Tuesday, May 21 – Judges 21, Ruth1 – Additional reading, The Bible Story Volume 3, Pages 137-142, “The Gleaner Girl.”

1. Why was one of the tribes of Israel missing? Judges 21:1-2

2. What was the solution the other tribes came up with to restore the lost tribe? Judges 21:20-23

3. Why did Naomi tell her daughters to return to their own homes? Ruth 1:11-13.

4. What was Ruth’s response to Naomi’s request for them to return home? Ruth 1:16-18.

In Judges 21 we see the need for the coming Messiah. In Ruth 1 we see how God intervened in the lives of both Naomi and Ruth to help make the hope of the Messiah a reality.

In Judges 21 the other tribes realized too late, that they had gone too far in their zealous retaliation against the tribe of Benjiman. By refusing to allow their daughters to marry into the tribe of Benjamin they had all but totally wiped out their brother’s tribe. This is what happens when there is no king and everyone does what is right in their own eyes. Could God have asked the other tribes of Israel the same question He asked, Cain, “Where is your brother?” And would the other tribes had realized they were indeed their brother’s keeper? When we do what is right in our own eyes instead of looking to God’s Word for direction, we lose our sense of accountability to our brothers and sisters, and there is no end to the pain and suffering which results from following our own wisdom and understanding. Hence the words of the wise, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.

Sadly, instead of confessing their sin and seeking forgiveness from God, the other tribes of Israel continued to rely on their own ideas and efforts to make things right. Thus, they destroyed another tribe, Jabesh Gilead, save the 400 virgin women they used to repopulate the tribe of Benjamin. Instead of trusting in a Savior to make things right, they trusted in their own works and schemes, much like when the children of Israel (Jacob) sought to make things right in their own eyes concerning their sister Dinah, in Genesis 34. All they accomplished was causing more senseless pain and bloodshed. Oh that we would lose trust in self and rely upon the Savior-Messiah to save us when we find ourselves in trouble! On Page 100 of Steps to Christ, we are reminded that there is no perplexity or difficulty too difficult for Jesus to unravel for us. So, why should we trust our own ideas and inventions to get ourselves out of trouble when we can just turn to the Savior-Messiah and let Him save us? Judges 21 closes with the reminder that they had no king to show them right from wrong. However, the Messiah would be coming to save Israel and teach them right from wrong.
The first chapter of Ruth helps to tell the story of how the Messiah finally came, not only to save Israel but the entire world.

In Ruth 1, Naomi is bitter, thinking her purpose for living had died along with her husband and sons. If only she could have had the opportunity of reading the Psalm of Ruth’s great grandson David, “Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” she would have realized her days were still filled with purpose. Poor Naomi returns to her homeland thinking her life is over and tells her daughters-in-law to go back to their own people. However, God puts it in Ruth’s heart to cling to Naomi and make Naomi’s God her God. In Ruth chapter 1, Ruth returns with Naomi to Naomi’s homeland.

Spoiler alert! Back home Ruth meets Boaz and they get married and have Obed, who had Jesse, who had king David, who had children, who had children, who had children, who had children, and so on, until finally Mary has Jesus, the Messiah and Savior of the world. You see Naomi’s purpose for living was far from over when she thought life had already passed her by. She thought she was returning home to die, but she was really returning home to unite Ruth and Boaz, the ancestors of the Savior of the world!
Judges 21 tells us why we need a King to be our Messiah and Savior. Ruth 1 prepares His arrival.

May God’s goodness and mercy be with you today, and all the days of your life, just as God’s goodness and mercy were with Naomi all the days of her life.

Pastor William Earnhardt