David composed Psalm 20 as a prayer to be offered by the people on behalf of the king about to go to war in defense of the kingdom. The psalm encourages both the king and the people to remember that God protects those who trust in Him. Even when we are surrounded by trouble, God watches over those who boast in Him. When a crisis threatens to tear our world apart, the LORD is the guardian of those who take refuge in Him. God defends those who boast in His protection.

Given David’s checkered background, and God’s continued grace shown to him throughout his life, the shepherd-king wants to know what kind of person can expect to be welcomed into the company of God’s fellowship.

As a kinsman redeemer, Boaz can help Naomi keep the property of her dead husband, Elimelech. And if Boaz agrees to marry Ruth, and if she bears a son, her offspring will save the family name as well as the family’s property for future generations. This is the opportunity before Ruth and Boaz.

The news that Ruth had gleaned in the field belonging to Boaz transforms Naomi. Suddenly, she is no longer Mara, the bitter. She is once again Naomi, the pleasant. Where once she blamed God for bringing her back empty, she now asks Him to bless Boaz while also thanking Him for His kindness. Sometimes the last thing you expect is for God to provide salvation from unexpected source.

When hard times hit, we will struggle to trust God when He says He is working in all things for our good. There is a difference between believing God has a reason for every season and trusting Him to work in all things for our good through every season.

Just ask Naomi.

Ruth is a story about how three ordinary people living ordinary lives, choose to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. The reason their faith, strength, and virtue stand out as extraordinary is because in the days when the judges ruled, all three were in short supply.

Jonah was angry because God acted according to His character. The pouting prophet wanted God to enforce a patent on His grace. Jonah believed some things – like God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness – are too important to share—especially with one’s enemies. But God had a different agenda. The LORD wanted Jonah to learn that some things are too important not to share.

When last we left Jonah, the LORD had instructed the great fish He appointed to swallow him to vomit the runaway prophet out upon dry land. We do not know how much time passed between the day the fish vomited out Jonah upon dry land and the moment “the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time.” Regardless of the time passed, from Jonah’s perspective it was déjà vu all over again.

In his book, Miracles, C.S. Lewis wrote, "I use the word Miracle to mean an interference with Nature by supernatural power."

If we accept Lewis' definition (and we should) then the book of Jonah is full of miracles. It is an account filled with descriptions of how God interferes with Nature in order to demonstrate His power and reveal His grace. Woven throughout Jonah are events in which God interferes, or interrupts Nature in order to bring about His plan.

Jonah deliberately went the wrong way in order to escape his responsibility as a prophet. But God had any other ideas.

You cannot hide from God. Wherever you go, wherever you run, He will find you. He will track you down until you have nowhere left to hide.