001. Joshua’s Brave Soldiers Conquer the Promised Land

Joshua’s Brave Soldiers Conquer the Promised Land
About 5 minutes, from the book of Joshua

Participants (No need to memorize lines. The aim is to relive key events, not to perform)

Angel of the Lord
Joshua
Caleb
Prompter: Shouts a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Echoes: All who want to take part, adults and children; Echoes need no script.

Joshua	Look, Caleb. It’s the Angel of the Lord!
Angel of the Lord	Be strong and courageous, Joshua! Take the sons of Israel across this Jordan River, and conquer the land that I promised to their fathers.
Prompter & Echoes	Lord, please go with us.
Caleb	Forty years ago, Joshua, Moses sent twelve men to spy out Canaan, the land that God promised to Abraham’s descendants. Only you and I came back with courage to conquer it. The others feared the giant sons of Anak. I can hardly wait to face those giants in battle!
Joshua	Caleb, fear is melting the hearts of the pagan inhabitants. Jericho’s walls are locked tight.
Caleb	Our spies report that Rahab, a harlot, hid them, Joshua, and helped them escape from Jericho at great risk to herself. They told her to hang a scarlet ribbon from a window, so we could spare her family when we wipe out the city.
Joshua	Good, Caleb. Now, Priests, carry the Ark of the Covenant across the river. Do not hesitate because of the flooding.
Caleb	Look! When the priests’ feet touched the water, the flood stopped and the waters are rising up in a heap!
Prompter & Echoes	They cross on dry land!
Joshua	Set up twelve large stones, one for each tribe of Israel, as a memorial of what God did here.
Prompter & Echoes	Look! The Angel of the Lord!
Angel of the Lord	Do not fear. March around Jericho for six days and I’ll give it to you.
Joshua	We do so. Now it’s the seventh day. Blow the trumpets.
Angel of the Lord	The city is yours, but touch no idols of gold or silver.
Prompter & Echoes	Everybody shout!
Caleb	The walls are falling down!
Joshua	Go bring Rahab and her and her family out. Then we’ll burn the city.
Caleb	Joshua, the next city to capture is Ai. It’s small, so only two thousand men need to attack it.
Prompter & Echoes	Careful!
Joshua	Oh no! Our soldiers are returning, defeated! Many died! Oh Lord God, why have you punished your people this way?
Angel of the Lord	Someone took golden idols from Jericho. Have every family pass before you, and I’ll show you the guilty one.
Joshua	Achan of the tribe of Judah had taken idols of silver and gold. God has us stone him to death.
Angel of the Lord	Take all the men now, and capture Ai.
Joshua	Some of you will approach it and then flee as before to draw their soldiers out of the city. The rest of you shall hide in ambush behind the city, and the Lord will deliver it into your hand.
Prompter & Echoes	Victory!
Joshua	Caleb, who are these men who have come with worn-out sacks on their donkeys, moldy bread, and worn-out sandals?
Caleb	They say they came from afar, and want to make a covenant with us to serve us.
Joshua	I agree, but then I find that they deceived us; they’re from Gibeon of Canaan, which we were to conquer.
Caleb	Shall I slaughter them, Joshua?
Joshua	No, Caleb. We swore not to harm them. Let them serve us and hew our lumber.
Joshua	Now we’re fighting the Amorites. Oh Lord, I need more time before dark.
Prompter & Echoes	The sun stands still for a day!
Caleb	Victory! I also defeat the giant sons of Anak at last. Finally we’re at rest, Joshua.
Joshua	Not quite. The Israelites that settled east of the Jordan River have set up a huge altar, but Moses told us all to worship in one place of his choosing.
Caleb	We must battle our own brothers!
Prompter & Echoes	Civil war!
Joshua	I ask them why they turned against the God of Israel, making a separate altar. They say they did not build it to offer sacrifices, but as a testimony of their unity before God with all the tribes.
Prompter & Echoes	We remain in peace!
Joshua	Elders of Israel, I am old and will soon die. Choose today whom you will serve: whether the gods that your fathers have served, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell, but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.
Prompter & Echoes	We will all serve the Lord!

002. Love Draws Ruth, a Pagan Moabitess, to the God of Israel

Love Draws Ruth, a Pagan Moabitess, to the God of Israel

About 5 minutes, from the Book of Ruth

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform
Â Â Â Ruth
Â Â Â Boaz
Â Â Â Prompter Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Â Â Â Echoes Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Naomi	I am Naomi. Famine has driven my family from Bethlehem, and we settle in pagan Moab. My husband dies there, and my sons take Moabite wives, Orphah and Ruth.
Ruth	I am Ruth. Soon another disaster strikes; Naomi’s two sons die also, leaving my sister-in-law Orphah and me as widows.
Prompter & Echoes	Three desolate widows now!
Naomi	Orphah and Ruth, the famine has passed in Bethlehem. I’m going back home.
Ruth	Orphah and I will go with you, Naomi.
Naomi	No, Ruth. Go back, my daughters, to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with my sons and me.
Ruth	We will go with you, Naomi, to your people. Please!
Prompter & Echoes	Don’t send us away!
Naomi	Ruth and Orphah, even if I bore sons, would you wait until they grew up, to marry them? Go back. The Lord’s hand has dealt harshly with me.
Prompter & Echoes	She is bitter!
Ruth	We all weep. Orphah kisses Naomi and starts back to her parents, but I cling to my mother-in-law.
Naomi	Ruth, Orphah has gone back to her people. Go with her.
Ruth	Do not urge me to leave you, Naomi. Where you go I will go, and where you live I will live. Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Where you die, I will die. May the Lord take my life, if anything but death should part us.
Prompter & Echoes	Precious girl!
Naomi	Ruth, we have arrived in Bethlehem, but we have nothing to eat.
Ruth	It’s the beginning of barley harvest, Naomi. I’ll go to the fields and glean grain that the harvesters leave behind.
Prompter & Echoes	Lord, be gracious to her!
Boaz	I am Boaz. I ask my workers, who is the young lady that’s gleaning my field. They say she’s Ruth, from Moab; she has come to Israel with her mother-in law, Naomi. Ruth has been kind to her.
Prompter & Echoes	Very kind!
Boaz	Ruth, my daughter, I am the owner of this field. Do not glean other fields; stay with my reapers. I have told them not to bother you. Eat the food I provide for them.
Ruth	Oh, thank you, kind sir! May God bless you!
Boaz	Dear girl, may the God of Israel reward your kindness, for you have come to seek refuge under his wings.
Ruth	Why have I found favor in your sight? I am just another poor immigrant.
Prompter & Echoes	Destitute alien!
Boaz	Rise, my daughter. No one grovels before me.
Ruth	You are very gracious, sir.
Boaz	Reapers, let this young lady glean where she chooses. Do not rebuke her. Let handfuls fall for her.
Prompter & Echoes	Drop handfuls on purpose!
Naomi	That night I am amazed. Ruth, how’d you glean so much barley?
Ruth	I happened to be in Boaz’ field, and he had mercy on me.
Naomi	Boaz! May God be praised! He is a relative; our Law gives him the right to redeem my late husband’s property, to buy it back, and preserve your dead husband’s inheritance.
Prompter & Echoes	And so he does!
Boaz	Ruth avoids the young reaper’s attentions, and I admire her virtue. After celebrating a good harvest, I take her as my wife. She is precious, and shares my faith in Israel’s God.
Naomi	Ruth bears a son, Obed, who will later bear Jesse, father of King David.
Prompter & Echoes	Ancestors of Jesus!

003. Job Argues with God, and God Answers!

Job Argues with God, and God Answers!
From the Book of Job, about 5 minutes (or 7 minutes if you add the optional supplement)

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform)
Â Â Job Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Joe in the optional supplement)
Â Â Voice (of God)
Â Â SatanÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Â Â Eliphaz Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Eli in the optional supplement)
Â Â Bildad Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Bill in the optional supplement)
Â Â Zophar Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Zorro in the optional supplement)
Â Â Prompter Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Â Â Echoes Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part; Echoes need no script.

Job	My name is Job; I live in ancient Israel. Up in heaven, Satan dares quarrel with the Most Holy One who questions Satan. Listen!
Voice	Have you noticed my servant Job? He is upright and God-fearing.
Satan	Ha! Does Job fear you for nothing? You made a hedge about him and prospered him. Touch all he has, and he will curse you to your face!
Voice.	Â Â All he has is in your power; only do not touch his person.
Prompter & Echoes	Spare Job himself!
Job	I am Job, and it is a beautiful day. Oh, oh! What is wrong? Why is that servant coming, running in such a frenzy? Oh, no! Sabeans stole my oxen and donkeys and slew my servants, and the servant alone escaped!
Prompter & Echoes	Dreadful loss!
Satan	I have just begun, Mr. Job. (Laugh fiendishly)
Job	Here comes another messenger, running. Oh, no! A grass fire has killed my shepherds and sheep! Now another messenger has come gasping! Chaldeans have stolen the camels and slain the servants! What is this? Yet still another? (Groan) A tornado has slain my children while they dined together!
Prompter & Echoes	His children have all died!
Job	I tear my robe, shave my head, fall and worship God. Naked I came from my mother’s womb; naked I shall return. The Lord gave; the Lord takes away. Blessed be his name!
Prompter & Echoes	Now back to heaven.
Voice	Satan, did you notice that my servant Job still holds fast his integrity, even though you incited me to ruin him without cause?
Satan	All a man has he will give for his life, but touch his flesh and he will curse you!
Voice	He is in your power, only spare his life.
Prompter & Echoes	Do not kill him!
Job	Now I am stricken with painful sores from my feet to my scalp. I scrape myself with broken pottery and sit among ashes. My wife goads me, â€œYou still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!â€ I ask her, â€œShould we accept good things from God and not accept adversity?â€
Prompter & Echoes	Such misery!
Satan	I’ll care for you, Job. (Laugh) I’ll send three friends to comfort you.
Eliphaz	I am Eliphaz. I arrive with Bildad and Zophar to console our friend Job. Seeing his plight, we tear our robes and throw dust over our heads.
Job	Oh, my friends! Let the day perish on which I was born! Why all this suffering, Eliphaz? Why?
Eliphaz	Confess your sins, Job, and God will stop punishing you.
Prompter & Echoes	How judgmental!
Job	I yearn to plead my case before God, in heaven’s highest court!
Bildad	Job, I am your friend, Bildad. Listen to me. Who are you to argue with God? How arrogant!
Job	Spare me, Bildad! Let me die! I know that my redeemer lives; someday I will see God.
Zophar	I am your pal, Zophar, Job. Are you so smart? Do not refuse to hear our wisdom!
Job	Oh, please, Zophar! Have mercy!
Prompter & Echoes	Day after day this goes on.
Prompter & Echoes	Blah, blah, blah!
Job	Please stop buffeting me with your words!
Voice	Who is this that obscures my guidance, multiplying empty words? Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, my wrath burns against you. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
Job	The Lord rebukes me also, for thinking I knew so much. I fall on my face. O God, I am nothing! I take it all back. I repent in dust and ashes.
Voice	Job, go offer burnt offerings for your friends, and pray for them.
Job	God heals me and restores everything, even better than before.
Prompter & Echoes	Praise the Almighty!
SUPPLEMENT: A modern Job (Optional)
Joe (formerly Job)	My name is now Joe, instead of Job. Eliphaz is now Eli, Bildad is now Bill, and Zophar is now Zorro. (If women do these parts, then use feminine names Joan, Ellie, Bianca, and Zoe.)
Eli (formerly Eliphaz)	Joe, listen to me, your friend Eli. You never really repented from your sin, so God does not hear your prayers.
Bill (formerly Bildad)	Hear my advice, Joe; I am your pal Bill. Your faith is weak, and your doctrine is deficient. My online theology deals with all this.
Zorro (formerly Zophar)	Listen, Joe, I am your friend Zorro. You don’t pray enough! Give it more time, at least two hours a day, with fasting; then God will heal your cancer. Here is a list of the proper postures and wording for prayer.
Joe	Zorro, you just erased the most precious prayers in Scripture! They are too short for you! Friends, your nagging pains me more than my illness.
Bill	Then repent of your sin, and your pain will cease, Joe.
Joe	Jesus and his apostles taught that believers would suffer, but our suffering, especially if it's for Christ, does not compare with the joy we'll have throughout eternity. Scripture says God’s children are to count it joy when we suffer for him.
Prompter & Echoes	A privilege to suffer!

004. David Faces Peril with Faith and Courage

From 1 Samuel 16-17, about 5 minutes

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is not to perform but to relive sacred events)

Samuel
David
Voice (of God)
Goliath
Prompter: Shouts a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Echoes: Children and adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Voice	Samuel, I have rejected Saul from being king over Israel. He has disobeyed my commands. Take the anointing oil and go to Jesse in Bethlehem; I have chosen a king from among his sons.
Samuel	I go as God said, and invite Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice. Here they come. Oh, here is Eliab, tall and handsome.
Prompter & Echoes	Surely he is the one!
Voice	No, Samuel. I reject Eliab. Man sees the outward appearance, but I see the heart.
Samuel	Jesse has seven of his sons pass before me, but God chooses none of them.
Prompter & Echoes	Why not?
Samuel	I ask Jesse if these are all of his sons, and he reluctantly sends for his youngest, David, who is tending the sheep.
David	What do you want, father? I must get back to the flock; I heard a wolf howling this morning.
Voice	Samuel, this is he. Anoint David. He will someday be king of Israel.
Samuel	Soon after, the Philistine army invades and camps in the valley of Elah. A giant, Goliath, comes out from their army; he is wearing armor, has a sword at his side, and carries a huge spear.
Prompter & Echoes	He is fearsome!
Samuel	The soldiers of Israel watch in awe.
Voice	Listen to the giant taunt.
Goliath	(Shout) Men of Israel! Choose your champion and send him out to fight. If he kills me, we will serve you. If I slay him, you will serve us. I defy the ranks of Israel this day; give me a man to fight! Who will come fight me?
Prompter & Echoes	A dreadful challenge!
Samuel	Meanwhile, Jesse gives David bread to take to his brothers who are now serving in King Saul’s army. Eliab, the oldest, scolds David for coming to watch the battle.
David	Oh no, Eliab! Our father sent this bread to you and your brothers. Tell me, why do our soldiers fear that proud pagan Philistine? I will go to King Saul and offer to go down and fight him.
Prompter & Echoes	But you’re just a boy!
Samuel	Saul tells David that he is too young and inexperienced and that Goliath has been a warrior since his youth.
David	King Saul, your servant killed a lion and a bear that took lambs from my father’s flock. I will do the same to this Philistine, since he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord delivered me from the lion and the bear, and he will do the same now.
Prompter & Echoes	Courageous faith!
Samuel	Saul puts his armor on David, but it’s too heavy, and he takes it off. David chooses five smooth stones from a brook. Now he faces the giant, carrying only a stick and a sling, the kind that one swings in circles.
Goliath	(Laugh) Am I a dog that you come to me with sticks? Ha! I curse you by my gods. Come and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky.
David	You come to me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, whom you have ridiculed.
Samuel	David runs to meet the giant. He whirls the sling. He releases the stone. It is flying through the air!
Prompter & Echoes	Wham!
Samuel	It strikes the Philistine’s forehead.
Prompter & Echoes	The giant falls!
Samuel	David runs, grabs the Philistine’s sword and severs his head. The Philistine soldiers see their champion fall, and they flee.
Prompter & Echoes	God delivers us!

005. Elijah defeats Baal’s prophets on Mt. Carmel

Elijah defeats Baal’s prophets on Mt. Carmel

This brief drama shows how Elijah overcomes stress and loneliness to serve God.
About 5 minutes, from 1Â Kings 18-19

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform)
Â Â Elijah
Â Â Ahab
Â Â Jezebel
Â Â Prompter Â Â Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and echoes repeat it.
Â Â EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Ahab	How dare that rebel prophet Elijah defy me? I am Ahab, King of Israel! Queen Jezebel, what shall I do?
Jezebel	Send your servants to go kill Elijah, Ahab!
Prompter and Echoes	How wicked!
Jezebel	Elijah has angered Baal and our other gods; he attacks our idols! Elijah has brought on this drought. You must find him!
Elijah	There is no need to search for me, King Ahab. I have come to you. You have turned all Israel away from God, and have caused this drought and famine.
Prompter and Echoes	Idols fill the land!
Elijah	Let us have a contest to see who worships the true God. Bring to Mount Carmel all of Baal’s prophets.
Ahab	Very well! I will gather all Israel to watch the fun.
Jezebel	Ha! Elijah, you alone are left among Jehovah’s prophets, and Baal’s prophets number 450! You are a fool!
Prompter & Echoes	Hateful queen!
Ahab	Now, all Israel has gathered on Mount Carmel. Let the contest begin, Elijah.
Elijah	(Shout) Hear me, people of Israel! If the Lord is God, then follow him; if Baal is God, then follow him. Both the prophets of Baal and I will cut up an ox and lay it on an altar as a burnt offering. The God who answers by fire, he is God.
Ahab	Look! Baal’s priests have slain their ox and lain it on the altar. Watch them leap, scream, and cut themselves, begging Baal to answer by fire. They keep shouting â€œBaal, hear us!â€
Jezebel	Cry louder!
Prompter & Echoes	Hear them scream!
Elijah	Yes, call louder! Maybe Baal is busy, or on a journey, or napping.
Prompter & Echoes	The heavens remain silent.
Ahab	Look. Elijah all alone is repairing the altar.
Elijah	Pour water on the offering and the wood.
Prompter & Echoes	Lots of water!
Elijah	Now do it again!
Prompter & Echoes	The offering is drenched!
Elijah	Now come to me, all of you, and I will pray. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, let this people know that you are God.
Jezebel	Oh, help! Fire is falling! It consumed the ox and the wood! It has licked up the water!
Ahab	Well, now! Servants, seize Baal’s lying prophets. Let Elijah slay them!
Elijah	King Ahab, I hear the roar of heavy rain; the drought is over.
Jezebel	Elijah, you have slain Baal’s prophets who have dined at my table. I swear to the gods, I will kill you!
Prompter & Echoes	Elijah is in trouble!
Elijah	Jezebel’s threat makes me panic, and I flee. I run for days. I leave my servant in Beersheba, and I go out alone way into the desert. Fear, fatigue and loneliness now overcome me.
Prompter & Echoes	It’s your own fault!
Elijah	Dear God, Israel has forsaken you; only I still serve you.â€
Prompter & Echoes	You’re not alone, Elijah. 5,000 faithful Israelites have not bowed the need to Baal.
Prompter & Echoes	5,000!
Elijah	The Lord scolds me for my foolish fear, pride and pouting. I was stupid to leave my servant behind, and go on alone. Frustration, fatigue and foolishness brought on my aching loneliness.
Prompter & Echoes	God has the remedy.
Elijah	The Lord sends me to work with people again. He assures me that he has always been with me. Now I know that I have never been alone!
Prompter & Echoes	Never alone!

006. Jonah’s Journey

Jonah’s Journey
About 5 minutes, from the Book of Jonah

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform)
Â Â Jonah
Â Â Ninevite
Â Â Prompter Â Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Â Â EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Jonah	(Walk, limping and groaning, toward Ninevite) Hello, friend. Tell me, please, which way is Nineveh?
Ninevite	Nineveh! Hey, man, you don’t want to go there! They’re really wicked! I know, because I’m also a Ninevite. What’s your name?
Jonah	I’m Jonah. You’re right; I don’t want to go to Nineveh, but the alternative is a bit worse.
Ninevite	Well, if you must go, there are the Ninevites! (Point)
Jonah	Yeah, they do look really bad! I see why the Almighty sent me to scold them.
Ninevite	Just hear them clamor!
Prompter & Echoes	More whiskey!
Ninevite	Oooo! What an odor! You are reeking of fish, Jonah! Ugh! You stink! Where have you been?
Jonah	If I told you, you’d not believe me.
Ninevite	Well, of course I would believe you; it’s obvious that you’ve been somewhere weird! You smell as if you swallowed a live fish!
Jonah	Well, it was sort of the other way around. I… No, you’d never believe me!
Ninevite	Of course I will believe you, Jonah.
Jonah	Okay. I was sailing to Tarshish, fleeing from where God had told me to go, to avoid declaring God’s punishment to Nineveh. Halfway across the sea, the Almighty sent a storm.
Prompter & Echoes	A violent storm!
Jonah	The boat was about to sink and I told the crew that it was my fault. They threw me overboard!
Prompter & Echoes	He’ll drown!
Ninevite	So how did you survive?
Jonah	God prepared a very big fish. It swallowed me, and God kept me alive. On the third day it puked me up on a beach.
Ninevite	Go on! Get out of here! (Raise your fist.)
Jonah	Goodbye, sir. Well, here is the city of Nineveh. Hear me, all you Ninevites! In forty days Almighty God will destroy you and your wicked city!
Prompter & Echoes	God’s judgment is fearful!
Jonah	Now I am sitting on a hill, waiting to watch the fire fall from heaven.
Ninevite	`But us Ninevites repent! We turn from sin to God, and cry out to him.
Prompter & Echoes	Mercy!
Jonah	There is more to my story, but that’s enough.
Prompter & Echoes	He’s ashamed to finish it!
Ninevite	I’ll tell the rest of your story, Jonah. You sit on a hill overlooking Nineveh, waiting to see the fire fall on us. But we repent; even our King puts on sackcloth. God does not destroy us as you had predicted, so you pout!
Jonah	And why not? I ask God to take my life.
Ninevite	However, God has a plant grow and shield you from the hot sun.
Jonah	Yes, but a worm attacks it, and I lose my shade.
Prompter & Echoes	Now Jonah’s really sore!
Ninevite	What’s wrong with you, Jonah? You cared more for a plant than for the lives of thousands of people!
Jonah	That was true. God asked me, â€œShould I not have compassion on Nineveh, with its more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand?â€
Prompter & Echoes	Thank you, God, for mercy!

007. Brave Queen Esther Saves her People from Genocide

zBrave Queen Esther Saves her People from Genocide
About 5 minutes, from the Book of Esther

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform)
Â Â Mordecai
Â Â King
Â Â Esther
Â Â Haman
Â Â PrompterÂ Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Â Â EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Mordecai	Captain of the Guard!
Prompter & Echoes	Come quickly!
Mordecai	Captain, I overheard a plot to slay king Ahasuerus. Sir, even though we Jews are here in exile, we respect and obey the king that God has put over us.
Prompter & Echoes	We are loyal!
Mordecai	The captain promises to enter my report in the royal record.
Haman	Hey! You there, Mordecai, bow before me, you filthy Jew! I am Haman, the king’s Chief-of-Staff. Bow, I say!
Mordecai	With all respect, Master Haman, God’s people bow only to him.
Haman	Oh really! I’ll tell the king how you seditious Jews rebel against us. Then I will hang every last Jew in the kingdom on a gallows! (Laugh fiendishly. Then go to Esther and reach for her.) Hi, beautiful!
Esther	(Slap Haman’s hand) Don’t touch me!
Mordecai	Esther, my niece, listen to me. You are my daughter now that your father has died. Now the king is furious with his insubordinate wife, Vashti, He’s holding a beauty pageant to choose another queen. You’ll win it!
Esther	I’m no beauty queen, uncle Mordecai, and I’ve nothing to wear!
Prompter & Echoes	We will fix you up!
Mordecai	We prepare Esther. We pray, and she is now our queen!
Prompter & Echoes	Beautiful Queen Esther!
Mordecai	Meanwhile, sneaky Haman works out his evil plot. ` Â Listen to him lie.
Haman	Long live the King! A rebellious people are plotting to destroy you, O King! You must make a decree to exterminate them all.
King	Well done, Haman. Write the decree and I will seal it; the law of the Medes and Persians cannot be broken.
Mordecai	Haman gleefully builds a very high gallows to hang all Jews. He alerts all the land to slay us on the appointed day.
Prompter & Echoes	Destined to die!
Mordecai	Esther, you must intercede for us. For this purpose God put you in the court at this time.
Esther	But anyone entering the king’s presence unbidden is slain at once!
Mordecai	After much prayer, brave Queen Esther takes the risk.
Prompter & Echoes	Courageous girl!
King	Hey! I hear someone coming unbidden. Captain of the guard! Bring swords! No, wait! It’s Queen Esther!
Esther	(Approach King and bow.) If I’ve found favor in the king’s sight, accept my invitation to a banquet for you and Haman.
Prompter & Echoes	A private banquet!
Haman	Now see how high my gallows are for those rebel Jews! Ha! How important I am! Even Queen Esther invited me to a banquet just for me and the king.
Mordecai	The king cannot sleep that night, and reads the royal records.
King	Haman! I read that Mordecai averted a seditious conspiracy. Put my royal robe on him, and put him on my horse. Lead him through the city! Shout that he’s the man that the king honors.
Haman	But, my Lord, Mordecai is a Jew!
King	Do as I say, Haman! Be back in time for Esther’s banquet.
Esther	That evening, I host the King and Haman.
King	Queen Esther, I’ll grant your petition, even to half of my kingdom.
Esther	O king, if I’ve found favor in your sight, please rescue my people.
Prompter & Echoes	Spare our lives!
King	(Shout) What? What did you say?
Esther	We’ve been sold, my Lord. My people are to be annihilated. If we’d just been sold as slaves, I wouldn’t have bothered your Majesty.
King	Who dares to do such a wicked thing? Tell me!
Esther	A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!
Haman	(Back away) No! It’s a mistake. A mistake, I say!
King	Esther, who built those high gallows out there?
Esther	This man Haman built them to hang all of us Jews.
King	Captain, let the Jews defend themselves, and hang Haman on his own gallows!
Prompter & Echoes	God brings justice!

008. God Rescues Daniel and his Friends from Ruthless Pagan Tyrants

God Rescues Daniel and his Friends from Ruthless Pagan Tyrants
About 8 minutes, from the Book of Daniel

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform)
Â Â Daniel
Â Â Shadrach
Â Â Nebuchadnezzar
Â Â PrompterÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shouts brief phrases, and Echoes repeat them.
Â Â EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Nebuchadnezzar	I am Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia far to the east of Israel. Daniel, I chose you four young Jewish captives to serve me because you’ve proven to be wise and practical. You refused my rich food and ate healthy vegetables instead. I wish my sorcerers had the same common sense.
Daniel	We are here to serve you, O King!
Shadrach	I am Shadrach, Daniel’s companion. Nebuchadnezzar is angry. Listen to him.
Nebuchadnezzar	I had a dream and I am anxious to know its meaning. I told my sorcerers to tell me the dream before giving its interpretation since they claim to hear their gods’ voices. They could not do it; their claim is a lie, so I plan to slay them.
Prompter & Echoes	How ruthless!
Daniel	O King, let us pray to the God of heaven about this mystery, so that we your counselors shall not be destroyed.
Prompter & Echoes	Time for serious prayer!
Nebuchadnezzar	Daniel, I have given you time as you requested. Can you interpret my dream?
Daniel	Yes, O king. You saw an enormous and fearsome statue; its head was gold, its arms silver, its body bronze, its legs iron, and its feet iron and clay mixed.
Prompter & Echoes	Wow!
Daniel	A stone cut out without hands came rolling and struck the statue’s feet of iron and clay. The statue became as chaff carried away in the wind, but the stone grew and filled the earth!
Nebuchadnezzar	That is what I dreamt, Daniel, but what does it mean?
Daniel	You, O King Nebuchadnezzar, are the head of gold. The God of heaven has given you power to rule over all. After you will arise an inferior kingdom, then a third kingdom of bronze that will rule all nations, and then a fourth kingdom of iron that will crush other kingdoms. The toes of clay and iron mixed will be a divided kingdom, partly strong and partly brittle.
Nebuchadnezzar	And the stone that smashes the statue?
Daniel	It is the eternal kingdom of God.
Nebuchadnezzar	Your God reveals mysteries! He is over all gods. You, Daniel, will serve in my highest court.
Prompter & Echoes	Rescued!
Shadrach	We have a problem, Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar has grown proud; he set up that huge golden statue for everyone to worship. Anyone who does not fall before it when the music plays will be thrown into a huge furnace.
Prompter & Echoes	Now the music plays!
Shadrach	We three companions of Daniel refuse to worship an idol, and the king flies into a violent rage.
Nebuchadnezzar	Heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual! Tie up these rebels and throw them into the flames!
Prompter & Echoes	They will burn to death!
Nebuchadnezzar	Oh! What is this? What is happening? Were not three men thrown in the fire? I see four walking in the fire without harm, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!
Prompter & Echoes	Come out of the fire!
Shadrach	This has changed things for us, Daniel! Nebuchadnezzar decreed that anyone speaking against our God will be torn limb from limb, as no other God delivers in such a way.
Daniel	Unfortunately, king Nebuchadnezzar again grows arrogant, and God drives him away from men, to be with the beasts of the field and eat grass until he repents.
Nebuchadnezzar	O God in heaven, you have rightly punished me. I was foolish! Ah! My reason has returned; I am restored to my kingdom.
Prompter & Echoes	God humbles the proud!
Daniel	Now Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, has become King; he is holding a great feast, using the gold vessels that his father looted from God’s temple in Jerusalem. He and his concubines are drinking from them, mocking Israel’s holy God.
Prompter & Echoes	Look! A hand is writing on the wall!
Shadrach	Belshazzar sees the hand and grows pale. His wise men cannot interpret the writing, and he is painfully perplexed, Daniel.
Daniel	O King, our God has given me the meaning of the writing: you have been weighed on the scales and found lacking; your kingdom has been given to the Medes and Persians.
Prompter & Echoes	That night the king is slain!
Shadrach	The conqueror, Darius the Mede, receives the kingdom. Daniel distinguishes himself among the new commissioners. They envy him and set a trap in order to kill him. They get the king to decree that anyone praying to any god besides the king for 40 days will be fed to the lions.
Daniel	We must not obey such a godless decree, Shadrach. I will keep praying on the roof three times a day in plain sight.
Prompter & Echoes	Lord, hear his prayers!
Shadrach	Enemies tell the king that Daniel is defying his edict. Since the law of the Medes and Persians cannot be revoked; the king is forced against his will to throw Daniel to the lions. The sorrowful king hopes that Daniel’s God will save him. At dawn the king rises and rushes to the lion’s den.
Daniel	O King, live forever! My God sent his angel to shut the lion’s mouths.
Prompter & Echoes	The lions go hungry!
Shadrach	The king orders Daniel’s accusers to be thrown to the lions, and they overpower the evil men before they hit the floor.
Daniel	From that time on, king Darius praises God, and protects God’s people.
Shadrach	Daniel again foretells details about future kingdoms, and predicts when the Messiah would be cut off on behalf of others.
Prompter & Echoes	God keeps his word!

009. Isaiah and other Prophets Warn and Console God’ s People

Isaiah and otherÂ Prophets Warn and Console God’s People

About 5 minutes, from portions of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform)
Â Â BaruchÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Pronounced bar-ook)
Â Â Isaiah
Â Â Jeremiah
Â Â PrompterÂ Â Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line and Echoes repeat it.
Â Â EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Baruch	My name is Baruch. I am the prophet Jeremiah’s secretary. Come with me now back to the grim times of the Hebrew prophets. Dark clouds of oppression gather around Judah, especially to the East. Babylonia, Syria and Moab are all threatening us.
Prompter & Echoes	600 years before Christ.
Baruch	Oh! Here is the prophet Isaiah. Tell us, please, how God commissioned you to warn and console Judah’s people.
Isaiah	In King Uzziah’ final year, I see the Lord high and exalted on a throne; the train of His robe fills the temple. Winged seraphim cry out, â€œHoly, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the earth is full of His glory.â€ The foundations tremble, the temple fills with smoke, and I cry out.
Prompter & Echoes	Woe is me!
Isaiah	I am ruined! I have unclean lips, and I have seen the Lord of hosts. One of the seraphim flies to me; he touches my lips with a burning coal! He says, â€œYour iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.â€ The Lord calls â€œWhom shall I send, and who will go for us?â€ I reply, â€œHere am I.â€
Prompter & Echoes	Send me!
Isaiah	The Lord sends me to warn both Judah and the pagan nations around her that He will punish their wickedness and idolatry severely.
Baruch	How fearful!
Isaiah	There is a brighter side. The God of the whole earth will send a Messiah, a descendent of David, born of a virgin, whose name will be Immanuel, meaning God with us. He will establish God’s kingdom, and make Jerusalem a truly holy city. The word Messiah, or Christ in Greek, means an anointed King. He will come to His people.
Baruch	I will read what you prophesied about Him. â€œHe bore our griefs and our sorrows; He was pierced for our crimes; our punishment fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Like a lamb led to slaughter, and a sheep that is silent before its shearers, He did not open His mouth.â€
Prompter & Echoes	Lamb of God!
Baruch	Isaiah, God has shown you things far in the future.
Isaiah	Yes, He told me, â€œLook, I create new heavens and a new earth; the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.â€
Baruch	We move on in time. Those dark clouds of oppression are now closer; God’s prophets repeatedly warn the people to repent, or be punished. Let us meet another of those holy seers.
Jeremiah	I am Jeremiah. The Holy One tells me, â€œI put My words in your mouth.â€ His words are harsh; he condemns Judah for their sins and faithlessness.
Prompter & Echoes	And Jeremiah weeps!
Baruch	I have been recording your prophecies on this scroll, Jeremiah. You warn that the Babylonians would capture Judah. Our King Jehoiakim knows about it, and demands a copy of that scroll.
Jeremiah	When his scribe reads a few columns, the King cuts them with a knife, and throws them into the fire, until it consumes the whole scroll.
Prompter & Echoes	Oh no!
Jeremiah	But God tells me to repeat those prophecies, Baruch. Write them again.
Baruch	Jeremiah suffers many abuses; adversaries throw him into a pit of miry clay. Those dark clouds of oppression are moving closer and closer. Jeremiah, soon King Nebuchadnezzar will capture our land and carry its inhabitants to Babylon.
Jeremiah	Yes. Everyone is selling their land for whatever they can get for it, because it will soon be taken by the invaders. However, I had prophesied that God would one day bring his people back, so I bought a field for 17 shekels of silver and preserved its deed in an earthen jar, to show that I am confident that God will someday bring us back t o our land; my descendants will then own that field.
Baruch	Ezekiel warns and consoles. He sees God’s shining glory leave the temple, rise over Jerusalem, and finally, sadly, go out of sight. Ezekiel also sees a valley of dry bones; they come together, take on flesh and live.
Prompter & Echoes	New life!
Baruch	Ezekiel also sees a vision of Messiah entering a New Jerusalem, but those dark clouds of oppression are now sweeping over Judah. Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians, and they march us 1000 miles away in chains; children die along the way.
Prompter & Echoes	How painfully sad!
Baruch	Pagan soldiers make us sing for their entertainment. They do not know what we are singing in Hebrew, or they would run us through with their swords. We are singing about bashing their children against the rocks!
Prompter & Echoes	How terrible!
Baruch	Yes, it is terrible. We Jews are captives in a pagan land for 70 years. Then God brings His repentant people back, and we will never again worship idols. Things are not yet perfect; there still is war and oppression.
Prompter & Echoes	Come, blessed Messiah, come!

010. God’s People Rebuild Jerusalem after Painful Exile

God’s People Rebuild Jerusalem after Painful Exile
About 8 minutes, from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform)
Â Â Nehemiah
Â Â Hanani
Â Â Sanballat
Â Â PrompterÂ Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Â Â EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Hanani	Nehemiah, I am Hanani. I’ve come to Babylon with good news and bad from IsraelEzra the priest arrived safely in Jerusalem. He brought back the priceless gold and silver items that the Chaldeans had looted from Solomon’s Temple 70 years ago.
Nehemiah	It was a miracle that Ezra made it to Jerusalem safely. He was ashamed to request troops for protection; he had told King Cyrus that God would protect them.
Hanani	King Cyrus gave up a vast treasure, Nehemiah.
Prompter & Echoes	That was also miracle!
Hanani	The Jewish people cheered to see God’s temple rebuilt, but the old folk who recalled the first temple wept, as the new temple does not compare with the first one’s splendor.
Prompter & Echoes	And the bad news?
Hanani	Jerusalem’s walls remain broken down, and the Jews who escaped captivity are in great distress; they lack protection, and their enemies are powerful.
Prompter & Echoes	How sad!
Hanani	Stop weeping, Nehemiah. You can do something about it. You are the Persian king’s cupbearer; ask him to help us.
Nehemiah	First, let me pray to the Holy One. O Lord God of heaven, I plead on behalf of the sons of Israel. We have sinned greatly. We beg for your mercy! We have acted corruptly and broken your laws.
Prompter & Echoes	Repentant confession!
Nehemiah	Almighty God, you warned us that if your people became unfaithful you would scatter us among the gentiles. You also told us that if we returned to you and kept your commands you would restore us to where your name dwells.
Prompter & Echoes	Amen!
Hanani	Nehemiah, Have you asked King Artaxerxes to help us?
Nehemiah	Yes, Hanani. He asked why I came before him looking so sad; I was very afraid and asked, â€œHow can I not be sad when the city of my fathers' tombs lies desolate, and its gates have been consumed by fire?â€
Prompter & Echoes	Devastation!
Nehemiah	The king then asked what my request was. I prayed quickly to the God of heaven.
Hanani	Now, months later, God has answered your prayer, Nehemiah. The king let you return to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem. Here we are!
Nehemiah	Look Hanani! Jerusalem’s walls are flattened! Let us rebuild them at once.
Hanani	Yes, but Sanballat and Tobiah will oppose us; they are powerful men.
Nehemiah	So, I’ll go at night on my mule around the city of Jerusalem, to survey exactly what needs to be done.
Sanballat	I am Sanballat. That fool Nehemiah plans to rebuild the city. We will stop him, Tobiah! Spread a rumor that he is stirring rebellion against King Cyrus.
Prompter & Echoes	Treachery!
Nehemiah	Men of Israel, Jerusalem is desolate. Each clan will rebuild a segment of the wall near where they live. I will assign tasks according to your skills.
Sanballat	Tobiah, we must halt the Jews’ work! Leaders of Samaria, listen. These feeble Jews hope to restore the city and live in it. We will attack them.
Prompter & Echoes	Look out!
Hanani	Nehemiah, the wall is halfway up; the people have a mind to work, but Sanballat has stirred up our enemies; they plan to attack us.
Nehemiah	We will pray to our God, Hanani, and set up guards day and night. Men, fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, and your wives.
Hanani	Look, Nehemiah. The men carry burdens in one hand and a weapon in the other. Sanballat sent word that they’re coming to kill us and that we had better hide in the temple with the doors locked.
Nehemiah	That’s what Sanballat wants us to do, Hanani, cage ourselves up! God will fight for us if we obey His commands. Have Ezra the priest read and explain God’s Law to the entire assembly, men, women, and children who can understand.
Prompter & Echoes	Amen!
Hanani	An exchange of letters proves that we do not rebel against the king. Look now, Nehemiah. The people all stand while Ezra reads the Book of the Law. He blesses them, and they bow to the ground before God.
Nehemiah	Listen, all of you. This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not weep. God has forgiven us. Let there be rejoicing! We will celebrate with a feast for seven days, and Ezra will read from God’s Law each day.
Hanani	God is protecting us, Nehemiah! Our enemies fear to attack.
Sanballat	Those cursed Jews! They’ve built their defenses. They have defeated me!
Nehemiah	Let us now dedicate the finished wall of Jerusalem. Bring everyone from all the towns to celebrate with thanksgiving, gladness and songs accompanied by cymbals, harps and stringed instruments.
Hanani	Nehemiah, for the first time in our history, we have all finally turned away totally and forever from idols. That is because God punished our idolatry by letting cruel idolaters hold us captive for70 years. Now God lets us dwell peacefully in our own cities.
Prompter & Echoes	Hallelujah!