In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
The irony of this is that Yahweh was king in Israel, but the people did not acknowledge Yahweh as king, rather they did that which was right in their own eyes. In many ways, this is the philosophy of certain atheists, who affirm that believing in God would necessitate a certain way of life, and that means their immorality would be condemned. In the same manner, the people of Israel did not want to acknowledge Yahweh as king; they did not want their evil deeds questioned. The story of Ruth reveals the impossibility of living an independent/unaccounted for life. Yahweh’s kingship demands loyalty or ultimate loss. Ruth’s story is the story that God will always perpetuate His Kingship; and this kingship is given to His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
