Tag: Conquest and Judges

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Conquest and Judges – Ruth and Naomi

But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried…” Ruth 2:16-17

Some of the most popular jokes in movies and on tv are about in-laws. Frustrations about in-laws in general are a common theme from shows like Modern Family and Everybody Loves Raymond, and movies like Monster-in-Law and Meet the Parents. Relatives are always a challenge, but even more so when they are not blood related. 

For this reason, it’s interesting that this passage is actually most often used in wedding ceremonies, the process through which families are united and in-laws created.

In the story, Naomi, a Hebrew, is the mother-in-law to both Ruth and Orpah who are Moabites. After the death of all three women’s husbands, Naomi begs her daughters-in-law to leave her and find new husbands. They were not born into the Hebrew clan, and they are young enough to start their lives over somewhere else rather easily. Orpah departs, but Ruth decides to stay. She selflessly vows to live with Naomi, travel with her, worship with her, and remain faithful to her God and people for the rest of her life. 

Ruth goes on to marry one of Naomi’s relatives in order to restore her claim on the family land. She even has a child with her new husband, Boaz, whom they named Obed. The baby grows up to become grandfather to King David. The book of Ruth is a story of conversion. It’s unique because it shows how foreigners joined the family of Abraham, and even contributed to the bloodline of kings.

Ruth and Naomi understood the selfless love of God. They worked for one-another and not their own personal interests, and together they triumphed. It is a selfless love which we are all called to model as people redeemed by God through Christ. Naomi and Ruth’s generous actions became the seed from which the Tree of Jesse flourished to bear the fruit of King David, ancestor of Jesus Christ. May all of our selfless actions give birth to something beautiful as we see the family of God grow.

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Conquest and Judges – Deborah’s Servant Leadership

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah …and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.  Judges 4:4-5s

The Book of Judges runs in a pretty predictable cycle. Israel rebels against God, God raises up an enemy to punish Israel, the people complain and turn back to God so God raises up a judge to lead them in defeating the enemy. This happens about seven times in the Book of Judges, and the third judge is actually a woman named Deborah. At God’s direction, she commissions a man named Barak to the army in defeating an oppressive neighboring Kingdom. However, Barak says he’s too afraid to go without her. Together they go and defeat their dangerous neighbors, but the glory doesn’t to Barak because he is determined to be a coward.

Deborah is a powerful woman in the story of Scripture, and she breaks a lot of the stereotypes about what a Godly woman should look like. She is described as a prophet. She’s working as a judge and making wise decisions. The text says she’s leading all of Israel, and she understands politics and the military. Deborah also has a personal life. She’s married and might even have children.

Deborah is a woman who wears many hats. She has a lot of responsibilities. Which begs the question, what qualifies a person to serve God in a particular way? How do we know someone should be a teacher or leader or preacher in the church? According to Paul, the Holy Spirit equips each follower of Jesus with spiritual gifts to use in service of the Kingdom of God. We have a responsibility to discover and nurture these gifts within ourselves and other Christians.

Deborah would have spent time cultivating her gifts for leadership and prophecy before taking on a formal role. She was a wonderful leader and served Israel well. What spiritual gifts has God gifted you with, and how can be a servant leader in the church of Christ?