Let’s look at the Book of Ruth. If you were left on a deserted island and this was all you had, you could be saved. It is the quintessential encapsulation of the Gospel. Just add the Gospel of John and presto!, you have all the good news.
I’ve borrowed heavily for this discourse from others that have gone before us; for we have a rich legacy that we are able to build upon. The pioneers in this strange land have carved a way for us, and so too those Christians that have given us insights to God’s Word, empowered by His Holy Spirit. For we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. We don’t have to re-invent the wheel again, but perhaps it is our duty to discover how it should work in our lives.
Paulus Cassel (A German Jew convert 1821-1892) wrote, “It’s interesting to note that only 2 books of the Bible are titled after women – Esther and Ruth. And it’s significant I think that both are crucial in God’s Redemptive Plan. Esther, a Jew, marries a prominent Gentile and saves the Jewish people from annihilation; and Ruth, a Gentile, marries a prominent Jew, to ensure that we, the Gentiles, have a portion in Christ through grace.”
