Summary of Judges and Ruth
By Johannes Brenz
I’m translating a brief overview of the books of the Bible by Johannes Brenz (1499–1570) for the weekly devotional. Here’s what Brenz has to say about Judges and Ruth.
Judges and Ruth
In the Book of Judges, it is described how the governance and congregation of the people of Israel increased and multiplied under the rulers over Israel, who governed after Joshua more by great appearance than through force, who were not chosen to rule by men, but were raised up thereto by great divine wonders.
And although the promise of Christ is not mentioned in this account, it is nevertheless related how graciously and wondrously the Israelites (who, on account of their godless life and conduct, had deserved much more punishment and disfavor than help or assistance) were redeemed and saved from the hand, power, and tyranny of their enemies. The Holy Spirit has thereby clearly shown that God preserved the congregation or polity of the Israelite people for the sake of the reason and purpose for which He established them, namely, for the sake of His Son, Christ, that they would be a people of God among whom the promise of Christ would be preached and taught, until His incarnation, when He Himself would preach His Gospel.
The Book of Ruth contains a portion of the lineage of David, which the evangelist drew into the genealogy of Christ, so that you may clearly see that also this book, as small as it is, is aimed solely at Christ.
Johannes Brenz, Kurtzer Begriff und Inhalt der gantzen Heiligen Schrifft (1552)
Lucas Cranach the Elder, Samson and Delilah (1537)