"The whole concern, from beginning to end of Naomi's story, is how to deal with calamity in such a way as to restore those whose lives have been so grievously diminished. what a contrast with the almost interminable theological disputation in Job 3-26!
"One could, then, take the book of Ruth and the book of Job as case studies in how to, and how not to, come to the aid of friends and neighbors who have suffered one or another of life's calamities. The besetting temptation of religious folk — especially those who are concerned with right doctrine — is to offer an explanation of why the calamity has happened and what God is doing in it...The men and women in the book of Ruth engage in no theological explanations. They just set about helping Naomi and her daughter-in-law get back on their feet. In this way they are the counterpart of Job's brothers, sisters and kinfolk in Job 42:11."—At the Scent of Water, page 114
<idle musing>
Interesting, the way he parallels the two stories of disaster, isn't it? I have to confess that far too often I am in the Job 3-26 group. What about you?
</idle musing>
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