Watchword
(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).
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