Boaz goes to settle the matter of who will be the guardian redeemer for Naomi and Ruth. This restored lineage through a Moabite leads to David, King of Israel.

Ruth takes the initiative to secure a home and husband for herself and the security this will bring for Naomi.

While Naomi expresses her sense of being forsaken by God at the end of chapter 1, we can see glimmers of God’s faithfulness across this first chapter of Ruth.

Parables were Jesus’ most distinctive form of teaching and he used them to great effect. In one of his most famous parables, Jesus uses a farming metaphor to describe various responses to his announcement of the kingdom of God.

Returning to the topic of the Christian community’s care for each other, Peter emphasizes the ways leaders and followers are to seek not status but service.

In this passage, Peter sums up key themes from his letter to Christians in Asia Minor. They should not be surprised by the suffering they are experiencing but are encouraged to see it through the lens of Christ’s own suffering.

Just as Christ suffered, so shall we, for the sake of righteousness. We need to put aside worldly behaviors, even at the risk of being ostracized by others, including those with whom we are close.

Peter continues his instruction on how to live as Christ-followers both inside and outside the church, even in the midst of personal suffering.

Peter continues his instruction on how to live as Christ-followers in an often alien and hostile pagan society. Just as Jesus suffered in order to bring us salvation, so our suffering in the world can produce healing and redemption through the example we set for others.