Alva Review-Courier -

Judges and Ruth are on tap for this week. These are two of the twelve books of history in the Old Testament. The Israelites are now in the promised land although there are still people to conquer and areas to be settled. Moses warned them before they crossed the Jordan River that God would be with them so long as they were obedient, and that He would not be with them if they did not keep the law.

Judges tells of times they were right with God, and times they were not. When they had a good strong leader, they did well. When that leader died and “they did what was right in their own eyes”, they were defeated. Then a new strong leader emerged, they returned to serving the Lord and there was peace for a few years. Then the cycle repeated itself, over, and over, and over. God always gave them another chance.

The most well-known of these leaders are Gideon, Deborah, and Samson. The less known ones are just as strong and faithful as these.

Ruth is a beautiful story of a daughter-in-law’s devotion to her mother-in-law. It is the story of a good man protecting a young woman. It is a story of reward and redemption, and love. “Where you go, I will go. Wherever you sleep, I will sleep. Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God.” Love and faithfulness are rewarded, another lesson for us all.