On dark nights, walking outside can be a challenge without any light. Even though you’ve crossed your yard hundreds of times and know where every divot or bush or plant is, the darkness makes it seem like a new landscape, one we aren’t sure about crossing. Going out into the unknown can often be as disconcerting as stepping into that darkened yard.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” Genesis 1:1,2 (ESV)
Imagine being there in the beginning of everything. There is complete and utter darkness. Nothing. No direction. No way to tell where to go. Silence that presses in on one. An utterly terrifying prospect.
And yet, there was hope too.
“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1: 3,4
When there was utter darkness and no direction, God had a plan. He provided the light so we would be able to see, to understand which way to go. We were not left in despair in the beginning and we aren’t now either.
The start of a new year can be uncertain. What will be ahead for us? Will 2023 be a year of joy or a year filled with heartbreak? Will there be sickness? New life? Bounty? Scarcity?
As we take the first steps into the unknown landscape of 2023, remember to allow God to light the way. Allow Him to shine on the path he has for each of us.
We may be unfamiliar with the layout in front of us but God knows every divot, every turn, every tiny pebble that might be in the way and become a tripping hazard. He wants to guide us. His desire is to lead us in the path He has chosen for us.
I pray we all walk into the New Year hand-in-hand with God, unconcerned about our future. Totally trust in Him.
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4, 5 (ESV)
No one has time to read blogs in the busy time around Christmas. It is appropriate, then, that today I post some poems since no one reads poetry either.
Seasonally Affected Disorder
Our Christmas cactuses
have glorious practices
in November,
but are bereft,
have no blooms left
come December.
A serious dereliction,
a complete contradiction,
like a Christmas tree
without ornamentation,
it’s a misrepresentation
of botany.
Echoes
Christmas colors mark the sign:
“Discount book sale, $9.09.”
Unforeseen ironic twist:
Wal-Mart’s profits swell from this—
A Christmas Carol, Dickens’ tale,
And Bob the clerk rings up the sale,
Who must increase his meager pay
By taking shifts on Christmas Day.
The next in line is pushing near.
Bob turns away and doesn’t hear
Charles’s echoes in the mall:
“It’s just business after all.”
To Seek a Better King
A couple of thousand kilometers
these pagans travelled,
several million footsteps,
taking months.
But the priests of the household,
who had studied their whole lives to be ready for this,
couldn’t be bothered to spend an afternoon checking out what they had heard.
God does not send stars and signs
to those who aren’t willing
to follow.
After All Expectation
(Genesis 35:16-20)
The birth came late
but far too early,
falling a few miles and many years short
of the destined nation.
She cried out that the birth brought only sorrow.
The father spoke of a prince coming,
but she could not see it.
They buried her beside the road to Bethlehem.
For those not Home for Christmas
In the season of joy,
pain and grief return for those no longer here.
The loss does not grow less with each passing year,
By now, Christmas 2022 is over, and the presents are unwrapped. I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas!
From scriptures we know that the wise men visited Jesus after his birth though we don’t know how long it was.
Today, I thought I’d share with you the significance of the wise men’s gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
The wise men were astrologers and the star they spotted was an astronomical sign that signified the prophecy of the Jewish king’s birth. They came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Unusual gifts for a baby but very significant gifts for Jesus.
Gold was indeed a gift fit for a king. Frankincense was a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of his future priesthood, setting him apart from a typical king. And Myrrh was used as a perfume, anointing oil, medicinal tonic, and as a key ingredient in the mixture of spices used to prepare bodies for burial.
Each gift from the wise men not only proclaimed Jesus’ kingly status, but also his future priesthood, and spoke of Jesus’ humanity and the way he would save his people—by dying for them.
So, even though Christmas is over, I hope you’ll remember the gifts brought by the wise men to honor the King, the High Priest, and the One Who Died For you.
“Do not be afraid; I have good news for you.” Luke 2:10
Many years ago, I decided to simplify Christmas. I made the holidays about understanding the deeper meaning of the season and celebrating the love of family and friends instead of the trappings.
When my children were small, I started the tradition in my family of always gathering around the breakfast table on Christmas morning for the reading of the birth of Jesus in Luke, Chapter 2. I made sure we chose Angels from the Salvation Army Christmas tree and carried food and gifts to the needy in my community so my children could experience the joy of giving to those less fortunate. And we were always in church where I played piano, celebrating His coming with pageants and songs of praise.
“All at once there was with the angel a great company of the heavenly host, singing the praises of God: ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and on earth his peace for men on whom his favour rests.’” Luke 2:14
In spite of my efforts to keep the focus directed toward Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, the greatest gift of all, the holiday season always became stressful. Why? Because I let the pressure from others in the family push me toward the commercial falderol and the idea that every Christmas activity had to revolve around a particular date.
For too many years, I let myself be swamped by an avalanche of decorating, special baking, parties, shopping, and gift wrapping. As my children grew up and moved with their families to far-flung places – Florida and New Hampshire – and I obviously couldn’t be in both places at one time, Christmas also meant many treks to the post office to mail gifts that might not fit, couldn’t be swapped and might not suit in the first place.
The “good news” and “the splendour of the Lord” (Luke) had become lost in frantic activity. It was “high time,” as Mama used to say, for me to do some soul searching and make changes.
And so, many years ago when my grandchildren were small, I chose the second week in November to celebrate Christmas in New Hampshire and somewhere in the ballpark of December 25 to celebrate with my family in Florida. Not only did I change the date, but I ditched the whole commercial idea of Christmas, and transformed it to leisurely time to enjoy family and to celebrate with them the true meaning of the season.
Armed with sweat pants and sleep socks to ward off the chill (I consider any state north of the Mason-Dixon line to be bitterly cold in winter), I would board the plane alone in Memphis and walk into the arms of my daughter, my son-in-law, and three of my beautiful grandchildren in NH. “Christmas with Gigi” (my grandchildren’s name for me) meant special time spent together making sausage balls and Mayan hot chocolate from scratch (recipe below), trekking the mall arm in arm until we found exactly what my NH grandchildren wanted, then racing home with my grandson to “drive” the Mario Kart on his new Wii, taking my teenaged granddaughters out to dinner and hearing their hopes and dreams, walking with them to piano and voice lessons, gathering around the piano and singing with them, worshipping with them at church, and going to their church’s wonderful Giving Fair, where money for gifts purchased goes to charity.
Christmas with my son, my daughter-in-law, and my grandson in Florida typically meant—and still does–a leisurely drive to the Panhandle for a very laid-back holiday filled with love, laughter, worship, treks to the beach, and lots of good eating. Both my children are wonderful cooks, so I get to sit back with a cup of coffee and wait to see what delicious treats they’ll put on the table. My daughter-in-law and I will have “girl time” getting our toenails done. My son and I will read the Bible and pray together, sing together while he plays guitar, and laugh uproariously over a Pink Panther re-run. This year, the grandson who took me out into the backyard when he was four to show me the rocket ship he’d built that would take us to the moon will show me his new house in Florida. He grew up to be an engineer. No surprise there!
For me, Christmas is love.
As promised, here’s the Mayan chocolate recipe: For one cup, melt three squares of Lindt Chili Dark Chocolate in one teaspoon of water over low heat. Stirring constantly, add a sprinkle of cinnamon, an extra dash of red pepper (optional) and either sugar or Splenda to taste. When the chocolate is melted, slowly add approximately six ounces of two per cent milk. Stir constantly until the milk has heated through. Do not let it boil.
Pour the Mayan hot chocolate into your favorite mug, top with miniature marshmallows, put on your favorite Christmas CD and let the joy and comfort of the Good News overflow your heart.
I will be singing the Christmas cantata in the little country church my grandfather built, teaching the Littles to love Jesus at Sunday School, and then playing the piano for evening services. Then, of course, I will write.
In his Gospel, Matthew stated that Herod’s slaughter of the young children in Bethlehem following the birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy: “Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more’” (Matthew 2:17-18 NIV). The history behind this reference is complex.
When the patriarch Jacob returned to Palestine, he was living at Bethel in the central part of Palestine and decided to move south to Ephrathah (Bethlehem). He and his wives and children and servants had only traveled a little way when his wife Rachel went into labor. She produced a son, whom she called Ben-Oni (Son of My Trouble) but whom Jacob called Benjamin (Son of My Right Hand). Rachel was in great pain as a result of the difficult birth (she was an older woman by then) and was not comforted by the fact that she had given birth to a son after many disappointments. She died, and Jacob buried her at a place called Ramah, a little north of Jerusalem (Genesis 35:16-20).
Several centuries later, when the Israelites moved into the Promised Land, the tribe of Benjamin was given the land around Ramah, perhaps because Rachel was buried there. (Ephraim and Manasseh, the tribes descended from Joseph, Rachel’s other son, were given land just north of Benjamin.)
The passage that Matthew quoted was from Jeremiah 35:15. Jeremiah had prophesied that Judah would be taken into exile by the Babylonians. He pictured Rachel crying as the exiles passed by her tomb on their way to Babylon. This is perhaps an extension from the idea that Rachel was crying in pain and bitterness as she died. However, in the next two verses, Jeremiah counseled Rachel and the Jews to cease crying because God would restore the Jews to the Holy Land (“Your children will return to their own land”). Later in the chapter, God promised that He would establish “a new covenant” with those who returned (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15 was fulfilled when the Babylonian army assembled the survivors from Jerusalem at Ramah, just north of the shattered city; from there they would begin their long journey into exile (Jeremiah 40:1). But the rest of Jeremiah’s prophecy was also fulfilled. The Jews did return from exile in Babylon. And, with the coming of Jesus, God was now in the process of establishing the “new covenant” which He had promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Bethlehem is in the territory of Judah, so the children killed there by Herod were not Rachel’s direct descendants. However, it is significant Rachel died while on the way to Bethlehem. Her tomb and the prophecies around it are like a signpost pointing the way to the destination that she never reached, a prophecy that another baby would be born in Bethlehem who would bring an end to her tears and bring salvation to her and all of her children. Echoing the names given to Benjamin, He would be a “man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3 KJV) who would later sit down at the “right hand” of God (Matthew 22:44, 26:64, Acts 2:22-36, 7:55-56, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3,13, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22).
The week leading up to Christmas is always hectic. Last minute things to do before the big day, maybe hustling to the store for a present or food to bring to a party. Then Christmas arrives and we visit with friends and family. All of this is common, but do we take a few minutes to thank the Father for the gift of Jesus? Or are we too busy?
If we get a bit forgetful, it’s not on purpose, I’m sure. As in all things, the pressures of life can overwhelm us. But when you look around, there are so many reminders of the season! Festive decorations as we drive here and there, even the twinkling tree in our own homes. Strangers greeting one another. Being generous because we can. There are so many times the spirit of the season is front and center.
I don’t have little ones at home any longer, so the month of December isn’t hectic for me. This year, I’ve taken to spending more time in God’s presence. To be thankful. To look ahead. To ask God, what can I do for you and your kingdom? For me, these quiet moments spent in prayer have been the best gift I could receive.
I hope you are gifted time of reflection and hope this year. In this crazy world we live in, we certainly need it!
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
For some time I’ve been wanting to write about the various Proverbs. I remember reading them when I was a young woman, and while I thought the concepts seemed wise, I didn’t always understand them. It’s my intent to explore Proverbs and give a modern account of what I believe is their meaning, in a way that I hope can be interpreted in today’s world.
When I think of this first Proverb, I think of my journey as a writer. I knew I wanted to write. The will was there. Or at least I wanted to have written. I learned what a big difference there is between the two. I realized that I would have to practice discipline, follow instruction and work harder than I ever had before in order to become an experienced and knowledgeable author.
To learn the ins and outs of good writing, I had to make sacrifices to get there. I gave up magazine grazing. I stopped watching TV. I devoted my spare time to the study of excellent writing and how to improve. There were also things I would never give up, such as my wonderful husband and family, reading, and time spent in prayer.
We all have weaknesses, and I wish I could say I conquered mine, but I can’t. However, through study, discipline and perseverance, I learned how to overcome many of my story weak areas. I studied plotting. I studied dialogue. I studied narrative. I studied structure. I studied comedy. I studied grammar. Other authors and I traded tips and ideas on good writing. I devoted more hours than I can count to improving. The payoff was when I sold my first stories to a magazine, and shortly after, my first novel to an established book publisher. But the learning didn’t stop there over twenty years ago, and it hasn’t stopped now.
Alternatively, back in the day I knew a young man who, like me, wanted to have written. But he didn’t want to practice or study or work hard at it. He had a natural talent for writing, but he never polished it, because it mostly came easily to him. And, because he hated the idea of working to improve, he didn’t. He never sold a book or an article. I think this was foolish of him, because I suspect his raw talent was far better than my own, and he could have easily become a highly respected author with the least amount study. He wouldn’t have needed to work as hard as me in order to further develop his base talent.
This Proverb addresses exactly the same issues, but it’s the path of knowledge and wisdom in relation to the Lord. In Hebrew, the word “instruction” means discipline. So, the hundreds of hours of lectures I attended, the endless hours of writing and rewriting, the countless hours of private study I devoted to writing produced in me, I believe, both knowledge and wisdom when it came to forming stories and articles—to the point where I’m able to share what I’ve gleaned with other writers, which is a huge joy.
Similarly, prayer, attending church, going to seminars and workshops on the Word, reading the Bible and supplemental materials, discussions with other Christians, all contribute to gaining both knowledge and wisdom. The fool, no matter how blessed by the Lord, won’t be willing to devote the hours and hard study required.
We all strive to be closer to the Lord, but not everyone is willing to make the sacrifices to get there. For some of us, the sacrifice is smaller than for others. Dedicating myself to learning what our Heavenly Father expects from us and desires for us brings me great personal happiness. Doing anything less would be foolish. The good Lord gives us all the tools we need to become wise in faith and strengthen our personal relationship with Him. By using these tools, we will find enormous, uplifting joy and the blessings are eternal.
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Kathy Carmichael is the USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedy, cozy mystery novels and Christian Non-fiction books. Her newest book, a Christian Romantic Suspense is a new release. The Patronis part of the Philanthropists Series, featuring stories by six award-winning and bestselling authors.
The marriage of Ruth and Boaz described in the Old Testament book of Ruth was not the usual love story. They got married following a social convention of obligation and need, not romance. They had not known each other for long.
What did Boaz know about Ruth? He knew she had shown love and loyalty to Naomi, risking her own future happiness to care for her aging mother-in-law (Ruth 2:11). He knew she was respectful since she had asked permission to glean in his field (Ruth 2:7). He knew she was hardworking since she had arrived at the field first thing in the morning and worked hard all day (Ruth 2:7,17). He knew that, in seeking a husband, she was not looking for youthful good looks or money (Ruth 2:10). He knew that she had a good reputation as “a woman of noble character” (Ruth 2:11, 3:11)
What did Ruth know about Boaz? She knew that he had shown great kindness and compassion to her and Naomi. He let her glean in his field (Ruth 2:8,10,13), he gave her access to water (Ruth 2:9), he gave her lunch and let her keep the leftovers (Ruth 2:14-15), he told his men to leave extra for her to glean (Ruth 2:15-16), and he gave her more grain later on (Ruth 3:15). She knew he was a devout believer in God due to his repeated expressions of faith (Ruth 2:4,12, 3:10). Yet he was a realist who was well aware of the evil in the world and took steps to protect her (Ruth 2:8-9,15). She knew he was a man who could exercise self-control and act with integrity since he did not try to take advantage of her when she came to him in the night (Ruth 3:7-13). She knew he was careful to protect her reputation (Ruth 3:14). She knew he was a man who fulfilled his obligations and did not break rules, even if it meant losing her (Ruth 3:11-13). She also knew that her mother-in-law, who was older and more experienced, respected Boaz and encouraged the marriage.
Two people who were loving, kind, hardworking, and faithful—the prospects for this marriage were very good. Character is a much more important determinant of a happy and successful marriage than romance.
This year I had the pleasure of joining other authors on a Christmas Blog Tour. It’s been fun reading each of our posts because none are the same, yet all are about Christmas. It’s helped me get in the spirit of the season, something I’ve kind of been struggling with this year.
The authors are:
E.V, Sparrow
Jennifer Hallmark
Jane Baker
Karin Beery
Dianne Marie Andre
Laurie Wood
and me!
I wrote about traditions. As I age I realize they become more precious to me each year. This year is going to be different because our son is married and it’s his first Christmas with his new traditions. We’ll see them Christmas Eve and again Christmas afternoon, but they noted they might not be hungry for dinner. That has me wondering do I make a turkey or a ham? Maybe we start a new tradition!
-If you’d like to read the posts, we are featuring them until December 22. You can read them at juliearduini.com.
-Looking for a good Advent reading plan? I use the YouVersion Bible reading app and am thoroughly enjoying 21 Gifts of Advent. Check it out!
-Finally, I have an excerpt to my next release, Repairing Hearts. I’d love for you to read it. The password is “Christmas.”
There are so many beautiful prophecies from the Old Testament that foretell the Messiah’s birth in detail.
The prophets told of how the Messiah would come from Abraham’s line and would be born of a virgin who would call His name Immanuel. He would be an heir to King David’s throne and would reign for all eternity.
Micah 5:2 tells of how the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem 400 years before Jesus’ birth.
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David, but out this little town would come One far greater than David. God orchestrated everything down to the last detail to fulfill the prophesies of the Messiah in Jesus.
He had the emperor of Rome create a census at just the right time when Mary was close to her time to give birth to the Messiah. It forced Mary and Joseph to leave Nazareth in Galilee and make the difficult journey to Bethlehem because Joseph was from the line of King David.
God chose this little town to be the birthplace of His Messiah effectively tying Jesus to King David. Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies that were written about the Savior and on that night long ago, God’s plan to redeem His creation was put into play in little Bethlehem. And 33 years later, God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Jesus Christ died for us!
It is that time of year when we are extra busy. Buying presents. Making food to give away. Doing extra in the community. Preparing for family to visit. Decorating our homes.
The workload is tremendous and it seems like there are not enough hours in the day. By night time we are so worn out we can’t wait to get some sleep. And then we wake up and the pressure starts all over.
I may have said this before, but this time of year, I like to ponder Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth. Bethlehem was a busy city. People were there for the census and there wasn’t an empty room anywhere. The women would have been busy cooking extra food. The men, trying to house the extra livestock and provide for them. I can almost hear the noise and see the hurrying and frantic pace throughout the city.
Much like it is for us today.
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12 NKJV
Outside the city, are these shepherds with their sheep. They are probably kicking back by the fire, maybe even sleeping. Yet, as shepherds would, they are alert for any change or danger to their flock. They are busy with their work, but still watching. And they see an amazing sight as the angel of the Lord tells them about Jesus and the glory of the Lord shone in the heavens.
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:13-14 NKJV
Because they are alert and watching, they are privy to an amazing concert. A praise and worship time with the angels singing and filling the heavens with their song.
This is where I stop and consider the times. The shepherds were outside the city but not that far away. Here the heavens are lit up with something spectacular. There are angels singing, and it’s a sight that is unparalleled.
Yet, what happens in Bethlehem? No one notices. Not one person. How do we know that?
The shepherds were so amazed, they left their flocks and went to Bethlehem to see the baby. After seeing Jesus with Mary and Joseph, this is what they did:
“Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” Luke 2:17-18 NKJV
Consider this as you go through the Christmas season. Are you like the people in Bethlehem who are blind to the glory of God and His message? Or are you like the shepherds, busy but still alert and watching?
Will you be too busy and miss the reason we celebrate? Will you miss the Christ child or the angels singing in the heavens while you prepare for company and buy gifts?
Or will you be busy like the shepherds? Busy, but also watching. Waiting to hear from God. To see what He has for you this season.
I pray we all will watch for those miracle moments that God gives us. That when the pressure and busyness gets too much, we take time to sit down and connect with Jesus. To see Him. To truly see His love for us. To share Him with those around us.
Have a blessed Christmas.
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV
“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:16-17
Around this time of year, much of our attention is focused on gifts. Children are eager to see what presents they will receive on Christmas Day. And as adults, we too are focused on gifts in a different way. We are searching for the perfect gift for each person on our list. Of course, this also means that we have to purchase gifts, and then this leads to wrapping gifts. Much of our time in December can revolve around gifts.
As I was recently reading the verses above in the book of James, it reminded me of gifts in a different sense. Not just material items that we purchase, but the blessings in our lives. God is the giver of those gifts. He loves us beyond measure and enjoys showing us that love. Sometimes we might miss it, though. Because we are too focused on the material things right in front of us, we might overlook the spiritual blessings in our lives. Me might not see how God protected us, or how God paved a way for us in a certain situation. We might miss the way God provided for us, or how God opened a door for us. We have to be intentional about keeping our eyes open for these gifts. When we do, we will see so many ways that God has been there all along.
These verses also reminded me of something else. Maybe if you are like me, you worry about the future. There are so many things that can cause us to worry, from health to finances. And then when we look around at the world today, this brings more worry. But we have Almighty God beside us. He has been faithful to us in the past, He is faithful in the present, and He will be faithful in the future. That is who He is. He cannot deny His own character. James reminded us of this when He said God “does not change like shifting shadows.” This truth should bring us comfort and help us to put our worries into His hands.
This Christmas season, may we take time to open our eyes to all the ways the Lord has provided for us, protected us, and walked beside us. May we keep our eyes open for His goodness all around us. May we thank Him for His faithfulness yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
That is what Christmas is really all about. Not the gifts under the tree, but the gift of Jesus and how He has literally changed everything for us. He redeemed us and paid a debt we could never pay on our own. He brought us peace, hope, joy, and love. We need not worry about what is to come, because Jesus already won. We can take comfort in the arms of the Lord this Christmas season, and always.
There were in the Mosaic law some very wise social provisions. One of these was gleaning. The poor were allowed to go into the fields after harvest and “glean,” pick up whatever grain and fruit the harvesters had missed. Even with modern methods, harvesting is rarely perfect, and it is not usually worth the effort and expense for the farmer to go back and find the small amount of food that was missed. But for the poor, these small amounts could mean the difference between eating and starvation. The poor got to eat, but the poor also had the satisfaction of working to get their food. It gave them dignity and purpose. (An imperfect modern equivalent practice is that the poor salvage the empty beverage containers that the rich throw away.)
Another social provision concerned widows. When a husband died, a brother or other relative would marry the widow and provide for her and her children. This is what Boaz later did for Ruth, and in the process he also provided for Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi (Ruth 3-4). This offends our modern notion of romance, but it should be pointed out that our modern focus on romantic feelings has led to widespread divorce, leaving many single mothers and their children living in poverty. It is more important to find a good and moral spouse than a handsome or beautiful or romantic or flamboyant spouse.
These social provisions in the law worked very well for Ruth. Boaz even went beyond the gleaning law to provide extra food (charity) for Ruth and her mother-in-law. However, there are in her story hints about another social reality. Boaz told his workers, “Don’t reprimand her” (2:15) and “Don’t rebuke her” (2:16). He also Ruth, “I have told the men not to lay a hand on you” (2:9). Naomi also warned her daughter-in-law, “In someone else’s field you might be harmed” (2:22). Regardless of what the law said, some farmers would chase the poor out of their fields and not let them glean. A young woman such as Ruth would also be in danger of being “harmed”—raped or beaten. The poor were not blameless either. Boaz told his workers to let Ruth glean among the sheaves; underlying this is a hint that when other poor people were allowed to glean among the sheaves, they were not above stealing some of the already harvested grain.
As well, the man who was the closest relative later refused to marry Ruth because he feared it would endanger his own wealth and the inheritance of his own children (4:6). This was in spite of the fact that Ruth would come to the marriage with her father-in-law’s land, which her children would inherit.
The social provisions in the law were wise and beneficial, but only if they were followed. Good laws can be circumvented by selfish and immoral people. While commanding good, God is aware that people are often sinful.
I grew up in the 1960s listening to protest songs and folk songs sung by such artists as Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Those songs spoke to me then, and they still resonate with me today.
To be sure, many of these singers were naïve in their expectations and were often themselves quite imperfect people, but they sang about perfect ideals. Whether they were aware of it or not, their songs were filled not only with biblical concepts but even with biblical phrases and images. This was perhaps due to the extent to which biblical concepts had permeated general culture as a result of the resurgence in church attendance in the 1950s. For some of the singers, the biblical content was more conscious than for others. Bob Dylan and Paul Stookey later embraced Christianity, however imperfectly.
Recently, I rewatched a recording of a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert from 1986. What struck me was how much their songs were permeated by a plethora of biblical concepts. Love. Peace. Truth. Justice. Human dignity. Respect. Humility. Gratitude. Gentleness. Freedom. Family. Brotherhood. Unity. Community. Work. Compassion for human suffering. Lament over the brokenness of our world. Sacrificial giving. Forgiveness. Delight in the natural world. Fun. The innocence of childhood. Life. Joy. Hope.
I think that the biblical content is the reason these songs still resonate with me today. They certainly offer a more elevated set of concepts than much modern popular music (which is often very narrowly self-centered even when not blatantly immoral)—and even much social activism today. To be sure, modern social activists still advocate for justice and compassion. But much else has been lost. There are undercurrents of anger, selfishness, division, and pride in much modern social activism. Sex and pleasure have replaced the emphasis on love and family. The right to die has replaced the joy of living. Human rights (however badly defined) are still emphasized, but not humility, work, sacrificial giving, and forgiveness. On all sides, truth is fought over rather than genuinely sought with humility. Rather than people working together to achieve justice and change opinions, justice is to be imposed from the top by governments, which themselves have often proved to be unjust. Perhaps most crucial of all, trying to build an ideal world on a human level without even a subconscious awareness of the God of the Bible is futile and likely to be misguided and go astray.
We live in an imperfect world, where we often fail to achieve lofty goals, even with the best of intentions. But I still think that we should sing about, celebrate, believe in, and work for: love, peace, truth, justice, human dignity, respect, humility, gratitude, gentleness, freedom, family, brotherhood, unity, community, work, compassion for human suffering, lament over the brokenness of our world, sacrificial giving, forgiveness, delight in the natural world, fun, the innocence of childhood, life, joy, and hope.
Christians Read 