Attending the Bible study on the book of Ruth led by Dr. Denise Flanders was an extremely enriching experience, due in large part to her expertise in the Old Testament. With her deep understanding of the historical, linguistic and cultural context she helped me understand the text in a deeper and more meaningful way than I had previously. She brought a particular emphasis to the theme of hesed - loving, loyal action - and walked us through all the ways hesed was exhibited throughout the book and its transformational power. Dr. Flanders also encouraged us to look for ways we could demonstrate hesed to others as well as acknowledging when hesed was done for us. Another really powerful insight that I gained was the important role of women as central figures to the unfolding of God’s redemptive work. This study was a very special experience due to the scholarly depth that was presented in such an engaging and accessible way.