Thursday Theological Threads

  The painting above is Ernest Normand's "Queen Vashti Deposed." This portrays the time after she is banished but not yet left the palace. She's waiting to see what happens next. One of her servants is on the floor weeping, showing much more emotion than the former Queen. The Book of Esther is actually a short story. And it’s one where what we expect to happen doesn’t happen. Certain things are exaggerated to an almost comic effect–because the story uses humor to cope with danger. We can't forget that there’s a tragic element underlying this story. This is the strange book of the Bible that has no mention of God, prayer, or anything religious. Maybe because it’s set in the Persian court. Or maybe because it’s wanting us to think about what means to be in the minority in an empire that’s ready to turn on you? Now, most of you know Esther as the story about the Jewish girl who becomes queen and saves her people. This book is read during the Jewish feast of Purim, wh