It is certainly one of my favourite Bible passages, indeed it is many people's favourite Bible chapter. Isaiah 40 is just full of superb phrases and pictures. Whenever it was composed, this chapter really comes to life and sparkles when it is heard as the Judean exiles in Babylon heard, it just before Cyrus the Persian king captured the city. For a better idea of the background watch the Video "Babylon as background to hearing Isaiah 40" (4MB).
More than 5 minutes, so not a podcast for here, but if you want to listen to something longer (like 30 mins plus question time) I've posted this morning's sermon to my blog: Matthew 5:17ff. : How to Read the Old Testament. Taking the "difficult" passage from the sermon on the mount and asking what does it mean to say that Jesus "fulfils" the Old Testament.
The book of Esther tells a terrible story, of attempted genocide averted. Too often Christian readers miss the humour in the story, of course some of it is sex related, and/or poking fun at gender expectations, so perhaps there are reasons for the blindness.
This podcast takes a second look at Babel, with a focus on the structure of the story, and its themes. It includes "homework" for which you should ideally have a photocopy of Genesis 11:1-9 (preferably in a fairly literal translation like NRSV, RSV, TNIV, NIV, ESV...) and some coloured markers or crayons.
Stephen suggested I do a 'cast about the Babel story, so here it is... a first 'cast about Babel. In this one I'll begin with points of view and language. Since this will have to be a series we'll follow up from there later!
