A Daring Little Love Story
Over the next several weeks, we will be studying the book of Ruth. Even prior to the start, I want to show my hand and share what I’m hoping will take place as a result of our beholding this daring little love story.
Ruth is a narrative story.
I know that’s really obvious. Still, it’s worth repeating because stories are filled with tensions, resolutions, hopes, miseries, uncertainty, and love. This narrative is pregnant with that. Since it’s a narrative story, it’s important to bear in mind the ingredients of the story include an introduction, a complication, resolution, and a conclusion. Ruth checks the boxes on all of that. Each week I really hope the sermon will help us be captivated and excited about God’s work.
Avoid the trap of moralizing the story.
You might be thinking, “Pastor, you lost me.” Here’s what I mean by moralizing the story. It’s fairly common to read stories, especially in the Old Testament, and think we should follow the good and avoid the bad behaviors of the characters. When we do this, we reduce our reading to just learning things to do and not do, when in reality God has given us His Word to help His people believe. Hear me, I’m not saying that we can’t learn about morals. Of course, that’s applicable, but what I’m saying is combat that natural instinct when reading the Bible. We need to remember the Bible is ONE Story of salvation, a Story of God rescuing a people for Himself.
Find the Story within the story.
What really helps us avoid that trap of moralizing? Knowing each story serves to help us better understand the Gospel. The Old Testament Scriptures are given to us to make us wise in salvation through faith in Jesus Christ [2 Timothy 3:15]. The whole Bible is about Jesus. Jesus reminded His disciples of this on the road of Emmaus after His resurrection [Luke 24]. The story of Ruth furnishes us with a powerful opportunity to better understand the Gospel Story.
What is the best way to read Old Testament stories?
I’ve found that theologian and author, Christopher Ash has provided a wonderful tool to help read Old Testament stories.
There are four keys:
Renounce our proud instinct to make ourselves the heroes.
Watch and see what we learn of God the Father, the unseen hero of every story.
Read carefully to see if the ‘shape’ of any of the human characters in the story can shed light on the perfect ‘shape’ of the Christ to come; for the human hero of any Bible story will sometimes, in some way, foreshadow Jesus Christ.
Read the story as men and women IN Christ, expecting the Spirit of Christ, who is the hero, to be shaping in some way our individual lives.
I trust our time in the book of Ruth will bring about incredible transformation from our beholding of this daring little love story. May the Lord use this season in Ruth to transform us another degree of glory, more into the image of Jesus, for our joy, others’ good, and God’s glory.
For the Glory of Christ,
Pastor Jeth Looney