APRIL: GOD'S STEADFAST LOVE SHOWED THE PEOPLE THE WAY IN A NEW LAND
Concept:
After a 40-year timeout in the wilderness, the people of God came to a new land and settled there. In this new place, the people tried to remember the way of shalom they had learned in the wilderness. They kind of got into a pattern, or a cycle. They would get tired of following God and start imitating the ways of the other people around them (missing the mark). That wouldn’t go well, and they’d fall into the hands of their enemies. They’d cry out to God, God would hear them and raise up a judge (a just, wise leader - like Deborah and Gideon, to name a few), who would lead the people back to the way of God. Then that judge would die, the people would forget and get tired, and the cycle would start again.
One thing that stands out in this part of the story is how interconnected the people are. When they forget their interdependence, things don’t go well for them. The story told in the book of Ruth is a really personal story of this interconnectedness - and of another very important theme: steadfast love (in Hebrew, chesed). In other words, in the story of Ruth and Naomi we learn about people who love each other and God well, and who understand that they need each other and need their community. It’s a story of faithfulness to God and to each other. And of course, the best model we have for steadfast love is God, whose steadfast love is shown every time the people go through that cycle of missing the mark and crying out to God.
Want to learn more about steadfast love? Check out this video (in English) that is great for all ages.
Photo by Eugene Golovesoy on Unsplash
After a 40-year timeout in the wilderness, the people of God came to a new land and settled there. In this new place, the people tried to remember the way of shalom they had learned in the wilderness. They kind of got into a pattern, or a cycle. They would get tired of following God and start imitating the ways of the other people around them (missing the mark). That wouldn’t go well, and they’d fall into the hands of their enemies. They’d cry out to God, God would hear them and raise up a judge (a just, wise leader - like Deborah and Gideon, to name a few), who would lead the people back to the way of God. Then that judge would die, the people would forget and get tired, and the cycle would start again.
One thing that stands out in this part of the story is how interconnected the people are. When they forget their interdependence, things don’t go well for them. The story told in the book of Ruth is a really personal story of this interconnectedness - and of another very important theme: steadfast love (in Hebrew, chesed). In other words, in the story of Ruth and Naomi we learn about people who love each other and God well, and who understand that they need each other and need their community. It’s a story of faithfulness to God and to each other. And of course, the best model we have for steadfast love is God, whose steadfast love is shown every time the people go through that cycle of missing the mark and crying out to God.
Want to learn more about steadfast love? Check out this video (in English) that is great for all ages.
Photo by Eugene Golovesoy on Unsplash
Pray It: God, sometimes we forget your way of love. We miss the mark. Thank you for sticking with us and continuing to love us - and for helping us do the right thing again. Amen.
Do It:
Recite the Story:
- Read more of the Story:
- With young children: From your children’s Bible story book, read the couple of stories that cover Joshua through Ruth over the course of a couple days.
- With older children or as adults: Read all of the book of Ruth over the course of several days. Some good story chunks are: Ruth 1:1-7; Ruth 1:8-18; Ruth 1:19-22; Ruth 2:1-13; Ruth 2:14-23; Ruth 3:1-9; Ruth 3:10-18; Ruth 4:1-8; Ruth 4:9-13; Ruth 4:14-22. (Photo by Manuel Gonzalez Asturias, SJ)
- Artistic Representation of a Cycle: Using pipe cleaners, paint, clay, or whatever medium you like, create a circle that shows the judge’s cycle. Here’s a version of the cycle that we created that can be a starting place for you.
- Artistic Representation of a Community: Using clay, playdough, paint, or other materials, create a picture or sculpture of Ruth and Naomi’s community.
- Exploring Cycles: What are your household’s cycles? Sometimes just recognizing and naming our cycles can help us not fall into them as frequently.
- For example: We go to the dentist, get our teeth all clean, and remember the importance of dental hygiene. We brush our teeth really well for a while. Then we get tired of it, and don’t brush as well or as often. Then we go back to the dentist, discover a cavity, and have to get it filled. We remember how important it is to clean our teeth.
- Exploring Community: Who is part of your community? Put a poster on your wall and write down names of people who are in your community. They don’t all have to be people you like - we don’t usually like everyone in our community, but we learn to get along because we’re all in this together! Keep adding names as you think of people throughout the month. Notice the ways these relationships work - when do people help each other? Do they ever hurt each other? When do you see God’s steadfast love coming through? Thank God for your community of people who are all learning to live together.
- Exploring Steadfast Love: Go back to this practice from Building Faith 2024 to get lots of ideas for exploring chesed this month. Here it is in Spanish.
Recite the Story:
- God created, and it was good.
- God called a family to be a blessing to all the earth.
- God saved the people and they became a shalom community.
- God's steadfast love showed the people the way in a new land.
Explore It: Notes from Tami
I read this summary of steadfast love:
“Steadfast love is shown by consistently choosing to serve, honor, and care for others unconditionally, reflecting Christ's commitment. Practical ways include active listening, giving generously, forgiving freely, offering tangible help, practicing hospitality, and encouraging one another daily, even when difficult.”
Accomplishing this consistently within our homes (including with our children) may be even more challenging than it is with others whom we see less!
I read this summary of steadfast love:
“Steadfast love is shown by consistently choosing to serve, honor, and care for others unconditionally, reflecting Christ's commitment. Practical ways include active listening, giving generously, forgiving freely, offering tangible help, practicing hospitality, and encouraging one another daily, even when difficult.”
Accomplishing this consistently within our homes (including with our children) may be even more challenging than it is with others whom we see less!
- Here are a few suggestions for doing so: How can we show “steadfast love” today
- I repeat Talashia's suggestion to go back to the February 2024 Building Faith entry for more ideas for exploring steadfast love. Here it is in Spanish.
