Clinging to God. Judges 16-21 and Ruth

It's hard for me to know what to do with these passages. The last chapters of Judges tell of the depths of depravity of people. "In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:14 and other places). And 'what was right in his own eyes' is heart-breaking. At times, it is perhaps simply misguided rather than directly harmful; idolatry and taking a personal priest. But it's mostly more violent, where might is right and those with the force take what they want: priests and idols, livestock, and young ladies from another town. In a brutal mockery of the unspoken rules of hospitality, the "men" AKA 'worthless fellows' gang-rape and kill a woman, the concubine of a guest. This is between and within the tribes of Israel, God's chosen people. It makes me cry out for a hero, a leader to save the people. Someone unlike their last leader, Samson, who was impulsive and violent, and was lead astray multiple times by the charm of a woman.

The story of Ruth is a welcome change from Judges. Here we see grace lavished upon someone, a foreigner with no claim or right. Ruth is a hard-working woman, expecting to work for the scarce gleanings from the field. But Boaz sets it up so she receives drink along with his own harvesters, food from his table, and extra gleanings from his workers' bundles. Boaz redeems Ruth, marries her, and from them comes King David, and many generations further, Jesus Christ. Joshua warned Israel to 'cling to the Lord your God' (Joshua 23:8), but here (Ruth 1:14) it is Ruth the foreign Moabite who 'clings to her mother-in-law', Naomi, and by extension to God. And so she is taken under his wings for refuge (Ruth 2:12).

Bringing this forward to my life, I, like Ruth, have experienced overwhelming grace and hospitality as a traveler in a foreign land. I have been blown away by gifts, including time and conversation, which I don't deserve, but which give glory to God. Today I know of so many ways that people do 'what is right in their own eyes', and the heartache and tragedy that it brings. Front-page stories of wars and bombings, and hidden from sight tales of the sex trade, human trafficking, brutality and greed. Broken families, broken neighbourhoods, broken countries, and a broken world. All I can do is cling to God and cry "Amen, Come Lord Jesus".