Does God help those who help themselves? That may seem to be the message of the books of Esther and Ruth. Yet a closer reading shows a gracious and sovereign God at work, one who uses obviously flawed people—unable even to help themselves—to rescue his people and prepare for the coming of Christ.

Esther and Ruth is part of the Reformed Expository Commentary series, aimed at both pastors and lay teachers. Each volume in the series provides exposition that gives careful attention to biblical text, is doctrinally Reformed, focuses on Christ through the lens of redemptive history, and applies the Bible to our contemporary setting.

Iain M. Duguid (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is professor of Old Testament at Westminster Seminary California. He has written a number of books on Christ-centered exposition, including Hero of Heroes.