gistfile1.rb

ordered_ids = [5,2,3,1,4]           # some array of ordered ids
records = Record.find(ordered_ids)  # find the records that go with the ordered_ids

# loop the records and store them in a temp hash
temp_hash = {}
records.each do |record|
  temp_hash[record.id] = record
end

# convert the temp_hash into a new array
ordered_records = ordered_ids.map{|i| temp_hash[i]}