Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

For Reading and Meditation:     Ruth 2:5-12

As Boaz makes his way through the field, talking to his workers, his eye falls upon the figure of Ruth. "Who is she?" he asks. His workers quickly inform him that she is the widowed daughter-in-law of Naomi, a Moabite by birth. We cannot be sure that it was love at first sight, but Boaz certainly shows all the signs of it....

For Reading and Meditation:     Ruth 2:13-17

Today we see how his protective concern leads Boaz to invite Ruth to join him during a meal break. "Come over here," he says: "Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar" (v. 14). A little later he offers her some roasted grain. Gets more interesting, doesn't it? Once Ruth has completed her meal, she returns to her...

For Reading and Meditation:     Ruth 2:18-21

It is not difficult to imagine the kind of thoughts that may have been going through Naomi's mind as she dwells on Ruth's first day in the harvest field. How will she fare? What will the men say about her - a foreigner? Will she be successful in bringing home enough grain to help keep body and soul together? If Naomi had...

For Reading and Meditation:     Ruth 2:22-23

Ruth continues to glean in the field of Boaz, secure in the knowledge that when the barley harvest is over she will be able to stay on and participate in the wheat harvest as well. Naomi is equally elated as she senses that Ruth's meeting with Boaz is no accident, but part of God's wonderful provision and care. One can...

For Reading and Meditation:     Ruth 3:1

As Naomi ponders the sovereignty of God in the meeting between Ruth and Boaz, she begins to realize there is a distinct possibility that Boaz will take on the responsibility of marrying Ruth and providing the security she needs in the future. She begins, therefore, to formulate a clear and daring plan to ensure the continuance...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 2:7-8

Yesterday we saw how God's purposeful and loving hand had gently guided Mordecai to Susa in Persia in order that he might be the right man in the right place at the right time. Today we meet the woman who is the centerpiece of the story - the lovely Esther. She was, in fact, the adopted daughter of Mordecai. He had taken...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 2:1-6

Having taken steps to remove Vashti from the throne, plans are set in motion for the selection of a new queen. Thus the first "Miss World" contest gets under way. The king appoints officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, presumably to arrange knock-out competitions so that by process of elimination only the best...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 2:8-9

One of the most fascinating things about Old Testament history is the way in which God used those who did not believe in Him to further His purposes. Cyrus, the creator of the Persian Empire, is one such example. Yet Isaiah shows us how, behind all his conquests, a divine purpose was at work: "I will strengthen you, though...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 2:10

The advice given by Mordecai to Esther that under no circumstance is she to reveal she is a Jewess indicates that he had some awareness of God's purpose to use Esther's presence in the palace to accomplish divine ends. It also provides us with a more complete answer to the question we posed several days ago when we wondered...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 2:11-14

We made the point yesterday that Mordecai advised Esther not to reveal her Jewish identity because of a divinely given consciousness that both he and she were part of God's purposes for their age. Can you imagine, therefore, with what care and concern he must have conducted his daily vigil outside the palace gates? We...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 2:15-20

The twelve-month period for those who were being groomed for selection as queen is now at an end and the day arrives on which the new queen of Persia is to be selected. Esther, along with the other contestants, is given access to all the perfume and finery that she desires. Just imagine that! It's rather like saying:...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 2:21-23

We turn from the excitement and atmosphere of the palace and Esther's selection to another stage and development in the story. Now that God has successfully brought Esther into favor with the king, His purpose is to do exactly the same for Mordecai. But how could an unknown Jew such as Mordecai become a favored subject...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 3:1-4

Today a new name appears in our story - that of Haman. We know very little about him except for the fact that, through a series of promotions, he rises to a position of great eminence, second only to the king. The Scripture records one detail about him, however, which is rather significant: it says he was "the son of...

For Reading and Meditation:     Esther 3:7-8

We pause to expand on the point we made yesterday, namely that the fierce persecution which has been directed toward the Jewish people has been the very thing that has enabled them to maintain their clear spiritual identity. The fact that they have survived the cunning of such evil rulers as Pharaoh, Haman, and, in modern...