ruth 1-2 faithful living in faithless times. recap judges cycle: sin, servitude, salvation judges...

Ruth 1-2Ruth 1-2Faithful Living in Faithless TimesFaithful Living in Faithless Times

RecapRecap• Judges cycle: sin, servitude, salvationJudges cycle: sin, servitude, salvation

• The proof of discipline: God lifts His The proof of discipline: God lifts His hand of restraint (Rom. 1:17f.)hand of restraint (Rom. 1:17f.)

• How does God treat His faithful How does God treat His faithful followers who live in a nation under followers who live in a nation under His discipline? His discipline?

Ruth Ruth • Ruth takes place during the time of the Ruth takes place during the time of the

judgesjudges

• ““Every man did what was right in his Every man did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)own eyes.” (Judges 17:6)

• Ruth and Boaz reveal God’s abundant Ruth and Boaz reveal God’s abundant grace in dark timesgrace in dark times

• Ruth and Boaz served the Lord Ruth and Boaz served the Lord faithfully, in spite of their sinful and faithfully, in spite of their sinful and idolatrous culture. idolatrous culture.

Ruth Ruth • While God may discipline a nation, He While God may discipline a nation, He

can also bless the individuals in that can also bless the individuals in that nation who honor Himnation who honor Him

• Daniel was not exempt from the exile Daniel was not exempt from the exile but God blessed and used Daniel in but God blessed and used Daniel in BabylonBabylon

Ruth Ruth • A powerful love storyA powerful love story

• God’s grace manifests itself through God’s grace manifests itself through peoplepeople

• God’s grace overcomes our fallen God’s grace overcomes our fallen worldworld

• The book teaches us about faithful The book teaches us about faithful living in faithless times because of living in faithless times because of the favor of the Lordthe favor of the Lord

Ruth Ruth 11: Act : Act 11 – Tragedy – Tragedy and Loyaltyand Loyalty

• Bethlehem = “house of bread”Bethlehem = “house of bread”

• Elimelech = “My God is king”Elimelech = “My God is king”

• Naomi = “pleasant”Naomi = “pleasant”

• Mahlon = “sick” or “sickly”Mahlon = “sick” or “sickly”

• Chilion = “dying” or “puny”Chilion = “dying” or “puny”

• Orpah = “stiff-necked” or “stubborn”Orpah = “stiff-necked” or “stubborn”

• Mr. Puny (Chilion) married Ms. Mr. Puny (Chilion) married Ms. Stubborn (Orpah)Stubborn (Orpah)

• Mr. Sick (Mahlon) married Ms. Mr. Sick (Mahlon) married Ms. Comfort (Ruth)Comfort (Ruth)


• Ephrathites were the upper-class of Ephrathites were the upper-class of BethlehemBethlehem

• This is a riches to rags storyThis is a riches to rags story

• Deut. 7:3-4 forbade Israelites from Deut. 7:3-4 forbade Israelites from marrying foreigners so that they marrying foreigners so that they would not be tempted with idolatry would not be tempted with idolatry (1:3-5) (1:3-5)

• Widows were physically, emotionally, Widows were physically, emotionally, and financially vulnerableand financially vulnerable


• Carrying on the family name was Carrying on the family name was extremely important in this cultureextremely important in this culture

• It was the means of retaining the It was the means of retaining the family’s land and inheritance (1:9)family’s land and inheritance (1:9)


• Ruth shows great faith and takes the Ruth shows great faith and takes the road of trusting God (1:16-17)road of trusting God (1:16-17)

• Ruth is a conduit of God’s grace for Ruth is a conduit of God’s grace for Naomi Naomi

• Show kindness and God will reward Show kindness and God will reward youyou

• Boaz will be Ruth’s reward for her Boaz will be Ruth’s reward for her kindness to Naomikindness to Naomi


• Naomi can’t see that the answer to Naomi can’t see that the answer to her prayers is right in front of her her prayers is right in front of her (1:18-21)(1:18-21)

• Maintain an attitude of gratitude Maintain an attitude of gratitude

• Don’t let your circumstances dictate Don’t let your circumstances dictate your theology your theology

Ruth Ruth 22: Act : Act 22 – Boy – Boy Meets GirlMeets Girl

• Boaz = “in him is strength” (2:1-3)Boaz = “in him is strength” (2:1-3)• Mahlon = “sick”Mahlon = “sick”

• Ruth follows Proverbs in some Ruth follows Proverbs in some Hebrew arrangements of the Old Hebrew arrangements of the Old TestamentTestament

• Ruth is a Proverbs 31 example – a Ruth is a Proverbs 31 example – a virtuous womanvirtuous woman


• Gleaners – poor people allowed to Gleaners – poor people allowed to pick up leftovers after the reapers pick up leftovers after the reapers (2:1-3)(2:1-3)

• She “happened” to go to Boaz’s field, She “happened” to go to Boaz’s field, a kinsman-redeemera kinsman-redeemer

• Ordinary life is the glove that holds Ordinary life is the glove that holds the sovereign hand of Godthe sovereign hand of God

• God is the God of the ordinary God is the God of the ordinary


• Naomi: “May the LORD deal kindly Naomi: “May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with those with you as you have dealt with those who have died and with me.” (Ruth who have died and with me.” (Ruth 1:8) 1:8)

• Ruth’s kindness is being rewarded by Ruth’s kindness is being rewarded by God through Boaz’s kindness (2:10)God through Boaz’s kindness (2:10)

• Boaz was obeying the Law of Moses Boaz was obeying the Law of Moses (Lev. 19:9-10, 23:22; Deut. 24:19-22)(Lev. 19:9-10, 23:22; Deut. 24:19-22)


• A good name is to be more desired A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold. (Proverbs 22:1)than silver and gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

• God cares for His children as a hen God cares for His children as a hen protects her chicks (2:11-12)protects her chicks (2:11-12)

• God helps those who help other God helps those who help other peoplepeople


• The generous man will be prosperous, The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be and he who waters will himself be watered. (Proverbs 11:25)watered. (Proverbs 11:25)

• One who is gracious to a poor man lends One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed. (Proverbs 19:17)for his good deed. (Proverbs 19:17)

• ““And whoever in the name of a disciple And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)(Matthew 10:42)


• A little kindness goes a long wayA little kindness goes a long way

• Seek refuge in the Lord, under His Seek refuge in the Lord, under His wingswings

• Boaz will be the answer to his prayer Boaz will be the answer to his prayer (2:12)(2:12)

God Has “Two Hands”God Has “Two Hands”• King David and Jesus Christ in His King David and Jesus Christ in His

humanity, are descendants of Ruth and humanity, are descendants of Ruth and Boaz Boaz (Ruth 4:16-22, Matt. 1:5-6)(Ruth 4:16-22, Matt. 1:5-6)

• God used the Moabites to discipline IsraelGod used the Moabites to discipline Israel

• Now the sons of Israel again did evil in Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. (Judges evil in the sight of the LORD. (Judges 3:12)3:12)

God Has “Two Hands”God Has “Two Hands”• God’s hand was against Israel for God’s hand was against Israel for

their idolatry and sintheir idolatry and sin

• God used the Moabites to God used the Moabites to disciplinediscipline IsraelIsrael

• But, God used a Moabite (Ruth) to But, God used a Moabite (Ruth) to blessbless Israel because this Moabite will Israel because this Moabite will be in the lineage of Jesus Christ, the be in the lineage of Jesus Christ, the Savior and King of IsraelSavior and King of Israel

Ruth 1-2Ruth 1-2• Faithful living in faithless times is possible because of the favor of the Lord

ruth 1-2 faithful living in faithless times. recap judges cycle: sin, servitude, salvation judges...

Documents

ruth ruth

god cares

theology ruth

ordinary ruth

road of trusting god

ruths kindness

boazs kindness

peoplegods grace