Hi all and happy Sunday! I hope you are excited about Advent! Today is pretty cool. You're going to read entire book in a single day. Wow! Don't worry, it's not very long. The book of Ruth serves a primary purpose of introducing the blood line of David, the ideal king whom Jesus is a descendant of. However, they also make a point to reference Ruth in Jesus bloodline which is pretty uncommon to lift up a woman during these lists. Why attributes of Ruth do you find endearing? I'd love your thoughts!
Scripture to Read
The Book of Ruth
Audio Bible
Questions to Consider
What does this teach me about God?
What does this teach me about humanity?
What about Ruth is inspiring? What is troubling?
- My Thoughts -
I really like this story, I think it's written in such a way that the characters are relatable and interesting. I think it's really powerful how Ruth, a foreign woman, becomes part of the family, and is even protected by her married family even after he husband dies. This is the part that I think Jesus would really be moved by and maybe even stories about his great ancestors is what inspired his kindness to the Samaritans.
However, being the usual grinch that I am I have a bone to pick with Boaz. From the very moment Boaz provides overwhelming kindness to Ruth to the point that I have to question what his real motives are. Obviously he ends up marrying her and they seem happy but I just find his actions somewhat...manipulative? I was listening to an episode of Joe Rogan when he was talking with Jordan Peterson about Peterson's resistance towards people preferred pronouns in the nonbinary / trans community. It's a very good podcast by the way, I think you would enjoy the conversation. (There is probably a language warning with it being Rogan) Anyways, there is a point in the podcast where Peterson is critical of men that claim to be feminist because their true intention is to sexually woo a partner. Peterson argues that he would rather see stereotypical gender roles than inauthentic and manipulative support for self interest. I find that Boaz is one of those people. Would have offer the same kindness to a brother-in-law that was foreign? What if Ruth wasn't beautiful? What if she wasn't young and marriage eligible? Would he have cared?
My encouragement is that we be authentic even if that means we must be disagreeable. And for an added bonus, disagreeable people tend to get promotions the most often ;)
Overall, I liked this book a lot and a huge improvement from yesterdays gross story.
Prayer
Lord, help me to live a life a such altruism, such devotion, and such compassion that the words of Ruth that say the following may apply to me. “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Help me provide refuge and shelter for the hurting. Amen.