So little of the Bible is written from a woman's perspective. Ruth is a refreshing outlier. And what a book it is. It is imply one of the best things ever written by human hands. God's presence is everywhere here. If anything is properly the Word of God, this book is.
Love is often equated with obedience among Christians. But it must be noted that Orpah is obedient, whereas Ruth is not. Ruth's love issues in disobedience.
Ruth's appeal to stay with Naomi is so very powerful. Reading it is like staring into the face of God.
Naomi comes off as so inconsistent. In one moment God has dealt with her "bitterly", in the next He is the companion who is working to save her.
Boaz comes off as a great figure. He knows the dangers women face and wants to protect Ruth from them. He is a man of faith and virtue whose household reflects his character. This book could so easily become all about him. Yet the central figures remain Ruth and Naomi.
Naomi feels like she is discerning what God is doing. But she is not content to just sit back and let Him do what He is doing alone. She feels she can help His plan along, and she does so.
The conversation between Boaz and his kinsman is a bit confusing. Is Boaz subtly nudging the man NOT to marry Ruth? Of is this a straightforward contract negotiation. Both interpretations are tenable.
Ruth is said to be more valuable to Naomi than 'seven sons'. This is a powerful statement, given the time and cultural context within which it was written.
Ruth is a Moabitess, and her great-grandson is David. Yet people descended from Moabites are supposed to be excluded from the Assembly of God to the 10th generation. What gives?
The story of the Birth of Samuel is very reminiscent of the birth of Samson. I wonder what the connection is?
1 Samuel is the repeated story of failed prophets and kings. Eli's sons sin and so Eli's house is brought now. Samuel's sons sin and so the time of the Judges ends. Saul becomes king and then fails as king. Disappointment is the theme of the book.
Samuel's first revelation takes place during something like Sleep Paralysis. This is not uncommon in the Bible. This is very interesting to a person like me, who is so influenced by hypnogogic events and dreams.
The story of the Ark in the temple of Dagon is one of the strangest and most humorous in the Bible. But it is too mature to recount here. Look it up, if you dare.
If I was punished as the dagon-worshippers were, I'd give the ark back too.
The patterns of the Judges continues, with the Israelites falling away, becoming enslaved, turning to God and becoming free again.
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