Ruth
This wednesday, we’re going to start going through the Old Testament book of Ruth verse by verse, chapter by chapter, to see what God would have for us in it all.

I’m super excited and I hope you are. Here’s an introduction to the book:

The Old Testament is often criticized for being “too violent” or filled with images of a God who is way too wrathful. Between just the books of Leviticus and Judges, I would think to agree. However, the entire Bible often moves between the bad news of humanity (that all have rebelled and sinned against God) and the reactionary good news of God (that He has come as a man to conquer death and give life to those he desire it). The Old Testament book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of this move from bad news to good news, and more importantly how through both the good and the bad, God is in total control of it all in order to work out his good and perfect plan. Sandwiched in between two of the most violent Old Testament books, Ruth is the story of a young family hit with some awful news of famine, death, and betrayal. And yet, through the pages of this short story, we see a God who redeems by bringing death to life, and bad to good. Plus, it’s also just a dang good love story.