Looking Forward

I have always loved the story of Ruth and have turned to it when preparing readings for Wednesday meetings on various topics like home, family, generosity, unselfishness, marriage, etc

As it’s such a short book, I thought I’d take a little time to do some extra research.  The other morning I read the story from a favourite Bible paraphrase, The Living Bible*.  How beautifully the story reads here, just as it does in the King James Version, but with some fresh renderings, e.g.

·        Ruth 1: 19 “the entire village was stirred by their arrival”

when Naomi and Ruth entered Bethlehem together after Naomi’s ten year absence.  “Who is the foreigner with her?” they may have been asking.

·        Ruth 3: 9 “make me your wife according to God’s law...”  Whoa: under instruction from matchmaker Naomi, Ruth pops the question to Boaz.

·        Ruth 3: 10 “thank God for a girl like you....you have put aside your personal desires so you can give Naomi an heir...”  Boaz’ true colours shine out in all he says and does.  He has shown himself to be a good businessman; a trusted leader; a generous, perceptive, thoughtful, and unprejudiced person.

I was interested to find a commentary from a chap called Jacob M. Van Zyl who is studying the entire Bible chapter by chapter and sharing his research at: http://www.messiah-study.net/Ruth.htm.  Mr Zyl points out the Ruth looked forward, while Naomi was looking back, and as a result seems to have become downright angry with God about all the bad things that had happened to her.  What a blessing Ruth’s selflessness and exuberance were to this family, which went on to be so blessed.   Even to welcoming a new babe.  And we all know what joy that brings!

 *The Living Bible: An easy to understand paraphrase – Revised British Edition 1974 – by Kenneth Taylor, who “began this paraphrase so that his ten children would be able to understand the Bible more easily.  But then it became the Bible for every man – old and young.  It is described as the world’s most readable Bible, the book you can sit down and read from cover to cover.  Unlike some other versions, the reader is not defeated by obscure and archaic language.  It is scholarly – that is, it has been checked for accuracy and style – yet highly readable and, as a result, welcomed by millions who have found the Bible really speaking to them in their own situation.” Publisher: Coverdale