“Jesus’s teaching reveals that obedience to God is not a matter of precision, but that the parameters of true obedience are virtually limitless. We can’t reduce life with God to a check list of rules to be kept and deadly sins to be avoided. Formal religion only takes us so far–for it is both safe and doable. Love, however, knows no limits, takes costly risks, and looks for ways to give more.”
The Old Testament book of Ruth is often reduced to a sentimental love story in which Ruth, a “helpless” widow, captivates an older, established man’s heart by her ability to glean (really?), and finally provides her mother-in-law with a grandson. End of story. We mechanically turn the page and begin 1 Samuel.
To read Carolyn Custis James’ book, The Gospel of Ruth, is to have that shallow, inadequate interpretation shattered. Wonderfully shattered. And then reconstructed from the ground up. You won’t recognize this version from your Sunday School class (or Wednesday night Bible study for that matter) for Custis James writes as a brilliant theologian, historian, word smith, and pastor.
By using the Hebrew concept of hesed* as the rebar for her book, readers learn how blatantly counter-cultural, courageous, and sacrificial Ruth’s actions were. She determines to serve Naomi, whatever the cost. In the course of the book, Ruth emerges as a powerful leader who partners with Boaz to discover the deeper meaning of hesed for her people. Custis James unpacks this story on a meta level as well, revealing to her readers how God’s “preferred method of getting things done is to work through his image bearers” as they partner side by side in a “blessed alliance.”
A few gems:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21) Ultimately, the impact of submission means those with power over others give it up.”
“Contrary to the ancient culture’s tendency to discard barren women as useless members of society, God refuses to drop them from the script. Instead of banishing them to the margins of his story, he resolutely moves them to the forefront and recruits them for pivotal roles in the history of redemption.”
An excellent read. Challenging, enlightening, and inspiring. Zondervan Press, 2008 (I was slow to find this one!)
* A Hebrew word, inadequately translated to mean loving kindness.