Ruth, Esther and missional hermeneutics; God’s Heart for Children talk; and diversifying reading lists

Welcome to my newsletter, ‘Bible, Mission, and More’, where I share what’s on my mind as I teach, research, and write on the Bible and mission, children-at-risk in the Bible and contemporary society, Psalms and Wisdom Literature, and a range of other topics. I teach at All Nations Christian College in the UK, though views are my own.

Each Tuesday (yes, I’m experimenting with a different day!) I’ll share something I’ve read, something I’ve written or recorded, something on learning and teaching, and a quote to reflect on.

Something read – Chloe Sun on Ruth, Esther and missional hermeneutics

Chloe Sun is Professor of Old Testament and Program Director of the Chinese Studies Center at Fuller Seminary. In her 2018 article ‘Ruth and Esther: Negotiable Space in Christopher Wright’s The Mission of God?’ she notes the relative lack of engagement with those books in Wright’s landmark 2006 volume, The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative. She then goes on to offer some excellent reflections on how Ruth and Esther both contribute to the unfolding story of God’s mission, focusing on three themes: ‘Ruth and Esther on Genesis 12:1-3’; ‘Ruth and Esther on diaspora’; and ‘Ruth and Esther on gender.’

Sun does a great job noting connections between the two characters themselves, as well as how their stories relate to certain missional themes. As such she develops the missional hermeneutics conversation in new directions. Sun persuasively argues that we miss out if we do not pay enough attention to characters like Ruth and Esther. Her conclusion puts it well:

‘the inclusion of Ruth in the grand narrative of God demonstrates that individual gentiles are also God’s instruments to bring blessing to the descendants of Abraham. The story of Esther realizes God’s promise to Abraham that He will bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him. Both Ruth and Esther contribute to diaspora theology by rupturing the boundary between Israelites and gentiles. What is more, they both appear as women of wisdom to enact changes for betterment of the people of God. As a result, God uses them to bless the Israelites as well as the gentiles. Therefore, the place of Ruth and Esther within the grand narrative of the mission of God is not negotiable but indispensable.’ (p. 158)

Sun, C. (2018). ‘Ruth and Esther: Negotiable Space in Christopher Wright’s The Mission of God?’ Missiology, 46(2), 150-161. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091829617737501

You will need access to the journal Missiology to access it from the publisher’s website but the author has made it freely available on her Academia page.

Something written – God’s Heart for Children talk at World Without Orphans European forum

World Without Orphans is a global movement with the vision of ‘a world where every child is cared for in a safe and loving family and reaches their God-given potential’. Last year I was invited to speak at their European network’s gathering in Sofia, Bulgaria.

One of the talks was on ‘God’s Heart for Children’ where I shared from Numbers 6, Exodus 2, Deuteronomy 10, Job 24, and Mark 10 about some of the ways children feature in the Bible and in God’s purposes. One of the things I love to unpack is how those working with and on behalf of children (especially children in difficult circumstance) can draw on the whole of Scripture to nourish their ministries, and not just a few scattered verses here or there (important though those well-known texts are).

The talk is available to watch on the Europe Without Orphans website (‘Morning Plenary Meeting with Ruslan Maliuta and Tim Davy,’ starting around 48:50). There were lots of great sessions throughout the gathering and I’d encourage you to have a look at this really important ministry. If easier you can also view it directly on YouTube. This link will take you to the right timestamp: God’s Heart for Children recording.

Learning and teaching – diversifying Old Testament reading lists

One of the things I encourage students to do when drawing on scholarship is to make sure they are exploring a diverse range of voices from the literature. I’ve tried to reflect this in the online missional hermeneutics bibliography I curate, but there are lots of other resources out there to help. This will be a topic I return to but, for this week, I’d like to point you to the excellent website Every Voice, which has a rich bibliographic database and a growing set of resources and activities. So far the focus has been mainly on Old Testament scholarship.

If, like me, you teach Biblical Studies, we have a responsibility to make students aware of resources like this. If you are a student, make sure you look for sources on resources like Every Voice, learn from them, and bring that wider perspective into your assignments. There’s really no excuse!

Quote – Elsa Tamez on Job

‘The smell of death that is about you reaches our nostrils; we smell you everywhere. Your skeletal body goads us. Shreds of your corroding flesh hang from our flesh: you have infected us, brother Job, you have infected us, our families, our people. And your look of one who thirsts for justice and your breath that is soaked in wrath have filled us with courage, tenderness, and hope.’  

(Elsa Tamez, from ‘Dear Brother Job’, quoted in Gustavo Gutiérrez, On Job)

Thanks for joining the journey and see you next week,

Tim