Good Times in Bad Times
by David Gibson
The late radio news commentator Paul Harvey would sometimes report on some horrific situation, then he’d turn his attention to an uplifting story by saying, “Now wash your ears out with this.”
That reminds me of the book of Ruth. Ruth lived during the time of the judges, when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). That era is called the Dark Ages of Israel, when God’s people were inclined to idolatry, godlessness, and immorality, resulting in horrible consequences.
But despite all that, the book of Ruth is like a breath of fresh air. It is a book of blessings pronounced on others:
- by Naomi on her daughters-in-law (Ruth 1:8-9);
- by Boaz and his harvesters on one another (Ruth 2:4);
- by Boaz on Ruth (Ruth 2:10-13);
- by Naomi on Boaz (Ruth 2:19-20);
- once again by Boaz on Ruth (Ruth 3:10);
- by the people of Bethlehem on Boaz (Ruth 4:11-12);
- and by the women on Naomi (Ruth 4:14-15).
This little book is a pure gem—so beautifully demonstrating God’s Providence at work behind the scenes through people and circumstances. The book closes with a reference to David, the great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth, and the ancestor of “great David’s greater Son” (Luke 3:31-32; Matthew 1:5-6; 22:41-46).
The good news for our day is that God is still at work in His world, despite all the violence, corruption, divisiveness, and rejection of moral standards. God is more than able to bring good out of evil (Romans 8:28). The darker the darkness, the more brightly His providence and His truth shine through.
So like Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz, let’s live right, bless and encourage one another, and hope in God.
He will bring us through!
