A Sweet & Bitter Providence

I was given this book for my birthday this year. I am so glad I received it. John Piper wrote this on the book of Ruth. I have always loved the book of the Bible. Piper draws out so many things that I had never seen or knew before regarding Ruth. It consists of 4 chapters and is so incredibly easy to read. I wanted to share some things I found interesting and things I learned from this awesome book.

Here is a brief summary of Ruth: The setting for the Book of Ruth begins in the heathen country of Moab, a region northeast of the Dead Sea, but then moves to Bethlehem. This true account takes place during the dismal days of failure and rebellion of the Israelites, called the period of the Judges. A famine forces Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, from their Israelite home to the country of Moab. Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with her 2 sons, who soon marry 2 Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. Later both of the sons die, and Naomi is left alone with Orpah and Ruth in a strange land. Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Naomi as they journey to Bethlehem. This story of love and devotion tells of Ruth's eventual marriage to a wealthy man named Boaz, by whom she bears a son, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of David and the ancestor of Jesus. Obedience brings Ruth into the privileged lineage of Christ.

Thoughts from A Sweet & Bitter Providence:

Ruth 1:20-21 "She said to them, 'Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty."

God is at work in the worst of times. Piper says the point of this book is not just that God is preparing the way for the coming of the King of Glory, but that he is doing it in such a way that all of us should learn that the worst of times are not wasted. Naomi felt that God was dealing bitterly with her that she was unable to see how God was working things for her good and for His glory. Naomi was hopeless and despondent. I love what Piper says, "When we have decided that God is against us, we usually exaggerate our hopelessness. We become so bitter we can't see the rays of light peeping out around the cloud." Piper also says that seeing is a precious gift, but that bitterness is a powerful blindness. How true that is, when we allow ourselves to become bitter our vision is not clear. Piper points out what if Naomi could have seen all the ways God was working in the bitter providences in her life? Would that have changed her outlook on her seemingly "hopeless" situation? "God the Almighty reigns in all the affairs of men. He rules the affairs of nations" Psalm 34:19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." I love this verse. God allows things to happen in our lives. So often though we only want God to give us the good things in life, the sweet things. We don't ever want the bitter or the harsh things in life. However, what we need to realize is that through the bitter and harsh providences in our lives, God is always working those things for our good. It may not seem like it at the time, but on the other side of the bitter providence is when the sweetness comes.

"In all the setbacks of our lives as believers, God is plotting for our joy." What an amazing thing to think about. The creator of the universe is plotting for my joy even in the darkest places of my life. Piper says, "Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ." Amazing that God gave us so many examples of people who are struggle with things like us so we would know we are not alone. God is there walking with us and at times carrying us!

Ruth was not a Jew, but she is in the lineage of Jesus. I love this because Christ came and died for everyone. Piper says, "The glory of Christ is that he comes from the nations and dies for the nations. His blood was shed for the nations, and the nations' blood ran in his veins. The redeeming work of Christ is free and undeserved. It is intended for every ethnic group on the planet." Christ is the all encompassing Savior of the world. Piper quotes Joni Erickson Tada, "the deep and unshakable conviction that the pains of life are not exceptions to God's love of his children. They are expressions of his love." What a powerful statement and an amazing outlook on life and the obstacles we face.

Ruth 4:14-15 "Then the women said to Naomi, 'Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."

Piper ended the book with this statement, "God is at work in the darkest times-for our good and Christ's glory. He will see to it that the glory of his Son fills the earth and that in him we find everlasting joy." This book has served as such an encouragement to my life. Knowing not only in my head, but more importantly in my heart that God is still working in my life even through the dark, bitter times has been amazing. When I finally know this in my heart, I will implicitly trust God in every aspect of my life. At times, it may be a battle when situations occur in our lives and we don't understand. It is easy to become bitter, but choosing to see past the bitterness will free us from missing things God may be trying to teach us through those difficult situations in our lives.