Mountains and Mustard Seeds

This guided lectio divina of 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (NASB) corresponds to Ruth 3:16-4:12. Hannah's song of thanksgiving contains some powerful imagery about who YHWH is and His conduct, turning over and reversing many human ideas about how life operates. This portion fits beautifully with the themes in Ruth: Boaz is the instrument of God's heart, elevating Ruth and Naomi from their poverty to a place of honor.

Stay tuned for the next corresponding podcasts, which will dig into the social, historical and literary study of Ruth 3:16-4:12.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by ⁠Scott Holmes⁠ and ⁠Joseph McDade⁠.

We dig into the beautiful Hebrew language in this portion of Ruth 3:6-15 (NASB), looking specifically at how repetition and allusion weave our theme of hesed and human agency together. Often times Boaz becomes the focus in these later passages, but Erica explains why Ruth needs a shoutout as well. Ultimately, both Ruth and Boaz demonstrate the ideal hesed as a biblical example to all of us.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.

What do you do with the unprecedented moments of life for which the Bible holds no specific answer? Boaz finds himself in this place with Ruth and models the ideal hesed through his interactions in Ruth 3:6-15 (NASB). When we embrace the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law, it provides a creative template to live faithfully in God's kingdom as we embody His love to those around us.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.

This guided lectio divina of Isaiah 43:1-4 (MSG) corresponds to Ruth 3:6-15. This portion of Isaiah - especially Eugene Peterson's translation - captures the security and peace of being redeemed. In many ways, the glimmer of hope for Ruth's redemption reflects God's ultimate redemption of His people.

Stay tuned for the next corresponding podcasts, which will dig into the social, historical and literary study of Ruth 3:6-15.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.

We take a look at those Hebrew double entendres in Ruth 3:1-5 (NASB) to better understand the denotative and connotative meaning of the words. This helps identify why some scholars and pastors interpret this passage with overt sexuality, while also explaining Erica's belief that the author of Ruth uses the sexualized language as a clever literary device. We also compare this wild plan in Ruth to some weird patriarchal schemes to determine how it differs from, which also draws out the main theme of hesed in the process.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.

What do we do with bizarre portions of the Bible like Naomi's plan in Ruth 3:1-5 (NASB)? Erica reveals some important methodology that Biblical scholars use to make sense of and interpret these passages. You might be surprised with her interpretation, but she takes care to explain her steps, keeping the overarching narrative of Ruth and the Bible in mind. Ruth reveals that God loves working with broken people and can do immeasurably more than we could possibly imagine with our actions and decisions.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.

This guided lectio divina of Psalm 100 (NASB) corresponds to Ruth 3:1-5. Imagine Naomi praying something like this after seeing the tangible kindness of Boaz, their kinsman redeemer. Erica incorporates a wee bit of biblical Hebrew into this English translation to reinforce all that we've been learning about hesed.

Stay tuned for the next corresponding podcasts, which will dig into the social, historical and literary study of Ruth 3:1-5.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.

Chiasm and allusion are present in this final portion of Ruth 2:17-23 (NASB, and CJB) which creates a powerful thematic and theological focus. Erica unpacks the theological implications that result from Naomi's declaration in Ruth 2:20, connecting God's hesed with the kindness of Boaz as an answer to prayer.

Chiastic structure in this portion:

Vv 17 Report of Ruth’s gleaning from day 1 

Vv 18-19 Ruth and Naomi discuss where she gleaned 

Vv 20 Naomi acknowledges the kindness of God by way of Boaz 

Vv 21-22 Ruth and Naomi plan to continue gleaning in Boaz’s fields’ 

Vv 23 Report of Ruth’s continued gleaning until end of Harvest

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.

This episode digs into the ancient Jewish practice of the kinsman redeemer, and reveals the importance for Ruth and Naomi. Furthermore, we begin to unpack the theology of the book of Ruth concerning God's providence and the interplay of human and divine action. If you're following along in your Bible, Erica references the NASB translation but the CJB captures more of the Biblical Hebrew.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.

This guided lectio divina of Psalm 36:5-9 (NASB) corresponds to Ruth 2:17-23. This psalm celebrates the hesed of YHWH through God's protection and provision for those who seek refuge in Him.

Stay tuned for the next two corresponding podcasts, which will dig into the social, historical and literary study of Ruth 2:17-23.

If you have a question or would like to connect with Erica, please email [email protected]

Podcast instrumental music by Scott Holmes and Joseph McDade.