, Mahlon & Chilion die, leaving Naomi widowed and heirless.  The focus-change ends with Naomi’s personal emptiness – “I am too old to have a husband” – and hopelessness (Ruth 1.12).  This is the introduction, if you will, to the book of Ruth: a poignant picture of emptiness.

The next major section of the book is runs from the beginning of harvest (Ruth 1.22) to the end (Ruth 2.23).  The emphasis of the chapter falls at its center: the meeting of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 2.10).  This meeting begins the change: empty becoming full.  Boaz freely offers Ruth grain and water (Ruth 2.9), speaks of God giving her a full reward (Ruth 2.12) and lets her eat with him until she is satisfied and has left-overs (Ruth 2.14)!  At the end of that first day of harvest, Ruth brings her full load of harvested grain home to Naomi who reveals that Boaz is not only providing grain, but also has the ability to restore their family as kinsman-redeemer (Ruth 2.20).

The next section of the story is sandwiched between two conversations between Naomi and Ruth.  Naomi here serves a special purpose in the narrative: while Ruth and Boaz are both in the dark about what could happen and is about to happen as God works things together for good, Naomi knows exactly what is going on and what Ruth and Boaz need to do.  Naomi instructs Ruth about how to reveal to Boaz that he can redeem her and restore fullness to the family (Ruth 3.3-4).  Again, the center of the chapter is a meeting between Boaz and Ruth at his threshing floor (Ruth 3.9).  The chapter closes with Naomi’s all-knowing assessment of Boaz’ next actions (Ruth 3.18).

In addition to the structural similarities with chapter 2, chapter 3 brings some foreshadowing to light.  In Ruth 2.12, Boaz blesses Ruth with a wish for a full reward from God; in Ruth 3.10, he again blesses her – this time, he is actually providing that full reward!  In Ruth 2.12, Boaz commends Ruth for taking shelter under the wings of the Almighty; in Ruth 3.9, Ruth asks Boaz to spread his garment (literally, “wings”) over her – and again, we see that Boaz himself is God’s instrument for bringing about the fullness that Boaz desired Ruth to see.

Ruth 4.1-12 describes the legal scene at the town gate where Boaz redeems Ruth.  It feels much like a necessary diversion, written to deal with the legality of the situation (first mentioned in Ruth 3.12).  The key  part of the chapter is the marriage of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4.13).  Now the emptiness of chapter 1 is being tangibly filled.  Naomi mourned at her barrenness (Ruth 1.11); she then becomes nurse to Ruth’s baby (Ruth 4.16) and is even praised by the women of the town for Ruth’s baby (Ruth 4.17)!.  This beautiful picture of filling is nestled between a look back to God faithfulness to barren Rachel (Ruth 4.11; Gen. 30.22) and a look forward to God’s faithfulness in providing the ultimate fullness in David’s heir (Ruth 4:17).

This view is based on D. F. Rauber’s article “Literary Values in the Bible: the Book of Ruth,” Journal of Biblical Literature 89 (1970): 27-37.

God gives gifts to men and men glorify him by excelling in those gifts – whether they’re saved or not.  All people bear God’s image (marred, yes, but God’s image nonetheless) and when they reflect his creativity and beauty and joy through musical talents, that brings glory to their Maker.

I thoroughly enjoyed the King’s Singers Christmas concert I heard last night.  It was hands-down the best classical concert I’ve attended (and I’ve been to a few thanks to my alma mater’s Artist Series programs)!  I’ve been a fan for a few years and jumped at the opportunity to go to a live concert.  It was held at Clemson University’s Brooks Center – a beautiful hall with excellent sound.  I’ll definitely be watching their schedule for future concerts.

But the King’s Singers – they were phenomenal!  They had chosen a balanced program of familiar Christmas favorites, little-known carols from past eras and seasonal songs from a variety of countries.  I could describe them, but really, an audio sample is worth a thousand words!  Let me highlight a few of my favorite selections from the concert; the links will point you to Amazon’s MP3 Store and the iTunes Store (if available).

Lullay, My Liking Amazon | iTunes

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)   Amazon | iTunes

Gaudete, Christus Is Natus Amazon | iTunes

Deck the Hall Amazon | iTunes

What Child Is This? Amazon | iTunes

Note about “What Child Is This?”: at the concert, the King’s Singers performed the beautiful Greensleeves arrangement heard in the sample – but with the Christmas text.  Their recordings, however, only use the English folk song lyrics.  During the concert, I was especially blessed by the salvation truths of the words to “What Child Is This?” and it is certainly my favorite song from the program.  When they record their next Christmas CD (no, the first four are not enough!), I sincerely hope that the CD will contain this beautiful arrangement with the Christmas words!

And to top off a perfectly wonderful concert, the Singers were in the lobby signing autographs, talking with concert-goers and being genuinely friendly people.  Thank you, King’s Singers, for a splendid evening!

On Sunday morning, my pastor closed his sermon with an illustration about the struggles that a Christian may have with full surrender to Christ.  This is a very profitable five-minute listen – it gives both sympathetic encouragement and Scriptural warning.

Minnick on Surrender Struggles

The entire sermon is available here.