Category Archives: Summer School

Today, Sept. 5, our Congregation observes Founders Day, marking the day in 1874 when five Benedictine Sisters arrived in Missouri, exchanging the mountains of Switzerland for the rolling hills of northwest Missouri. We remember their stories, passed over the generations.  … Continue reading →

You probably first heard the story of King Solomon and the two prostitutes in childhood.  It is found in 1 Kings 3:16-28, where it is told as an example of King Solomon’s vast wisdom.  Solomon’s wisdom was God’s gift.  All … Continue reading →

The story of Rahab the harlot is told in Joshua 2:1-24.  Joshua sent two spies to reconnoiter the land, especially the fortified city of Jericho.  When the two spies reached Jericho, they went into the house of a harlot named … Continue reading →

The Bible strictly prohibits witchcraft in any form.  In Deut. 18:10-12, we read: Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, … Continue reading →

Not all prophets spoke the truth.  Some prophets were not sent by God, and others spoke in the name of other gods.  They spoke only what the king wanted to hear.  We know such people as politicians.  Ezekiel rails against … Continue reading →

Last week, in an effort to talk about King Jeroboam’s wife, we got up to the “sin of Jeroboam,” the king’s idolatry, which became a paradigm for any great sin committed by anyone.  It is a “mortal sin,” because it … Continue reading →

To get to the very interesting but little known story of King Jeroboam’s wife, we must first consider King Jeroboam and the division of Israel into northern and southern kingdoms.  We will also meet two early usually ignored prophet, Shemaiah … Continue reading →

Not all women are wise and compassionate like the two wise women whom David consulted, or like Deborah and Miriam, who led their nation along the right way.  There’s Jezebel, whose very name we associate with wickedness. She was the … Continue reading →

For all his military skill, King David relied on the advice of wise women at key points throughout his life.  We met the Wise Woman of Tekoa last week.  After that encounter, and after David’s son Absalom again rose up … Continue reading →

We have seen that women served as prophets, along with men, in ancient Israel.  They also served as advisors, whom King David and his chief military commander (and hired thug) Joab consulted.  The first wise woman that we know of … Continue reading →