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In what ways do we see God’s Spirit at work in the books of Judges and Ruth?
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We see God’s Spirit at work in both Judges and Ruth as he works behind the scenes. He raises up different judges to lead part of Israel and gives them wisdom. He continues to hear the cries of his people after they turn away from him and face the consequences. He takes them back and shows them mercy again and again. In Ruth, he shows himself to Ruth through Naomi’s faith and his shows them his faithfulness when they return to Judah. He makes Boaz favorable to Ruth and orchestrates their marriage in David’s line.
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God’s Spirit was definitely in action again and again in the time of Judges and in the book of Ruth. The Israelites were being taken care of by God, through the work of His Spirit in guiding the judges to do what is required for temporary deliverance, and in Ruth, we see how the two women, Naomi and Ruth are led to make the decision to return to Bethlehem. There, Ruth is “found” by Boaz, and their marriage leads to the lineage of David and then eventually Christ is continued.
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During the time of the Judges, God responded to the cries of the Israelites raising Judges to lead them, but the people would then eventually revert back to worshiping other gods and destructive behavior. But God tried to get their attention…In the Book of Ruth, He was working on His Plan, bringing about the pairing of Boaz and Ruth to bring about the line to King David and eventually Jesus Christ.
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God’s spirit is at work in the book of Judges as he raises up a judge, one who is certainly not perfect morally, to help deliver the Israelites from their enemies. His spirit is at work in the book of Ruth as he led Ruth to Boaz’s field where they meet and eventually get married. Now both Ruth and Naomi have a home and Naomi has a new family.
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In Judges, we are told when God’s Spirit is upon a person. We read in Judges 2:18 that whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge. We know that His spirit was at work with each judge that was chosen. Judges 3:10 shows us that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Othniel as he judged, and upon Gideon in Judges 6:34. God clearly gave Gideon plans before battle that ensures a military victory for him. In the cycle, the people do eventually turn back to God and cry out for help, and this is God’s spirit bringing them back to Him. In Ruth, Naomi remained a follower of God and she sees that He is at work, providing food again which prompts them to return to Judah. When Ruth “happened to be in Boaz’s field” we know this was the Spirit of God that led her there, even though she may have been unaware of His leading. God’s Spirit led Ruth to convert to follow Him and brought great blessing in her life.