When I was a teen I once had to do a report on a book on the Bible. This was not easy for me to do. There were so many to choose from and there were some books I knew little about. Paging through the Bible, I found a book that was only four chapters long. It was perfect, I thought. It was short and easy, a comprehensible story. It was the Book of Ruth.
The book is a short story about a woman from Bethlehem(!) named Naomi who has a daughter-in-law named Ruth. Tragedy befalls them. They are both husbandless in a land where there is a famine. They travel to Bethlehem, where they encounter a wealthy landowner named Boaz. Through acting out of principle as well as shrewdness, there is a happy ending for Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. When things are seemingly at their worst, God provides for Ruth and Naomi.
What I didn’t know then that I have since learned, was that though the Book of Ruth is a small book, it packs a big punch. On the surface it appears to be a simple story that you can read in 13 minutes. But below the surface are a number of significant and timeless themes.
Themes in Ruth*:
+Commitment and Loyalty. When times get tough it is tempting for many to shed ties that encumber them. Ruth stuck with Naomi even though she legally had every right to leave her and fend for herself. Loyalty is a noble virtue, and we see it in Ruth. There is a connection between family and loyalty that the book of Ruth makes for us.
+How God Acts. Ruth is one of those unique books where God does not speak or act directly in the narrative. Instead, God is perceived in ways similar to our time – the work of his hand is discerned in times of blessing, coming in unexpected and even unique circumstances. God works through those who act out of faithful righteousness.
+The Role of the Foreigner. Most all of us interact with foreigners where we live and work. How does a faithful person see the role of foreigner in his or her own life? In the Old Testament, foreigners are usually bad news and to be avoided. Foreigners don’t believe and act as the Israelites do, so the Israelites steer clear of foreigners, they are commonly enemies. But there are a few instances where a foreigner arrives as a blessing to the person, family, community or nation. Ruth is one such example.
+The Spirit of the Law. There are all sorts of laws in the Old Testament, and in Ruth they play a role in the plot. Leviticus and Deuteronomy have laws that come into play in Ruth, about marriage, relations in the extended family, harvesting, and care for the poor. In Ruth we see how the Israelites observed the spirit of the law, not necessarily following it “down to the letter”. The New Testament follows this line of thought, including Second Corinthians Chapter 3 our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Other Facts about Ruth:
Ruth is the 8th book in the Bible
Ruth has 4 chapters consisting of 85 verses.
Ruth is one of two books named after women. Can you name the other one?
Ruth takes place in the Old Testament time of the Judges, in and around 1200 BC.
Ruth is traditionally believed to have been written by the prophet Samuel. Today scholars are convinced it was written later, perhaps around 1000 BC.
Do not underestimate Ruth by its size. Often times the best gifts come in the smallest packages, and that’s the case here.
We are going to dig into the Book of Ruth with a sermon series beginning January 8th.
I encourage you to take a moment and read Ruth. It is a good story and will help you get the most out of worship as we examine the story a little at a time each week. Ruth gives us insight about how we understand God and one-another.
Our New Year’s Resolution: To not be Ruthless!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jason Talsness
*Outlined by Dr. Diane Jacobson of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Mn in www.enterthebible.org. See this site for more information about the Book of Ruth.
Posted January 2, 2012 by Amazing Grace Lutheran Church | Pastors Corner | Permalink |
