Judges 4-Ruth 4: The cycle of sin and the line of salvation

This is going to be an eventful reading week, a tale of two books which cannot be more different from each other! With the book of Judges, you see "history repeating itself" with cycles of Sin-Slavery-Supplication-Salvation - it appears that the Israelites do not learn from the lessons of history. Each cycle just went deeper into the throes of depravity. However, it is interesting to note that traditionally the book of Judges is paired together with the book of Ruth, what a start contrast! Instead of a cycle, the history in Ruth is presented linearly, in a straight line pointing to the birth of a significant person. Judges started with the death of Joshua, while Ruth ends with the birth of David. Despite the gory details of Judges and through the glorious drama of Ruth, God providentially works out His purpose in preserving the lineage of the one true King who will eventually rule for all time. 

The key to reading Judges and Ruth is to not to read the narrative in hindsight but to experience the plot as it unravels and feel the frustration of the drama before it finally trickles to a glimmer of hope and restoration. Although Judges should be rated "R" for its contents, it is a realistic account of how radical is the state of human depravity when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judg 17:6, 21:25). With the death of Joshua, there is no single national leader to unite the nation - four times, the refrain - "In those days there was no king in Israel" - echoes the cry of the nation, we need someone who can truly rule over us. What an irony that the Moabites who oppressed Israel for 18 years (Judg 3:14), gave rise to a Moabite woman named Ruth, who would end up being the great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 1:4, 4:21-22). What a drama!

CLICK HERE to download the overview illustration for the book of Judges and Ruth.

CLICK HERE to submit your questions for an upcoming Emmaus Fireside Online Chat (Wed, March 24 at 8pm) - especially questions from your children. We look forward to receiving your responses. Our focus is on the first five books of the Bible (Genesis to Deuteronomy).

Connecting the dots
Although Israel was now living in the land of Canaan, it was more of a case of Canaan living in Israel. What an irony - that which Israel is supposed to drive out is now driving them! Note that each cycle of Sin-Slavery-Supplication-Salvation did not happen on the same level, it was cycles that keep spiraling downwards! With each deliverance, Israel relapsed into accommodation and idolatry and repeated the cycle, degenerating further each time. The book of Judges is a consequential record for not heeding the following warnings:

  • "But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell." (Num 33:55)

  • "But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You shall not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it." (Deut 30:17-18)
The book of Ruth on the other hand, is a covenantal record which demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises:

  • "And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (Gen 22:18)

  • "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet." (Gen 49:10)

  • "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him." (Deut 18:15)
When Yahweh introduces Himself as the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" (Gen 50:24, Exod 3:15), it is a firm confirmation of the covenant God made with Israel and their special place as His treasured possession (Exod 19:5,6). "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13). Note the wonderful covenantal oath proclaimed by Ruth to her mother-in-law, "Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God." (Ruth 1:16). Despite the consequences of Judges, Yahweh has not abandoned His covenantal commitment.

Activity idea
Tim Keller has a helpful matrix to identify common forms of idolatry. 

Take this matrix and perhaps talk through this with your spouse, friend, family member or even use it for personal reflection. Which area of idolatry would you be prone towards? Idolatry was a key stumbling block for the Israelites in the days of Judges and in our present culture, it takes on a more subtle form and we need to be even more discerning.

Christ in Scripture
This is the dilemma of all humanity: witnessing the glory of our Creator (Rom 1:18-32) and experiencing his benevolence, yet trusting in the idols of our hearts instead of Him. To the extent that the judges saved God's people, we see the saving work of God in and through Jesus Christ. He is our Savior who defeated sin and death and freed us from the powers of this fallen world (John 12:31, Col 1:13, 1 Cor 15:57). 

Just as the book of Judges proved the need for God's king, so we too are defenseless and unruly apart from Christ's rule over us individually and as the people of God. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism teaches us, "Christ executed the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies." (Question 26).
(Ref: A Biblical Theology Introduction to the Old Testament, Judges). 

Judges show us our need for the King to rule over us and Ruth reveals the line of history which breaks the spiraling cycle of sin and offer the Messianic hope in the line of the future King David. What a drama, what a sovereign God we serve who works redemptively through the drama of human history to bring about His-Story! Praise be to God!

CLICK HERE to submit your questions for an upcoming Emmaus Fireside Online Chat (Wed, March 24 at 8pm) - especially questions from your children. We look forward to receiving your responses. Our focus is on the first five books of the Bible (Genesis to Deuteronomy).

We welcome your comments, feedback and questions - please post them in the comments below.

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