Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22 + John 4:4-42 + Psalm 105:1-15 + Proverbs 14:25
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~
Old Testament - Today we finish the book of Judges! What a powerful and telling verse the book closes with in chapter 21 verse 25: "In those days Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." Unfortunately, so true then. And perhaps so true for us today if we don't have a king. Fortunately, we do have the opportunity to have a king - through faith in Jesus. Otherwise, without Jesus as our king, we will surely do whatever seems right in our own eyes. I know I did for many years... sad years they were. Is Jesus your King?
An image is below for verse 23 - "So the men of Benjamin did as they were told. They kidnapped the women who took part in the celebration and carried them off to the land of their own inheritance. Then they rebuilt their towns and lived in them."
Today we are starting up – and tomorrow finishing - the wonderful book of Ruth and then moving into First Samuel. The book of Ruth is a wonderful look at faithful love in human relationships, and in a family in particular. I like how the NIV Study Bible describes this book – “The book of Ruth is a Hebrew short story, told with consummate skill. Among historical narratives in Scripture it is unexcelled in its compactness, vividness, warmth, beauty, and dramatic effectiveness – an exquisitely wrought jewel of Hebrew narrative art.” I hope you are ready for this jewel!
Ruth
Author: Unknown
Date: During the time of the Judges
Content: The book of Ruth portrays another side to the chaotic time of the judges. In it there is a welcome relief from the bloodshed and mayhem that seemed to engulf the land because of Israel’s sin. It is the story of Ruth, who decided to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, after tragedy struck that unfortunate woman. God returned good to Ruth in the form of a husband (Boaz) and a child, and also to Naomi in the form of grandchildren. From this family, eventually, came David the king.
Theme: The central point of this book is that even in times of crisis and despair, life may be lived according to the precepts of God and that God abundantly blesses those who do so live. The fundamental values of love, faith, trust, and goodness are greater than the hatred and violence of men, and continue from generation to generation as a light to guide those who look for the true meaning of life. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 4-5)
More commentary on Ruth is at these 3 links:
https://bible.org/article/introduction-book-ruth
https://bible.org/article/argument-book-ruth
https://bible.org/seriespage/5-two-get-ready-story-boaz-and-ruth
Today in Ruth chapter 1 verses 16 & 17 we will read these beautiful words of Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi, whose husband & two sons had died - “Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." How’s that for love & commitment! Can you imagine saying these words to someone in your life today? I pray that each of us have this type of love & commitment for our families – or that we will have this in the future with our families. It seems like nowadays families are getting more and more distanced from one another – separated sometimes by geography and I think oftentimes by individualism or other selfish reasons. Perhaps each of us can learn something from Ruth and her dedication to her mother-in-law Naomi about what family love & commitment could and should really look like?
Bible Project: Here is a terrific video overview of the book of Ruth!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h1eoBeR4Jk
New Testament - Wow. The Jacob's Well story in John chapter 4 today is beautiful on so many levels. I definitely recommend you check out Bible.org's commentary on this chapter at this link if you aren't familiar with all of the meanings of this story.
I love Jesus's words in verse 34 - "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work." If this is true for Jesus - think this might be true for us too? Do you believe that our nourishment comes from doing the will of God?
Psalms - Psalm 105 verse 4 stood out to me today - "Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching." I like that - search! If you search for God, he will indeed be found. Have you ever searched for God? And for his strength? Are you maybe searching now? Do you believe he will be found? Will you keep on searching?
Verses 8 & 9 remind us of this character of God: "He always stands by his covenant-- the commitment he made to a thousand generations. This is the covenant he made with Abraham and the oath he swore to Isaac." The covenant continues today through the new covenant (testament) brought to us through Jesus.
Proverbs - Proverbs 14 verse 25 is an excellent reminder to always tell the truth - particularly when witnessing for someone else! "A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful."
Worship Video: So much of today's readings including Ruth and the woman at the well with Jesus reminded me of the fantastic song "Savior Please" by Josh Wilson. Here's a great live version of Josh performing this song. Feel free to worship along!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxhNVEUY55c
Is Jesus your Savior? Click here and be Saved!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." Ruth 1:16 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you have or will have the same time of strong family connection and love that Ruth had for Naomi. Pray that you will stick with your family even during hard times. Pray that your family belongs or will belong to God.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: How has been reading the book of Judges been for you this year? What new insights or revelations did you pick up while reading through Judges? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 - Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 - I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22
Judges 21
And the Israelites came to the house of God [Bethel] and sat there until evening before God and lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. [Judg. 20:27.] And they said, O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel? (Judges 21:2-3 AMP)
Ya think the folks were really interested in what God had to say? I do it, we do it, the church does it—we make decisions based on what seems right to us, what looks right in our own eye failing to seek God’s voice, and if He does speak, we ignore Him. Yet, when faced with the consequences and fruit of our “nutty” behavior, we ask God why? Ain’t nothing new under the sun, but everything is fresh and renewed under the Son.
Ruth
Naomi's bitterness blinded her to the blessing God placed right in her household. Like many women today who have faithfully and dutifully followed there husband into a place where they should have never been, Naomi followed but became bitter. She was dutiful but angry and hurt because her husband took her from the House of Bread, during the time of famine, into a land and a people they should have shunned.
Looking at the names of the men pre-return from Moab, we probably get a hint of there character, and it wasn’t pretty.
Elimelech (Naomi’s Husband)= “my God is king” Now, here was a man that definitely didn’t live up to his name because he left the God who was his king and went to a land where Chemosh was the god of the land.
Mahlon (One of the husbands to Ruth or Orpah) = “sick” I picture a man who was always whining and miserable.
Chilion = “pining”
What did Ruth see in the God that Naomi served in spite of her mother-in-laws bitterness? Whatever it was, she recognized that she had everything to gain and nothing to loose if she failed to go back to her father’s house.
In Ruth’s behavior I see what it truly means to accept Jesus Christ: giving up everything you grew up with, everything you know and attaching yourself to the one true God. Ruth is an Old Testament example of a New Testament work, a changed mind (Romans 12:2) She forsook family, traditions, religion, everything that was familiar to her to follow after Israel’s God. Wow! She did what the Rich Young ruler would not. Have I given up ALL to follow Jesus, or am I hanging out with “Sick, Pining, and My God is king who had forgotten who the King really is?
Grace and peace,
Ramona
====
UNREAD BIBLE BOOKS.
Lately, I saw the great merit of this Bible Reading Blog. Despite, my extensive Bible readings there are some books in the OT that I rarely even looked at. We often like to read the bits of Bible WE THINK are inspiring or useful. Honestly, One reason I omitted books like Judges is that they can really hit you as very dark and violent. They have the power to make new believers or non believers wince!
I'm sure there would be people reading this blog who will get to cover books they skipped or could not read, in their own personal readings. And it is a very good thing.
Book of Judges has to be one I rarely read! But through this blog I got wonderful exposition of this book. I truly thank Mike for taking the time, care and effort for maintaining this blog. And I pray that God will give us all life changing insights into His Word and Will.
Emberglow
====
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!The Israelities were so sorry that a tribe was missing due to their zeal that they went out and wiped out another one.What did the people of Jabesh Gilead do?They didn't come to tha assembly.Who gave them the authority to judge,guess we should think twice before judging anyone in church for not being as "spiritual"as we think.I can't help but wonder if the people of Jabesh Gilead went out with the rest of Israel to fight the tribe of Benjamin and this was payback time masked as "holy anger".Then the idea of going to kidnap virgins that came to Shiloh for the anual festival to worship the Lord?!True Israel had no king and it's such an irony to go to worship God when you have a broken/no relationship with him.
Naomi/Mara:didn't see God's blessing standing right in front of her.Not many children would stand by their parents when the parents truly need them how much more a mother in law.Bitterness is poison.Naomi was too busy counting her losses to count her blessings.I think I need to stop and really bless God for what he's done in my life.
God bless you all.
Anka
====
Today is a special day of thanks for me. I thank God for the many wonderful and beautiful blessings in my life. Every moment of my life is a moment of praise and thanksgiving---for all my families, natural, adoptive, in-law families, as well as my family of friends ...
Yes, I do I love repeating Ruth's inspiring words of
commitment: "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God..." Indeed, it is difficult to be physically close to all the people we love especially in this world of mobility but LOVE never fades with distance. We can always continue to love in spirit just as true believers worship God in spirit!
Roslyn
====
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. These words really touched my heart today. This verse from Ruth, my daughter chose to be read when she got married. Yes, this is really is a sign of commintment. I thank God that God is in both of their lives. Have a blessed day. Peggy
Peggy
====
I've learned a lot from reading "Judges." I've never read it before, I admit, avoiding it partly because the title made me think it was going to be dry boring accounts of Jewish law and court cases:) LOL There are some really great narrative stories in this book. A lot more interesting than I thought it was going to be!
I think it was one of the links Mike gave which said that the bottom line of Judges is "the wages of sin is death." I think that's what I'll remember about this book. I was amazed at how barbaric the people were. The more things change, the more they stay the same?
Also, I've often wondered why God doesn't appear more often to us, send visible angels, signs, and wonders because then we would believe more easily. But it seems it wouldn't matter (hence the answer to the rich man in hell who sees Lazarus in heaven), and that we (I, at least) would probably behave like the Israelites in Judges.
Blessings to all,
Becky
====
Becky,
I think God doesn't appear etc, like in the Old Testament for two reasons.
1) His Word (the Bible) is complete. It has the beginning (Genesis), Points to Christ, foreshadows salvation plan, and prophecies Christ(rest of OT), Christ here for our redemption (gospels), how to behave and carry yourself as a Christian (rest of NT), and the end (Revelation). It is all there for anyone to pick up and read and with the right heart to understand.
2)There are signs and wonders still here showing God is a personal God who cares about us.
There are tens of millions of Christians walking around endowed with the Holy Spirit and abiding in Christ. Tapping into that power these Christians are living examples of "wonders" for the transformation of their lives. When in fellowship with God they are sharing their testimony and the Gospel.
There are signs(miracles)that occur. I personally have had two prayer healings that no one can explain except it is from God. Sadly when I share the stories most people just shrug it off.
Summary: God has made his statement and it is the most bought book ever over time, and he has tens of million ambassadors who share his message. So actually - one can say God is acting intimately in this world on a much more expanded level than He did thousands of years ago - just in a different way.
John
====
Reading all this has caused me to once again remember my love and committment to the Lord. I love what Ruth told Naomi, "I will go where you go, your people will be my people and your God will be my God." I felt that when I met Jesus, I said these same words to Him, and I still feel the same today. I will go where He goes, His people shall be my people and His God is my God! Praise God we are blessed to share all these truths without fear of harm and we have freedom to sprad the Word freely.
Dottie
====
I love the stories of Ruth & Naomi and the woman at the well.
Great reading for women today!
When Jesus met the woman at the well, she asked Him questions, and He did not exactly answer them. Instead Jesus turned the issues she was raising away from the natural and the "religious" issues to spiritual issues - directly to her own need for a savior.
Jesus did not get distracted on the woman's rabbit trails about how and who is supposed to worship how and with whom. Jesus did not regard the customary practices of the day as important compared to the value of the woman herself. The undesirable Samaritans were able to be reached because they heard the woman's testimony and then from Christ himself.
We need to do the same and treat it as though it were our daily nourishment to do God's will and not our own.
Nothing in my own life has meant more or been more satisfying as witnessing to the lost and encouraging other Christians around me.
Judges: Over and over Israel turned away from God - What a tribute to God's character - He still loved Israel, and glory to God, He still loves us and forgives us when we fail.
God bless you all!
Peg
====
I have to keep this short ... I'm going out "fishing" today. Today is extra special because today is the celebration of freedom in Holland. It's a national holiday. Freedom of 1945, WWII. A huge team from one of our fellowship-churches will join us today, to tell the people what real freedom is!!! Can you say "amen" with me?????
I love the book of John so much!!! I just love his way of telling about Jesus, it's amazing! The story from the Samaritan woman is very powerful. Verse 10 "Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” ~ I love how Jesus talks about 'living water'. That's what He is to us! We get this Living Water and we will never be thirsty again!
Verse 26 “I Am the Messiah!” ~ Amen! Thank you Jesus!
Mae
====
Judges was a great book! I really enjoyed it! I love Ruth! wow...i read it about 5 yrs ago and God just SPOKE to me sooo powerfully. I had moved out of state and i returned to CA with nothing, i had moved with faith but for some reason, seemed like endless punishment...all i had was lost, from my funds to my car, even my relationship with my sister. I was in such despair wen i came back, i just felt like God was punishing me! I found the book of Ruth and boy could i relate to Naomi!!
"...for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
I love the women at the well story, i have heard many sermons on it, never heard wat was said in the bible.org commentary that they were shocked Jesus talked to a "woman". Aww, Jesus loves women, children, men, all equally, all races shapes n sizes. How wonderful He is! How much do I wish i couldve lived back when Jesus walked the earth! He is so kind, so merciful, so compassionate, so perfect! God is just revealing His heart to me and its just overwhelming!! I'm singing that song by Lighthouse, 'I'm falling even more in love with you!...'
God's love is so abundant and overflowing me! I can hardly handle feeling so loved!
Jenny
====
Ruth 1:1-7 – Personally I felt that Elimelech (Naomi's husband) and two sons died because they should not have sojourn in the country of Moab thereby exposing themselves to idolatry and pagan practices which God detests because God wants His people to remain in the Promised land where His protection will abide even if there was a famine. God will provide for His people even in times of famine (v6). Do we abandon God and His principles when the going gets tough? Or will we trust God and stick it out trusting that He will even provide for us at times of when jobs or work is hard to come by. Have we consulted God before making any decision especially if it would have implications on our fellowship with God and His people. God never wants us to leave the fellowship of His people unnecessarily.
Ruth 1:8-17 - Ruth is a Moabite woman, yet she showed uncommon love for her Hebrew mother-in-law Naomi. Even her mother-in-law approved them to return back to their homeland so that they do not need to suffer further hardship and widowhood and her sister-in-law Orpah decided to do do just that and also return back to the Moab gods also (V16). Ruth however made a personal resolve to follow Ruth even if there is no benefit at all. I personally believe that besides loyalty and love for Naomi, Ruth also heard about the God of Israel and had made a commitment to follow Him too with all of her heart. God welcomes anyone to believe in Him and does not look at a person's pedigree. Even if the person has come from families where ancestors for many generations believe in other religions. God readily accepts them as long as they have committed themselves fully to follow Him wholeheartedly and forsake their religions.
Edward
====
Hello,
I have been uneven in my readings lately--pressing on but having to "catch up"
One thing that I was fascinated with this time through was the story of Barak, Deborah & Jael. I found Bob Deffinbaugh's commentary on that incident fascinating. I have read Deborah referenced as an example of godly leadership by women many times and I liked Deffinbaugh's thoughts on that (too complex for me to summarize well). Essentially though, he felt that Deborah confirms traditional male leadership roles by encouraging Barak to step up and follow through.
The book of Judges does bring home the reality of how much trouble we can get ourselves into when we choose to "do what is right in our own eyes"---essentially that's relativism and denies the reality that there are absolute truths that apply to all of us. I think relativism is very presumptuous and even arrogant, though it packages itself as "tolerance."
Elizabeth
====
The book of Judges tells how GOD sent ordinary people to guide Israel back to GOD and his love for them. The Israelies were living wicked sin filled lives, they had completely forgotten GOD and all of the wonderful things that He had done for them in the past, so He sent the judges to redirect there lives back towards Him. The people of Israel did not drive the inhabitants of the land completely out of the land as GOD had commanded them to do through Moses, they adopted there customs and religions, intermarried with there families and disobeyed GOD. Everywhere was wickedness and evil in the land. Deborrah led the people in many victorious battles against the king of Caanan. Gideon needed some prompting from GOD before he would believe that he had been selected to lead Israel. Gideon attacked at night while the army of the Midianites were at rest, causing great confusion and distruction in the enemy camp. Gideon ordered his own son to kill the Midianite king but he refused so Gideon killed him instead. Jephthah vows to sacrifice the first thing that comes to meet him if GOD will give him victory in battle, unfortunately his daughter comes to meet him at the door to his home so he must keep his vow and give his daughter as an offering to GOD. Samson had great strength, Delilah betrayed him and he was captured by the Phillistines when they cut off his hair, his last act was to pull down the Phillistine temple when his strength had returned to him. Israel did evil whenever the land was without a judge to guide them.
Raennn
====
The book of Judges -
1. Showed a circle of how the Isrealites continued disobeying God after getting favor back from God. Isn't this true today. We go our merry way on our own. When we fail or are in trouble, we remember God and ask for forgiveness and help. Then we forget & so on, so on......
2. The Isrealites needed a leader (Judge or King) to unite them together and remember how YAHWEH saved them from the Egyptians and led them to the promise land. Without a leader, they were not united to tread the right path. In the same manner, these days we needed a King to guide us (Jesus). We are united in faith which help us in coping with the worlds trials and temptations.
3. When we forget where our strength comes from, we will fall down. Samson fell into temptation and relied on his own strength. When he was captured, he remembered God and God gave back his strength to defeat the Philistines even when in chains & can not see with his gouged eyes.
Ruth - I love this book. It showed the love and devotion of Ruth to Naomi. I was blessed with a wonderful Mother-In-Law who considered me her own daughter and not a daughter-in-law. I love her dearly and miss her a lot. She is now with the Lord. Anyway, although Naomi was bitter after all the lost she suffered in her life, God never abandoned her by giving her Ruth. Don 't we have someone in our lives who stick by us through thick & thin (in my case my family)? Also God sends us people in our lives (our Christian friends) who lift us and walk with us. God never abandon His people. Praise God,
Lily
====
I have heard and read many teachings on the book of Ruth. They always start how wrong it was for Elimelech to leave Israel and go to Moab. But the text says that there was a famine and I think that he was just trying to find food for his family. Sometimes God uses circumstances to get us to places we would not go otherwise. In this case there was a Moabite woman who had the potential for faith in the true and living God. I see God moving this whole family out to Moab just to bring her in. It would not be the first time, remember Rahab? Both women wound up in the royal line that lead to king David and then Jesus. Then we read John 4:4, "Now Jesus had to go thru Samaria." The Jews usually took the long way around just to not go thru Samaria, no one HAD to go thru Samaria. But Jesus did and He went to talk to a Samaritan woman with a terrible reputation. God knows who are His and He will move mountains to get to them and bring them into the family.
Teriann
====
I was thinking the same thing. They had to leave Israel and go to Moab in order for Ruth to become family. God has a special way of arranging circumstances so that His will can be carried out. We might think they should not have left Israel, but God knows what He is doing. Whenever I wonder why this or that is happening, down the road, maybe weeks, months or even years, one day I get that aha moment. So this is why God had such & such happen. Then I can smile and say Praise the Lord! What a wonderful God we serve and I love Him so-oooooo much. HUGS!!
Karen
====
Family is very important and Ruth was willing to follow God no matter what. We need to seek God first in everything we do and our family will be blessed as a result of following God.
I found the story of Ruth sad so much loss but in the end she will be blessed.
Vanessa
====
Mike,
By God's grace I'm still following your blog - what a blessing it has been!
Ruth 1:16 NIV
But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."
This memory verse today reminds me of the song "I have decided to follow Jesus".
May our Father teach each of us how to worship Him in spirit and in truth, and may He give us a heart to follow Jesus with undivided loyalty.
God bless!
Joyce
====
Naomi carried her hurt with her. She was only human. Losing s husband and 2
Sons. But I believe She followed Gods call to leave her home and then Gods plan that Ruth would follow. Our God is amazing ! Preparing n paving ways for us. Having 3 DIL want to
Follow a mother in law is a blessing! I love this story!! It shows there am be strong Mil and DIL bonds! Trust me I will hold onto that promise. . I find young adults this generation are too busy for their folks. I'm
From old school traditions where you spend time with family n generations but times are changing . It hurts
Jane
====
Ruth
Ruth and Naomi
I get a message from a distant relative yesterday asking if we could get together because she was interested in my mother’s family background and stories. This really tweaked my interest because the story of Ruth in many ways was the story of my mom\ and my grandmother. They had to do the Dr. Zhivago exit from Russia and make their way to Canada via Germany around World War 2. Like Ruth and Naomi, they lost everything and had to go somewhere else. Their family ties gave them optimism and their faith in God gave them hope. I read this story as if it is my family that is being led to a different land and people that will ultimately be a blessing. I can’t imagine some of the suffering and hardship they must have experienced to get to Canada but they had each other and trust in God. My life and family is a beneficiary to their journey and when I read about Ruth and Naomi it feels very close to my own family’s story.
John 4: 1-42
Jesus talks with a Samaritan Woman
Another story that hits home for me. Several years ago I was in Ghana, West Africa at a Liberian Refugee camp. I came across the only water-well in the middle of the day, and it was a rather sorry site. Sewage smell, water seeping out of the ground, chickens, pigs and birds lingering about and nobody there except one woman filling jugs of water. I started a conversation and we got to the point of why I was there. I told her my Ghana Airways plane was denied landing in NYC (no safety certification), and I had to wait for another way home. In the mean time I joined a group that was visiting the camp and I had to opportunity to invite her to Sunday Church where I would be giving my testimony. She knew the Church but was a bit skeptical and I left the Holy Spirit do his work. I did not see her that Sunday and I left not knowing if anything became of my talk with her. It wasn’t until I returned home and I read this scripture that I was reminded of my experience. Even though it wasn’t as in depth as Jesus conversation, the outcome was still in God’s hands and I realized I must always be prepared to share the Gospel.
Robert
====
Ruth is my fave Bible story. I was a Naomi with daughter in laws. This story resonates with me because 12 years ago my DIL despised me . But God workd in her heart and changed my expectations and reconciled our relationship. She is now like a daughter. She is my Ruth! Praise the Lord! Don’t give up mother in laws!
Posted by: Jane | May 05, 2025 at 03:41 AM