The period of the judges was an evil one, requiring hard words for hard times. The people of Israel had rejected their God for the desire of an earthly ruler, and had rebelled against his laws. Yet even in this time of unbelief and hypocrisy, God raised up men and women to call his people back to a personal faith in the living God.
The author, in taking us through the books of Judges and Ruth, challenges Christians to live consistently with their professions of faith, and shows that even in darkness, God offers a message of hope and victory to those who will faithfully follow him.
