Good morning! Today it’s a delight to share with you one of the gems of the Hebrew Bible, the book of Ruth. This book is set in the time of the Judges, and it displays a much more compassionate response to foreigners than that which we have read in Judges. Ruth is a lovely piece of literature, using word plays and sophisticated reversals to show the action of God and people “behind the scenes” working for personal kindness that later turns into national blessing. If you’re in the practice of reading my commentary first but have not read the book of Ruth before, do yourself the favor of stopping here and reading the Bible passage first this time. Continue reading “Ruth”
Category: Daily Bible
Judges 20-21
Good morning! Today’s passage is the remaining two chapters (20-21) of Judges. We continue the story of yesterday, when the Levite sent part of his concubine to all twelve tribes of Israel.
Judges 17-19
Good morning! Today’s passage (Judges 17-19) is the first of a terrible two-day set of stories that close out the book of Judges. This era started out with more righteous judges like Deborah, who were succeeded by half-decent folks like Gideon, and then the amoral power of Abimelech and Jephthah. At least all of these folks sought to defeat non-Israelite threats. Now though, we see utter chaos in the tribes of Israel against one another. Strength unhinged from righteousness has led to anarchy, as a repeated refrain emphasizes: “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.” In the narrative arc of the Bible, these terrible times help justify the later urge to have a king. The stories today also smear residents of northern tribes, suggesting that they were written at a time when southern Judah and northern Israel were at war with one another.
Judges 12-16
Good morning! We have five (!) chapters to cover today so I’ll try to keep my comments relatively brief. Today’s passage (Judges 12-16) tells the story of perhaps the most famous judge, Samson. His strength is legendary, but not enough to save him from those more cunning than he, including his last wife Delilah.
Judges 9-11
Good morning! In the ongoing saga of Israel’s tribal conflicts over the hundreds of years between conquest and established monarchy, we have two more episodes today in Judges 9-11. Both the stories emphasize the limits of raw power in defense of Israel when it is decoupled with righteousness. The first episode suggests that destructive means leads to destructive ends, while the second shows how a rash vow leads to heartbreak even in victory.
Judges 6-8
Good morning! Today in Judges 6-8 we read of Gideon, a meek man whom God uses to deliver Israel from the oppressive Midianites, and whose success then leads him to take on idolatrous power for himself.
Judges 4-5
Good morning! Chapters 4-5 of Judges today introduce us to the strong and memorable biblical women Deborah and Jael. Deborah’s righteous leadership and Jael’s brazen action liberate Israel from Canaanite oppression.
Judges 1-3
Good morning! Today we begin the book of Judges, which are a series of stories about the intervening time from the colonization of Canaan until the time of the prophet Samuel and his anointing of Saul, the first king. We see among these “judges” (who combine military and community authority) mostly good but some bad leaders, both female and male, all measured by how faithful they (and the people of their time) are to the covenant with God. Obedience and loyalty to God affects their success in battle. Overall, Judges presents a repeated cycle: from faithfulness to unfaithfulness, then divine judgment in the form of military defeat, then salvation at the hands of a judge, then a return to faithfulness (for a time). This general formula helps give shape to some of the most vivid yet overlooked stories of the Hebrew Bible.
Joshua 23-24
Good morning! Today’s passage (Joshua 23-24) completes the book of Joshua with the leader’s closing exhortation, and a recapitulation of the need for perpetual faithfulness to stay on the “good side” of the God who has made so much success possible in Canaan.
Joshua 21-22
Good morning! Today’s reading (Joshua 21-22) adds to the account of land designations by describing the cities from each tribe which belong to the Levites, then narrates a confrontation between the majority of Israel and those tribes who have settled on the east of the Jordan River.
Pastor Oby Ballinger 