Ruth

In between the book of Judges and 1 and 2 Samuel is the story of Ruth.  It has been called a "delightful" little story, but upon a careful reading, we may find it full of meaning both for its time and in ours.  It is the story of a couple, Naomi (my delight) and Elimelech (my God is king), who leave Bethlehem in Judah during a famine and migrate to the land of the Moabites, former oppressors of the Benjaminites.  Their two sons marry Moabite women, Ruth (she who comforts) and Orpah( she who turns her back).  The men in the family, die and Naomi is forced to return to her home.  She implores her daughters-in law to remain with their people, for there is nothing to bind them to her any longer.  Neither daughter-in-law wants to leave Naomi, but she insists and Orpah goes.  Ruth remains by her side, and her words have become memorialized in weddings ever since. Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried.  She continues with an oath,  May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you. Ruth 1:16,17.

In the context of its time, the story of Ruth occurs when marriage between Jews and foreign women was discouraged, precisely because the fragile Jewish identity needed to be preserved and protected from pagan influences. It is interesting that for some reason or other, marriage between races, religions, and cultures has only recently become accepted in our own day.  Those who objected often pointed out  problems that would have to be overcome within the families of such unions. Often objections were the result of intolerance of one another. The Book of Ruth serves to illustrate that God intended all humanity to be a part of His divine plan. Like the benevolent father that He is, He guides His children through all manner of life events, unfolding His plan as life goes on.

As the story goes, Ruth and her mother-in-law reach Bethlehem during harvest time.  Ruth goes immediately to work, gleaning after the harvesters.  Her demeanor is humble; her work is meticulous and careful.  She is noticed by Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, her former father-in-law.  Intrigued by her loyalty and humility, Boaz decides to become responsible for her and ends up marrying her.  So it happens that Ruth, a foreigner, becomes the great grandmother of King David and ancestor of Jesus.  Because she chooses God and remains faithful to her promise, Ruth plays a key role in the history of Salvation, all according to God's divine plan.

Ruth's memorial words to Naomi remind us of the importance of family, of loyalty and of faithfulness to the oaths we take.  She is a model of perseverance in hard times which come to us all on our pilgrim journey through life.  Ruth reminds us also of the words of St. Paul, Your life is hid with Christ in God. Col 3:3  God is present in everything that we do, and in everything that happens, and even in the smallest detail of our lives. We need only to remain true.

Judges

Judges begins with the arrival of the Israelites in Canaan and their gradual settlement of the lands they have been assigned.  The main problem, persistent throughout salvation history, is that this generation has failed to know God. They have failed to honor their commitment to serve the Lord as promised to Joshua, The Lord we will serve and His voice we will obey. Josh.24:24.

In Judges we continue to see the basic theme of Salvation History: sin, punishment and salvation, and we witness God's unending faithfulness.  He remains patient and true amidst the corruption and weak will of the people, and in times of great difficulties, He offers His divine protection by raising up charismatic leaders, the "judges" to save His people.  God calls each of them to fulfill his divine purpose in leading His people out of the conditions in which they find themselves as a result of their sinfulness and infidelity. Those of us who are reading judges get a good idea of the saying, "God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called," when we read of the exploits of each judge.

While there are twelve judges, one for each tribe, only six are written about at length in the book.  They are far from being perfect people. Gideon questions God as we all tend to do. Pray, sir, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this befallen us? Judg. 6:13.  And God says to him, Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you? Judg. 6:14. Just like us, Gideon offers one excuse after another. Pray, Lord, how can I deliver Israel?  Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family. Judg. 6:15  Gideon has the audacity to ask the Lord for a sign. If thou wilt deliver Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece alone and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that thou wilt deliver Israel by my hand as thou hast said. Judg. 6:37. God responds with tangible proof. Then Gideon pushes further.  Let not thy anger burn against me, let me speak but this once; pray, let me make trial only this once with the fleece; pray, let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew. Judg. 6:39.  Our ever patient God complies.

We can certainly see ourselves in Gideon.  God calls him to the task as he is going about his usual day.  He is an unremarkable man from an unremarkable family.  When the call comes, he is grinding corn.  How mundane is that?  Gideon does not perceive himself worthy of the task.  He makes excuses.  We make excuses. We are not qualified; we are too old, too young, too weak.  We ask for signs. We want proof.  We fail to trust.  But God has a plan for all of his creation. In this example, God's choice falls on Gideon who would have never expected such a vocation as to be the leader of his people. The call of Gideon is God's initiative. God is in control.  It is not Gideon's doing. God alone, qualifies the called.

The judges that God calls are far from perfect and they are the least anyone would expect to lead.  Deborah is a woman, called by God at a time when women were not leaders outside the domestic realm.  By this action, God shows that He counts on the cooperation of women in his plan of salvation.  He is revealing in this gradual way that women too will be called to help in His plan.  Deborah is a prophetess and proves herself a skillful organizer against a powerful adversary.

Yet another of the judges, Jephthath makes a rash vow and suffers dire consequences when the time comes to keep it.  God expects his people to be faithful  to their vows and not to make them lightly.

Samson's vocation is set even before his birth.  God endows him with great physical strength and designates him as savior to his people. We all know the story of Samson.  His personal behavior leaves much to be desired. He does not follow God's law.  He marries a nonbeliever. He flaunts his great strength.  He allows himself to be seduced by Delilah into revealing the secret of his strength.  After his capture by the Philistines, he realizes his mistake, he repents and makes amends. Though it costs him his life, he fulfills God's purpose.

As we read and ponder God's Word, we become aware of God's great love for us, His patience and His unending mercy.  The people we encounter in judges are the products of their time.  They live in a world that has failed to live up to the commandments God gave to their ancestors. A whole generation has grown up without knowing HimIn those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

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Upon reflecting on these stories from the book of Judges, we can see that we are living in times very similar to these.  Many in our generation have grown up without a knowledge of God, every man doing what is right in his own eyes.  Today's world is fraught with violence, pain, and sorrow that is much the result of our doing.  The book of Judges, reassures us that God is merciful, patient, loving and kind.  He has a plan we can trust.