Ruth

Summary

Ruth is short, but it is not small. It is a carefully told story of loss and loyalty, providence and kindness, and the quiet faithfulness of God in ordinary life. In the Two Horizons approach, this volume aims to keep the story intact while also drawing out the theological weight that Ruth carries within the canon. We found that combination particularly fitting here, because Ruth can be sentimentalised, and it can also be flattened into mere moral example. This series encourages a richer reading.

The commentary helps us notice the narrative craft, the movement from famine to fullness, from emptiness to restoration, and the way the book uses repeated words and scenes to show the Lord at work. It pays attention to the social and covenant context, so that actions like gleaning, redemption, and covenant loyalty are understood as more than cultural colour. They are part of how Scripture teaches us about God and His people.

We also appreciated the canonical sensitivity. Ruth sits in a dark period, and its light matters. It pushes hope forward, showing that the Lord is preserving a line and a people, even when the wider story looks bleak. The theology is not forced, it grows naturally from the way the narrative is told.

Strengths

We value the way the commentary resists sentimental preaching. Ruth is tender, but it is also realistic about grief, hunger, risk, and vulnerability. A commentary that helps us preach both the gentleness and the grit is a gift to the church.

The volume also helps us see the moral beauty of covenant loyalty without turning the book into a mere lesson in niceness. Kindness in Ruth is costly and faithful, shaped by the fear of the Lord. That framework guards application from becoming thin.

We also appreciated the theological reflection on providence. Ruth does not present miracles, it presents ordinary events that are guided by an extraordinary God. The commentary encourages preaching that strengthens confidence in the Lord who works through daily faithfulness and hidden arrangements.

Limitations

Because Ruth is brief, some pastors may want more help with sermon shaping than a volume like this always provides. The Two Horizons style can give rich theological insight, but it may not always translate into immediate preaching outlines.

In a book that naturally invites Christward connection, readers may want more direct help with how to preach fulfilment responsibly. The commentary supports canonical reading, but the preacher still needs to make the gospel connection with clarity and restraint.

How We Would Use It

We would use this volume to plan a short series and to protect our preaching from two common errors, sentimentality and moralism. It can help us preach Ruth as a story of the Lord who keeps covenant love, sustains the vulnerable, and provides redemption within His people.

To test it quickly, we would read its treatment of Ruth and Boaz meeting in the field. We would ask whether it explains the scene in context, whether it draws out theological meaning without speculation, and whether it equips us to apply the text with both tenderness and truth.

We would also pair it with a practical preaching aid for illustration and pastoral application, especially if the congregation includes many who are walking through grief. Ruth demands both careful interpretation and gentle shepherding.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this volume as a thoughtful companion for preaching Ruth, especially for pastors who want to keep the story intact while drawing out its theological depth. It is a strong help for reading Ruth with reverence, realism, and hope.