Digital Logos Edition
A new commentary for today’s world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible’s grand story. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike.
Three easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God’s story:
“Given what we know about the period of the judges, it is possible that the famine in Bethlehem and perhaps even the deaths of Elimelek and his sons and their childless marriages were linked to covenant unfaithfulness. Naomi certainly saw the hand of God behind her afflictions (Ruth 1:21).” (Page 19)
“Naomi was not in a place where she was ready to accept help, as her refusal to even acknowledge Ruth shows. Naomi had a number of basic needs that had to be met before she could begin to hope and to care again. As the rest of the book of Ruth unfolds, we will witness Naomi’s transformation as her needs begin to be met through the hesed of Ruth and Boaz.” (Page 32)
“Laments are not failures of faith; they embody faith. We can cry out to God from the depths of our sorrow and pain believing that God will hear us, that Jesus is with us in our suffering, and that God’s spirit groans on our behalf when the pain is unbearable.” (Page 31)
“‘wings’ (plural of kanap) now provided Ruth with refuge, would richly reward her for what she has done (Ruth 2:12). As Katharine Sakenfeld suggests, Ruth ‘in effect invites Boaz to make good on the prayer he made earlier on her behalf.’” (Pages 60–61)
“Chapter 1 ends where it began—in Bethlehem, a small village of a few hundred people. The famine is over; barley harvest is just beginning (mid-to late April).” (Page 28)
Getting a story is about more than merely enjoying it. It means hearing it, understanding it, and above all, being impacted by it. This commentary series hopes that its readers not only hear and understand the story but are impacted by it to live in as Christian a way as possible. The editors and contributors set that table very well and open up the biblical story in ways that move us to act with sensitivity and understanding. That makes hearing the story as these authors tell it well worth the time. Well done.
—Darrell L. Bock, Dallas Theological Seminary
The Story of God Bible Commentary series invites readers to probe how the message of the text relates to our situations today. Engagingly readable, it not only explores the biblical text but offers a range of applications and interesting illustrations.
—Craig S. Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary