Job and Ruth

Why do we read the Bible? It is the most alluded to piece of literature in Western (America and England) Literature. Why? Large percentage of this area are composed of Christians and the early writers of this area came from priest and other religious people.

Job feared God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Fear? It is respect and fear of his judgemnet. He is a man of character, integrity and a man of patience. During God's conversation with Satan , he calls Job "perfect" meaning he repents, obeys and respects God.The only perfect person is...Peter(laughter ensues). Satan relfects the Puritan point of view in saying in verse 7 that he walks on Earth. In the Scarlett Letter they believe the Black Man(meaning soul, even though there was an epic showdown of stares between Miller and John) lerks in the forest. In Job 1:21 "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." So when Job is crying out to God and says,"in all this" what does he mean? He means that Satan took away his material wealth and family,and gave his sickness but did not kill him. His lovely wife tells Job to curse God and die. His 3 friends, Elephaz, Bildad(or Bert), and Zophar, tell him that this is all his fault. Zophar uses metaphor and imagery in his spiel on Job's sin.Moral? Bad things happen to good people. Why? Persecution and trials are "blessings of joy" to strengthen our faith. God allows us to be temped but not beyond our limit. Job never knows about the God and Satan deal making his patience all the more significant. 42:10- Job recieved 2 fold his loss (with the exception of children since they are waiting for him in the house of God). The first 2 chapters and last 2 chapters and in Herbrew poetry. This book is before Solomon.

Ruth is located after Judges. It takes place in the Day of Judges. The story begins in Moab where Naomi and her family moved when there was famine in Jerusalem and Bethleham. She has 2 sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Her husband,Elimelech dies and the sons marry Moab women, Ruth and Orpah. The 2 sons die as well. Naomi goes back to Bethleham with Ruth in tow (Oprah went home). Ruth 1:16: "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."There Ruth gleaned (picked the scrapes) of Boaz's fields. In the end she marries Boaz. This story exhibits devotion, love, trusting God and felial responsibility & affection. So why is Ruth important? WELL, Ruth begets Obed, who begets Jesse, who begets David, making her in the direct leniage of Jesus. Also this is the first exposure of Bethleham in the Bible.