2008-04-27 - 2008-04-27 - Ruth ~ Installment 2

2008-04-27 - Ruth

The Times of the Judges
"The book of Judges leaves us with the all-too-well-founded conviction that the general condition was one of moral deterioration" ₈
Dr. McGee makes an interesting comment when speaking of the times of the Judges:
"The Book of Ruth fits into this period of the judges. The incidents that are recorded here take place on this black background of the judges, a time when a man like Samson was a public figure. Today when scandals have shaken our own country, think of the scandal of a Samson! During the period of compromise, corruption, and confusion, this lovely story takes place. It is light in the midst of darkness. This is the way God writes, is it not? He writes the story of salvation on the black background of sin, and He put this love lovely little story on the black background of the time of the judges. This is the picture that we have before us. It is "in the days when the judges ruled."" ₉

Reed notes:
"The degree of permissiveness in Israel was a theme repeated often in the Book of Judges and restated in the book's last verse: "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit" (Jud. 21:25). By contrast the Book of Ruth provides a view of people who acted responsibly, rather than permissively, and with faith in God's sovereign, superintending control." ₁₀

Keep in mind that the comment "in the days when judges ruled ..." means the book was written at a later time, but the events occurred during this period.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

Additional studies by Geoff
Podcasts of Studies in Matthew can be found at www.GKragen.com

Baxter, J. Sidlow, Explore The Book, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1960, p. 27.
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. 2, "Joshua - Psalms," Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, TN 1982, p.89.
Reed, John W., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Volume 1, "Ruth," Victor Books, Wheaton, IL., 1986, p. 416.