Why is this commentary is unlike others? Ruth is my favourite book in the Bible. I know it probably should be the Gospels as they talk of Jesus or perhaps a book with deep theology like Romans. But, for all of that, it remains Ruth. I love it because there are no miracle workers, and no kings palaces Instead there are just simple country people with a real faith that allows them to do better than cope with all that God and nature can hurl at them. Granted there are some major bumps along the way but, in the end, they shine. ...
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Why is this commentary is unlike others? Ruth is my favourite book in the Bible. I know it probably should be the Gospels as they talk of Jesus or perhaps a book with deep theology like Romans. But, for all of that, it remains Ruth. I love it because there are no miracle workers, and no kings palaces Instead there are just simple country people with a real faith that allows them to do better than cope with all that God and nature can hurl at them. Granted there are some major bumps along the way but, in the end, they shine. This is the life I know. I have lived my life in a small country town in a Lockyer Valley, a farming community in Queensland, Australia. I am a member of a Baptist church situated in the middle of a potato field. The debilitating effects of drought has been a constant shadow over the lives of friends who live faithful lives despite that. They testify to the same faithful God that was served in the little town of Bethlehem so many years ago, despite his face likewise being often hidden. What then is the value of such a book when it doesn't deal with majestic themes? To quote a Rabbi of old, "This scroll [of Ruth] tells us nothing either of cleanliness or of uncleanliness, either of prohibition or permission. For what purpose then was it written? To teach how great is the reward of those who do deeds of kindness." Kindness and hesed, a term that will be explained and illustrated as readers progress through this book, can be given even by the poor. The book shows the power of blessing to "transform futility into fertility and despair into hope." The subtitle of this book is A Somewhat Different Commentary, so how is it different? This book was written with my small drought ravished community in mind and whenever possible I have tried to tie the lessons of Ruth back to the issues I see in my own community, one which has foreign farm workers, rich landholders, older godly women who no longer work but have influences and the issue of "who gets the farm".
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