The Books of the Old Testament

Leviticus

The book of Leviticus is one of the five books called "The Law". It is mostly a narrative written by Moses to provide instructions, laws, rules, and regulations to God's people about sin and redemption in order for His people to be holy. This book covers in detail everything from instructions for how to worship Him, how to handle food, how to celebrate religiously, and sexual conduct. It is a guide on how the Israelites can live and worship. In this book God has freed the people from slavery and taken them out of Egypt to camp at the foot of Mount Sinai. God instructs the people of Israel about worship, offerings, and sacrifices. This is an old-covenant that God had previously made with the people of Israel. The offerings and sacrifices that the people would do were a symbol of repenting of your sins because God was teaching His people to remain holy. God demands for holiness in His people because He is holy.

Ruth

The book of Ruth is a narrative about love and devotion in an Israelite family. It is believed that the Prophet Samuel wrote this book to the Israelites to teach them about genuine love and how it can be tested requiring some sacrifice. It starts in the country of Moab where Elimelech and his wife Naomi and their two sons go because of the famine in Israel. Elimelech dies and the sons marry to Moabite girls Orpah and Ruth. The two sons then die and leave Naomi with the two daughters-in-law. Naomi thanks Orpah and Ruth for being loyal to her and orders them to go back to the parents. Orpah goes but Ruth refuses to leave her and vows to go where ever Naomi goes and so they go to Bethlehem. Once there Naomi instructs Ruth on what to do and she does everything Naomi tells her which is noticed by Boaz a relative on her husband's side. Because of Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi and Boaz's faithfulness to Ruth by marrying her according to Mosaic Law (Lev. 25:47-49) God rewards them all with many blessings.

Ecclesiastes

The book of Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom. It teaches us that if our lives are not centered around God it has no purpose or meaning. "for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" (Ecclesiastes 2:25, NIV) The book of Ecclesiastes urges us as Christians to seek God first because without him everything is meaningless. It starts with King Solomon the son of David and Israel's third king. He began as a man of greatness who brought peace to the land. He begins to back slide after starting a huge building project. He starts involving himself in worldly pleasures, and tries to find meaning in anything and everything. He found that nothing brought him peace and happiness and finally discovers that without God there is no purpose or meaning. "Remember your Creator