Esther and Ruth (Reformed Expository Commentary | REC)

by Iain M. Duguid

Publisher:

P&R

, 2005

Overview

Does God help those who help themselves? That may seem to be the message of the books of Esther and Ruth. Some think that Ruth’s attractiveness won over Naomi and Boaz, or that Esther’s bold faithfulness saved her people. But a closer reading shows an embittered Naomi to have abandoned the Promised Land and God’s people, and Esther to have become thoroughly assimilated to the culture and values of Persian society.

In Esther, God works in invisible ways to save his people. In Ruth, God’s grace comes to Naomi unexpectedly, and with it, a depiction of redemption for her people. In both books, a gracious and sovereign God works through flawed individuals—unable even to help themselves—to rescue his people and prepare for the coming of Christ.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Explores the sovereignty of God in Esther and Ruth
• Discusses how God works through flawed individuals to provide redemption
• Offers material well suited for pastors and students

Contents

Top Highlights

“Why should a healthy young woman like you keep company with a doomed old albatross like me who is returning to the land of a God who has been so determined to get even with me for my shortcomings?” (Page 155)

“Rather, it is a theological description of the character of the times in which these events take place. It” (Page 130)

“She clung to her; here the text uses the same verb (davaq) that is used in Genesis 2:24 to describe the bond that exists in marriage. It is a word that describes loyalty to a covenant commitment.” (Page 142)

“The Book of Ruth shows us that our actions have consequences. However, our lives are not simply the consequence of the various decisions we have made and events that have occurred, as if the universe were a giant supercomputer into which we feed all of the variables and come out with a predictable answer. There is a mysterious X-factor that is evident in the Book of Ruth—a variable that has the power to change everything. It is the grace of God, which directs the outcomes of those decisions and events according to his sovereignty and good purpose for his people. That grace is not always evident to the players in the game at the time. But it is always there, whether acknowledged or unacknowledged. Ultimately, for Christians, the grace of God is always the defining element of our lives.” (Page 130)

“God had delivered his people from Egypt and brought them to the land of Canaan as a special place for them to live. God had called Elimelech to live in Bethlehem. He therefore had no business leaving there to go anywhere, least of all Moab. For Israel, Moab was known for several things, none of them good. The Moabites had originated out of an incestuous relationship between Lot and his older daughter (Gen. 19:30–38); their king Balak had hired Balaam to curse Israel when they came out of Egypt (Num. 22–24); their women had been a stumbling block to Israel in the wilderness, seducing them to the worship of false gods (Num. 25); and they had recently oppressed the Israelites in the days of Eglon (Judg. 3). Does this sound like the place to go in order to raise a godly family?” (Page 132)

Endorsements

An amazing commentary! Rarely does an expositor demonstrate such virtuosity. But Iain Duguid brings it all together: a specialist’s knowledge of the Hebrew text and culture, a preacher’s eye for theme and structure, a pastor’s skill in nuanced application, a theologian’s grasp of Christ-centered theology (that would make Geerhard Vos smile), and a wordsmith’s attention to language and lingering metaphor. Duguid’s Esther and Ruth will elevate and inspire generations of readers and preachers.

—R. Kent Hughes, pastor, College Church, Wheaton, IL

This exposition of Esther and Ruth is a ‘honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.’ The author gives us a good dose of healing theology in a most relevant manner. From now on I will require my students to read this engaging commentary for their edification and delight.

—Bruce K. Waltke, professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Esther and Ruth
• Author: Iain M. Duguid
• Series: Reformed Expository Commentary
• Publisher: P&R
• Print Publication Date: 2005
• Logos Release Date: 2014
• Pages: 200
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. O.T. Esther › Commentaries; Bible. O.T. Ruth › Commentaries
• Resource ID: LLS:REC17ES
• Resource Type: Bible Commentary
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-08-30T23:44:14Z

About Iain M. Duguid

Rev. Dr. Iain Duguid (PhD, Cambridge) is professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. Dr. Duguid’s academic interests include various topics of Old Testament theology. His doctoral research was on Ezekiel, which was published in the Supplements to Vetus Testamentum series, and he remains part of the small but lively group of scholars around the world interested in the theology of that prophet. He has also published scholarly work on Esther, Nehemiah, the Song of Songs, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi as well as more popular treatments of the patriarchs, Esther, and Daniel. Current research projects include Judges, the biblical theology of worship, and preaching Christ from the different genres of the Old Testament. As part of the oversight committee for the Holman Christian Standard Bible, he engages in regular discussions about best practices in Bible translation. He has also contributed to many study Bibles.