Passover & Song of Songs

Megilloth is a Hebrew word that refers toThe five Scrolls,” which were read in synagogues on five annual Jewish holidays:

  • Song of Songs during Passover

  • Ruth during Pentecost

  • Esther during Purim

  • Lamentations during the Ninth of Ab

  • Ecclesiastes during the Feast of Booths

It’s generally understood that a major shift in the observances of Israel’s festivals took place in the 7th century when localized agricultural celebrations were transformed into national celebrations, which required a pilgrimage to the central sanctuary. This move toward a theological rendering of the year was an effort to encourage a ritual ordering of time that reflected Israel’s loss of monarchy and its experience of exile in Babylon. In this way, Israel’s ritual observances became a means for establishing an orderly rhythm for the life of the community. While observing these sacred days and seasons, Israel gathered from all the villages of Palestine and from across the roads of the diaspora to remember who they were, to find motivation and direction for continuing their lives of faith, and to orient their lives in the words of scripture and the deeds of God.

Similarly, as we meet together this summer—throughout our Christian Season of Ordinary Time —we intend to learn from these Five Scrolls in order to remember who we are, to find motivation and direction for continuing our lives of faith, and to orient our lives in the words of scripture and the deeds of God.

The Wisdom of Song of Solomon

The Bible’s wisdom books span the conventional wisdom of Proverbs to the evocative wisdom of Song of Songs. Between these two extremes are Ecclesiastes and Job, which invite us into the muddle of every day living that can range from the mundane to the difficult.

Today we find ourselves in a season of life that is demanding wisdom. But what does wise living look like? The books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job, and Song of Songs will help us to explore the diversity of wisdom. More so, the ancient-ness of these books will be an encouraging reminder that, although our experiences in this world feel novel, they are indeed as old as language itself. Lastly, this series intends to draw on these books as a means to encourage careful observation and dynamic responses to our ever-changing world that result in flourishing life.