Your favourite Bible Stories
Dear Editor
Responding to your invitation to share our favourite Bible stories, I concur with Archdeacon Peter Woodman that we used to hear some wonderful Old Testament readings that kept a choirboy’s attention and interest.
There was the story of David being pursued by King Saul into the wilderness (1 Samuel 24). In a cave, David creeps up on Saul and cuts a piece off his cloak, and later taunts him with his success. An exciting tale of daring for a children’s service?
Then there is the story of David taking refuge in the Cave of Adullam when being hunted by the Philistines (1 Chronicles 11). David expresses a desire for a drink of water from the well in Bethlehem he knows from his childhood days. He later criticises his three trusty men who risked their lives going through enemy lines to fulfill his wish. And David can only pour out that precious water onto the ground - it being so very meaningful to him. A story of heroism for Remembrance Sunday?
Again, the story in 2 Kings 7 of the four lepers, isolated from their families and their homes in a town under enemy seige. They go searching for food in the enemy camp and find it completely deserted. They take their fill of food and congratulate themselves on such a find. They then are mindful of their suffering families and return the good news of what they had experienced to the king who send and confirms their story. A story for Missionary Sunday?
Dare I mention the gruesome story in Judges 4 where the enemy king Sisera is lying asleep and Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, takes a tent peg and drives it into his skull? We boys loved hearing that lesson read at Matins - but I think the PC brigade would have something to say on its suitablility in today’s church!
We cannot overlook the timeless stories of Ruth and Naomi, or of Queen Esther. So many other tales of Moses in the Wilderness, of Abraham and Elijah, and of course of the colourful Nehemiah rebuilding his wall.
With Peter Woodman, I say: “Let’s return to the Old Testament stories for preaching.”
Donald Maxfield, Reader