Welcome to the first of the Ruth Advent bonus episodes.

This is a series of four short episodes following each episode in Ruth.

To understand this episode, read each chapter of Ruth or listen to the corresponding episode

of Ruth from Season 8 at the Bible Book Club because we read it to you. The Advent season

consists of four weeks symbolized by the lighting of the candle. Each week, though, has a special

focus. The candles are lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas with a fifth

candle in the center. That's called the Christ candle. And that will be lit on Christmas Eve.

The specific names of the four candles can vary slightly depending on the tradition that you

subscribe to or denomination that you're in. But here are the most common. They are hope,

love, faith, and joy.

This week, the first week, we'll focus on hope. It symbolizes the hope of the coming Messiah,

and it reminds us of the prophecies of hope throughout the Old Testament that foretold the birth of Jesus, like in the book of Ruth. All right, let's set this up first.

What is an Advent?

Like, why do we do this?

Well, the definition of Advent is the long-awaited arrival of something significant,

usually a notable person or event.

Now, the long-awaited arrival that we anticipate at Christmas is the birth of Jesus.

Fortunately for us, we only have to wait 12 months every year to celebrate, but the people

of the Old Testament had been waiting for thousands of years. The wait began all the way back

in Genesis 3 after the fall. God told Adam and Eve in verse 15.

I will put enmity between you and the woman between your offspring or seed and hers.

He will crush your head and you will strike his heel.

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