ruth: redemption for god’s ami

Ruth: Redemption Ruth: Redemption for God’s for God’s AmiAmi

Summer/Autumn 2013Summer/Autumn 2013

Woman after God’s own Woman after God’s own heartheart

Week #1: Getting us Week #1: Getting us startedstarted

• Background Background • Set the sceneSet the scene• Introduce the important peopleIntroduce the important people• Ask more questions than receive Ask more questions than receive

answersanswers

When: the time of JudgesWhen: the time of Judges

• God’s anger burned: why?God’s anger burned: why?• Israel did not know His heartIsrael did not know His heart• Desire for a king: why?Desire for a king: why?• God’s desire vs. what he allowedGod’s desire vs. what he allowed

WhereWhere

Moab: Israel’s “washing Moab: Israel’s “washing pot”pot”

• Moab born out of incestMoab born out of incest• Moabite king (Balak) tried to curse Moabite king (Balak) tried to curse

Israel, was instead cursed by GodIsrael, was instead cursed by God• Israelites not to enter, even to pass Israelites not to enter, even to pass

throughthrough• Certainly not to inter-marryCertainly not to inter-marry

Famine: why? Where is Famine: why? Where is God?God?

• Theme cycle through Old Testament Theme cycle through Old Testament • Israel restored, rebelled, rebuffed, Israel restored, rebelled, rebuffed,

repentedrepented• Time of Ruth in the rebel/rebuffing Time of Ruth in the rebel/rebuffing

period: “they did as they chose”period: “they did as they chose”• And the “Lord’s anger burned” (and And the “Lord’s anger burned” (and

probably His heart broke)probably His heart broke)• Huge consequencesHuge consequences

Today’s ReadingToday’s Reading

• Ruth Ch. 1Ruth Ch. 1• Questions to think aboutQuestions to think about

– How do Elimelech’s sins set the stage How do Elimelech’s sins set the stage for our story? for our story?

– How do we do the same thing?How do we do the same thing?– Why do you think Naomi wanted to go Why do you think Naomi wanted to go

home? home? – Why do you think Ruth chose to go Why do you think Ruth chose to go

with her? How was she different from with her? How was she different from Orpah?Orpah?

The sinThe sin

• Elimelech’s Elimelech’s gur gur (sojourn)(sojourn)• Escape to a “far country”Escape to a “far country”• HisHis plan, not God’s plan, not God’s• The disobedience continuedThe disobedience continued• The consequences: short and long-The consequences: short and long-

termterm

The conversionThe conversion

• Who were main women in this Who were main women in this scene?scene?

• Who was Ruth? Who was Ruth? • Where she came from and who had Where she came from and who had

she “been”she “been”• Naomi’s influenceNaomi’s influence• God’s callingGod’s calling

Ruth and NaomiRuth and Naomi

The homecomingThe homecoming

• Called back to God, not for foodCalled back to God, not for food• Naomi knew she was not homeNaomi knew she was not home• What did Naomi expect?What did Naomi expect?• What did she see in/want from Ruth?What did she see in/want from Ruth?

• We are God’s We are God’s Ami,Ami, and he wants us and he wants us home!home!

Last timeLast time

• Time of “judges”Time of “judges”• Elimelech flees to MoabElimelech flees to Moab• Lasting consequencesLasting consequences• Choices to makeChoices to make

Ruth gleansRuth gleans

Descriptives for RuthDescriptives for Ruth

• Native of a pagan nationNative of a pagan nation• Possibly daughter of a pagan king Possibly daughter of a pagan king

(Eglon)(Eglon)• Certainly great-grandmother of an Certainly great-grandmother of an

Israel kingIsrael king• Powerful convertPowerful convert• ““Foreigner” in the lineage of our LordForeigner” in the lineage of our Lord

Conviction #1Conviction #1

Descriptives for BoazDescriptives for Boaz

• Wealthy land ownerWealthy land owner• Believed to be a widowerBelieved to be a widower• Son of Elimelech’s brotherSon of Elimelech’s brother• A willing Go‘el (kinsman redeemer)A willing Go‘el (kinsman redeemer)

We’re here, so now what?We’re here, so now what?

• Are we ready?Are we ready?• And are we going to let God do it his And are we going to let God do it his

way?way?• Ruth asked and wentRuth asked and went• And she “just happened” upon a And she “just happened” upon a

field…field…



• Ruth Ch. 2Ruth Ch. 2• Questions to think about:Questions to think about:

– Throughout this chapter, what are your impressions of Ruth?

– What about Boaz? – What do you think God is trying to

teach us in “how” he provided for Naomi and Ruth?

ImpressionsImpressions

• Boaz was a true leaderBoaz was a true leader

Conviction #3Conviction #3• Ruth was a humble servant, took off all Ruth was a humble servant, took off all

royaltyroyalty• ““The Lord repay your work and a full The Lord repay your work and a full

reward given you by the Lord God of reward given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge” (Ruth 2:12)come for refuge” (Ruth 2:12)

• What a beautiful meetingWhat a beautiful meeting

Ruth and Boaz meetRuth and Boaz meet

The mealThe meal

• The audience and the settingThe audience and the setting• The bread and wineThe bread and wine• Redemption from the “master”Redemption from the “master”

Conviction #4Conviction #4• Grace toward a recent convertGrace toward a recent convert

Hope, at last!Hope, at last!

• Fear turned to reliefFear turned to relief• You gleaned where?!You gleaned where?!• Whose field???Whose field???• Can this be happening, after all the Can this be happening, after all the

loss, all the hurt, all the loss, all the hurt, all the consequences?consequences?


So far…So far…

• Week #1: sin and consequenceWeek #1: sin and consequence• Week #2: Ruth and BoazWeek #2: Ruth and Boaz• Convictions from RuthConvictions from Ruth

Threshing FloorThreshing Floor

Commentary “War”Commentary “War”

• Dianna Hagee inDianna Hagee in Ruth, the Romance Ruth, the Romance of Redemptionof Redemption

• Sinclair Ferguson inSinclair Ferguson in Faithful God Faithful God • Rabbi’s Scherman and Zlotowitz in Rabbi’s Scherman and Zlotowitz in

The Book of Ruth – ArtScroll Tanach The Book of Ruth – ArtScroll Tanach SeriesSeries

• Harry Brewer inHarry Brewer in Ruth, How an Ruth, How an Outsider Gained God’s Favor. Outsider Gained God’s Favor.

• Steve Zeisler inSteve Zeisler in Conspicuous Love Conspicuous Love


• Ruth Ch. 3Ruth Ch. 3• Questions to think about:Questions to think about:

– What do you think Naomi’s motives were? What do you think Naomi’s motives were? Does it matter?Does it matter?

– Were you surprised by Boaz’s blessing (v. Were you surprised by Boaz’s blessing (v. 10)? What inside Boaz do you think created 10)? What inside Boaz do you think created thatthat reaction? reaction?

Naomi’s “risky” moveNaomi’s “risky” move

• Grace as we read and interpretGrace as we read and interpret• Harvest about overHarvest about over• So what happened to the spark?So what happened to the spark?• Mikveh – ritual bathMikveh – ritual bath• Chalitzah – removing the shoesChalitzah – removing the shoes

Who are you???Who are you???

• Surprise! Surprise!Surprise! Surprise!• Ruth’s responseRuth’s response• Boaz’s integrity and God’s sparkBoaz’s integrity and God’s spark

Once more, a blessingOnce more, a blessing

• ““My daughter”My daughter”• Choosing a man of integrityChoosing a man of integrity• Symbolism of six measuresSymbolism of six measures• Done the right way!Done the right way!

Waiting on the sidelinesWaiting on the sidelines

Loss, grief and Loss, grief and redemptionredemption

• The bookends of the storyThe bookends of the story– From the garden…From the garden…– ……to the Crossto the Cross

• In the meantimeIn the meantime– Ruth & BoazRuth & Boaz– NaomiNaomi

Before we finish…Before we finish…

• Sin and consequenceSin and consequence• Actions and characterActions and character• Our involvement in God’s workOur involvement in God’s work• Getting off the sidelinesGetting off the sidelines

A Contrast Between Ruth A Contrast Between Ruth and the Sad Day in Which and the Sad Day in Which

She LivedShe LivedRUTH J UDGES

Spiritual light Spiritual darkness

Purity Immorality

Deciding for the One true God Pursuing Idols who are no gods

Devotion Disloyalty

Love Lust

Peace War

Kindness Cruelty

Obedience brings blessing Disobedience brings sorrow

Oasis of righteousness Desert of rebellion

Faithfulness of a Gentile alien Faithlessness of the "chosen people"

The final actThe final act

• Ploni AlmoniPloni Almoni • Interesting strategy by BoazInteresting strategy by Boaz• ““Buy” v. “Redeem”Buy” v. “Redeem”• The trapThe trap• Removal of the shoeRemoval of the shoe

Table discussionTable discussion

• Read Ruth 4:9-22Read Ruth 4:9-22• DiscussDiscuss

– What are your impressions of Boaz, not What are your impressions of Boaz, not only in what he did but how he did it? How only in what he did but how he did it? How can we take that message to our daily can we take that message to our daily lives?lives?

– So what do you think was going through So what do you think was going through Naomi now? What were the neighbor Naomi now? What were the neighbor women trying to say to her in 14-17?women trying to say to her in 14-17?

– What is your one overall takeaway from the What is your one overall takeaway from the book of Ruth you want to apply to your life?book of Ruth you want to apply to your life?

The covenantThe covenant

• Responsive blessingResponsive blessing• All in the midst of “time of judges”All in the midst of “time of judges”• Boaz the redeemerBoaz the redeemer• Scriptures:Scriptures:

– Gal 4:4-5Gal 4:4-5– John 1:29John 1:29– 1 Tim 2:5-61 Tim 2:5-6– Rom 8:16-17Rom 8:16-17– John 10:17-18, 27-30John 10:17-18, 27-30– Matt 20:28Matt 20:28

The restorationThe restoration

• God once again gave a childGod once again gave a child• Boaz’s Boaz’s mitzvahmitzvah• Nurse NaomiNurse Naomi• So who was restored?So who was restored?

General impressionsGeneral impressions

• At CCPC, is our heart after God?At CCPC, is our heart after God?• Ruth offered hersRuth offered hers• God’s provision for Naomi evident God’s provision for Naomi evident

throughoutthroughout

SummarySummary

• Sleeping on Naomi’s lapSleeping on Naomi’s lap• Additions to the genealogyAdditions to the genealogy

– TamarTamar– RahabRahab– BathshebaBathsheba– RuthRuth

• Key messages from book: grace, Key messages from book: grace, redemption & restorationredemption & restoration

Ruth: final thoughtsRuth: final thoughts

ruth: redemption for god’s ami

Documents

repentedtime of ruth

impressions of ruth

refuge ruth

gods amisummerautumn

lord god of israel

gods desire

faithful god rabbis

old testament israel