Chaos is a common theme in the world today. Evolution demands that we believe in it and consumerism ensures we stay addicted to it. The book of Job tells of the chaos which came to characterize that poor saint’s life. He lost everything: his wealth, his security, his family, and even the love of those he loved most. According to the common bystander, Job had no reason to continue living. Mark another victim up to random chaos.

Yet, the Bible tells us otherwise. While the world looks upon Job as a pathetic victim of the fates, the LORD sees things differently. God says, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8) That was God’s assessment of Job at the outset and it did not waver just because his circumstances changed.

As Job’s story progresses we have the privilege of observing his unshakable faith. If you read with care and put yourself into those painful shoes, you can’t help but wonder where he gets his courage from. Job knows: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

I observe something intriguing in the book of Job. Throughout the conversation, the argument between Job and his three friends centers upon the issue of Theodicy, as well as Job’s uprightness. But when Elihu enters the dialogue the theme starts to change. The talk turns away from man and his problems to the immensity of God. Eventually, Almighty God himself himself enters the conversation and confirms this line of thinking.

Too often we take a small view of life. We see the immensity of sin and the evil attending it and think it to be an all consuming problem. Not so. Sin is an ethical problem for man, not a metaphysical problem for God. The first chapter of Job shows that handily. Satan may be the prince of the air, but never forget; providence is the queen and governess of this world. Learn to resist him and adore her.

God is all powerful and all things work toward His all perfect plan. It is upon this basis we know that all will work for the good of them that love God. It is upon this basis that the godly can be joyful. It is upon that basis that we can break the addiction to despair and chaos that ensnares so many today. Your God is big, be bold in Him. “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2

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Bible Reading:1 Kings 8: 62-66

(Proverbs 2:1-8; Mark 2.1-12)

Ruth 4:13-22

The marriage was consummated and the resulting child was one more step toward the eternal consummation of God’s plan for the universe in Christ Jesus. This plan is one that will not be stopped. All world events advance it, be they wicked or blessed. All things bring us a chapter forward in God’s redemptive narrative.

The story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz is one with a very happy ending. Naomi has a grandson, Boaz and Ruth a loving marriage, and Bethlehem has another child. The women of the Bethlehem sing the glad tidings, “A son has been born to Naomi.” Years later a far more glorious choir will visit Bethlehem to sing these good tidings, “For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “

Yes, the little child Obed is truly the central character in the book of Ruth, for he is the fulfillment of the longing of Naomi. He is the outcome of the redemption which Boaz brought about. And he is the result the faith and faithfulness of Ruth. Yet even Obed points forward to a greater central character – Jesus Christ. For it is that child, the son of both God and men, who is the ultimate basis of our greatest longing. He has provided our truest redemption. He, and no other, is the object of our dearest faith and faithfulness.

Bible Reading:Hebrews 13: 10-16

The life of service is the only reasonable life a Christian can lead. God asks for all our best, all the time. Sacrifice is not only the ground of our redemption, but it is the basis of our practice and life. Sacrifice is more than an isolated act; it is an all encompassing life principle. Sacrifice is worship.

(Proverbs 1.20-33; Mark 1.40-45)

Ruth 4: 1-12

Redemption is serious business. It is not an affair that belongs to backroom deals and good intentions. It is public, legal, and forever binding. If this is true in the case of Elimelech’s estate, how much more so is it in the case of our own souls.

There are some who wish to do away with a legal, propitiatory, expiatory, atoning redemption. It is said that all these adjectives are far too technical. It is said we should not bind God’s love up in so much verbiage. It is said that we risk ruining our spiritual and devotional experience with all this cold theology. Christians, have none of it.

Ruth is a great narrative, with loads of practical advice and spiritual encouragement, but never forget this fact: The chief end of the whole Old Testament is the work of the messiah. And the great aim of all this literature is to help us understand the significance of Christ for our salvation.

Boaz redeemed Naomi and Ruth; they were lost and hopeless beggars without him. He bought back the estate of Elimelech; it was an overgrown, out of control, unproductive patch of dirt without him. Redemption was costly for Boaz, as was it for God. It cost Him His very Son. And the result of this redemption is that it saved our souls as much as the Redemption of Boaz saved the livelihoods of Naomi and Ruth.

Christ’s redemption gives a home and hope to those who are lost and hopeless. He has bought us back and is tearing the brambles of sin from our life, making us productive and fruitful. Moreover, he has made us his own, and given us his righteous name so that we might share in His full inheritance and blessing.

This is the meaning of a legal, propitiatory, expiatory, atoning redemption. There is no cold theology here. There is nothing that squelches a heart full of faith and love. No, it is exactly the opposite. This is the only redemption that can bring true comfort, lasting peace, and sure confidence to every aspect of life.

Bible Reading:Leviticus 16:1-22

Blood Shed=Sin Forgiven. Now Clear.

(Proverbs 1.1-19; Mark 1.29-39)Ruth 3

If Boaz is a picture of masculine nobility, Ruth is certainly the perfect, feminine counterpart. The young widow had considerable challenges to overcome given her upbringing in a different social and religious culture. Yet, she was determined to prevail in the Lord.

Ruth becomes an outstanding heroine by exhibiting the virtues of humility, trust, submissiveness, hard-work, chastity, tact, and faith. Some of these are hardly seen as desirables in today’s society, but Ruth trusted in doing things God’s way in God’s land, and He blessed her as a result.

Ruth also knew how to take risks. Marrying into the elect family was a risk. Leaving Moab was a risk. Staying with Naomi was a risk. Working in the fields was a risk. And visiting the threshing floor at night was a huge risk. But Ruth displays an indomitable trust in the Lord throughout these situations. Truly the wings of the Lord were Ruth’s refuge and she would continually take her comfort there.

Following after God is a risk of equal magnitude. Seeming uncertainty is all around. Whether it is the decision to go into full time ministry, to home school your children, or to refuse to work on the Sabbath; the practical results will be serious. It takes a great deal of faith and fortitude to live the committed Christian life, but as Ruth found, The Lord will certainly repay you for what you have done.

Bible Reading: Exodus 20:22-26

Our sacrificial worship of God is neither random nor self-determined. The Lord has regulated how we are to approach Him in worship. Ingenuity leads to idolatry.

( Job 42.1-17; Psalm 73; Mark 1.14-28)Ruth 2

Boaz: godly, hardworking, and decent. No fault can be found in this son of Israel. Certainly, God blesses the righteous and this is apparent in the life of Boaz.

He is prosperous and happy for a reason. We see Boaz working along with his employees and treating them fairly; and they respect him for it. He treats women with charity and dignity; and he finds an outstanding wife because of it. He is concerned that his business dealings are above reproach; and the community honors him as a result.

Thomas Jefferson once wrote: “For I agree with you that there is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.” At this time Israel had no monarch, but they soon would, and the dynasty which lasts will come to power and remain in power by exhibiting those very character traits that Boaz inculcated in his descendants.

It is easy to see that much of the David’s virtue, as seen in the Psalms, and Solomon’s wisdom, of Proverbs, is a direct result of the influence of great-grandfather Boaz. We should aspire to as much. Live your life in such a way that your descendants, fourth and fifth generations which you may never meet, will have their life influenced in a very substantial way by your uprightness. Be a Boaz in your family and community, and only God knows how many generations will be blessed in turn.

Bible Reading:

Genesis 22: 1-14

Sacrifices are a way to prove our faith. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the alter?” (Jas. 2:22) Indeed he was, yet he stood justified long before (Gen. 15:6, Rom. 4:3). The time of sacrifice is a time of self-examination. Our works, rather than our words, are far better indicators of our belief.

(Job 39.19-40.2; Mark 1.1-13)Ruth 1: 19-22

As Naomi’s life became harder, so did her heart. If there are “questionable characters” in this story, they certainly seem to be Elimelech and Naomi. One cannot help wondering exactly how concerned they were for the worship of the true God.

Elimelech gets his family into this whole mess by leaving his estate in Israel and heading for godless Moab. It is not hard to pick up on the irony here. He leaves Israel to escape famine and death, resulting not only in his own untimely demise, but that also of his sons. Nonetheless, God’s plan will not be thwarted by man’s poor decisions.

Naomi decides to head home to Bethlehem but she strongly urges the girls to stay behind in their god-forsaken homeland. At best we can say that Naomi was looking out for her daughter-in-laws’ temporal well being; certainly it seems that life would be better for them in their home country.

If anything, I think we can see Naomi’s downfall here. She fails to see the big picture. The panoramic view is that in Israel, God is known and worshiped, in Moab He is not. Naomi’s pleasantness was found in earth-bound attachments – her family. Take this from her and she had no other hope, only bitterness. Indeed, the matriarch suffered from myopia. If she only had a clue as to how her life and lineage would have played into God’s vast redemptive plan, even bitter old Naomi would have been in awe.

Bible Reading:

Genesis 8: 20-22

Sacrifice has always been a constant in religious life. The ancient pagans were under the impression that they were at the mercy of hungry gods. Offering meats would satisfy their insatiable appetites and gain favor with the fickle deities. Modern pagans continue on with the same principle, spiritualized of course. True worshipers knew better, sacrifices were God’s prescribed form of worship, allowing mankind to confidently approach the Almighty for covenant renewal.

(Job 39.1-18; Matthew 28.11-20)

Ruth 1: 1-18

Ruth is a diamond in the rough in every sense of the cliché. Judges leaves us disappointed and depressed. The final verse closes out with this downer of a statement: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

The Hebrews had arrived in their land but mostly faced hardship, turmoil, bloodshed, chaos, and idolatry. The people were rebellious and ungodly. Most of their leaders were no better. We wonder: Is this the new thing God was doing? Did He deliver these people from bondage, bring them through the wilderness, vanquish their enemies, and establish them in the land for this chaos? Isn’t there anywhere we can look to and find decency and faithfulness?

As we turn the page from Judges to Ruth a breath of fresh air rushes upon us. We hear of life in that little town of Bethlehem. A place where people treat each other with dignity and respect, a place where roots run deep, where the poor are cared for, where God’s name is honored. We leave the bloodshed and shambles of the wider Levant to hone in on this pastoral hamlet. We find a burgh where it seems as if God is truly dwelling amongst his people.

Certainly, as the story begins, all was not perfect. There were famines, people got bitter, others passed away, some shirked their duties, and others rejected God. But the strength of Bethlehem appears to be the general decency of her citizens. And one of its finest would be the town’s newest resident – Ruth. You see, not only is the book of Ruth a Biblical “diamond in the rough”, but Ruth herself exhibits these gem-like qualities. She could have done anything but stay with and care for Naomi, but she did the right thing. Ruth followed Naomi back to Bethlehem to find happiness, but more so, to find God.

Bible Reading:

Genesis 3: 20-24

Even in these very early times we see all things incipient to our faith. The forgiveness of God necessitates a blood sacrifice to cover our bareness. We also see Adam’s striking profession of faith. No longer is the first lady referred to as “woman” but now as “eve”: the life-giver who will bring forth the promised redemptive seed (vs. 15).

At this point I realize that the conversation is probably going nowhere fast. Any arguments I might make concerning the necessity of a high view of scripture or the need for a masculine pastorate are met with that belittling look that says, “You hate-filled, narrow-minded fundamentalists are so judgmental.” However, this is rarely said, for it only garners a retort of, “I find your condemnation of being hate-filled and narrow-minded a little, well, shall we say…judgmental?” The conversation fizzles and we go on our way. After all, no one has time for these little, logical mind games.

I have mentioned that the introductory sentence is only half true. There is a large contingency of conservative Christians who are quick to show that Matthew 7:1 can be countered with verses like John 7:24, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” Or I Corinthians 2:15, “The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” There you have it. If you have a reasonable assurance that you know the pertinent facts and have yourself obtained a competent level of Biblical discernment, you are free; no, you are commanded to make judgment upon your brethren, their actions, their attitudes, and their motives. I must say; I am a huge advocate of this and do it all the time. After all, a narrow mind is terrible thing to waste.

Indeed, if the bounds of your mind are the narrow lines set forth by the Bible, you have a full right to that judgment, not only for yourself but for your church and community. I don’t advise it, but if ever you find yourself climbing Longs Peak in Colorado you will come across a section of trail called “the narrows.” The trail is narrow by necessity. A misstep will send you thousands of feet to your death. The same is true of the Bible. A step off the path of righteousness will result in spiritual injury to yourself, to your family, and to your church. It might not be immediate, it might not be obvious, it might not even be mortal, but it will result in a fall. God has given us laws to govern our conduct. No one really likes keeping these regulations. They are restrictive and exacting. Nonetheless, humanity is not its own lawgiver. Our only part is to accept the rules and their author or reject them and attempt to blaze our own path.

So there we have it, the Biblical rule of the matter; umm, maybe. I believe that all I have written thus far (minus the sarcasm) is true; however, I’m still not sure that we have got to the center of the matter. It seems to me that this concept is one of the more frequent themes of Jesus’ teaching. From the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:12) to the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:1,35), Jesus stresses this certain fact: Your judgment of others can never be done without an equal dose of self judgment.

Now I have some news to break to you. Please wait while I mount my soap box and preach a bit…Ok, I’m there now, ready, here we go. “Every single soul reading this blog is a miserable wretch. God has made a law and you have broken it. You are a sleazy, sin infested, abomination in the eyes of your God. You deserve hell and damnation. You are a greedy, lazy, prideful, lustful, self-righteous, scum bucket who thinks of nothing but himself. You have failed your friends, your employer, your country, your family, your church, and your God. You live a pathetic existence, deserve no mercy and what is more, it is high time you people know this.”

I am perfectly comfortable with saying this. That is until I have to proofread my own blog. And then I get a bit antsy, for if I am caught in a rare moment of honesty, I’ll have to admit that what is written above only scratches the surface concerning myself. The truth is that we are all sinners and the pockmarks we point out are only half of it, not only in others, but also in ourselves.

Mercy and forgiveness is the greatest need which we all have. And the greatest truth is that the one man, Jesus Christ, who was not in need of mercy and forgiveness, gives it to us. He who could with all authority, point out all our failures and judge us for them, does not. He gives us His righteousness, and forgives us upon that basis. For the Christian, condemnation is only a stop on the judgment train, the true destination is forgiveness. Is this not the point Christ is trying to get across to the religious leaders when he says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe the mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: judgment and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matt. 23:23)

Why are we so quick to deny to others what we depend upon for ourselves? The Bible puts forth this principle: judgment for sin committed, forgiveness for sin repented. This, no other, is the Christian rule. Let me ask you: wives if you gave your husbands; children if you granted your parents; friends if you allotted your neighbors even a part of the forgiveness that you expect from God, would not that solve many of your problems? The rule is simple yet difficult. But the next time your eyes run across another’s transgression; the next time your tongue lashes to call your friends and enemies out, wait a minute. Think back to Matthew 7:1 and remember the grace given to you. Remember the grace needed by others; and you might just find that you do, after all, have another favorite Bible verse.