God Through the Eyes of a Woman LCY Oct2017 For PPCOC Lesson 1: Introduction
Introduction A glimpse of family life, with its intimacy, anxieties, sorrows and sweetness. A glimpse of human life, honest work, deaths, births, love and marriages. A record of human kindness, filial piety, uncomplaining toil, unselfish generosity, simple trust in God they are all here observed by God and are shown to be pleasing to Him, who will reward in due time Ruth 2:12 - The LORD repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Introduction God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. It's a story for people who wonder: (1) where God is when there are no dreams or visions or prophets, (2) where God is when one tragedy after another attacks their faith, (3) whether a life of integrity & faithfulness in tough times is worth it. And it's a story for people who cannot imagine that anything great could ever come of their ordinary lives of faith. It's a refreshing and encouraging book, and I want you to be refreshed and encouraged through this study.
Setting & Time Takes its title from the name of a Gentile woman from the land of Moab. The events of Ruth occurred sometime between 1160 BC and 1100 BC, during the period of the Israelites history where the Judges ruled (Ruth 1:1). These were dark days, full of suffering brought about by Israel s apostasy and immorality. Part of God s judgment upon His sinful people included famine and war.
Synopsis of the Book of Ruth God is seen and portrayed through the eyes of a Woman A woman s journey, through the vicissitudes of life and the unseen Hand of God, always leading, providing and redeeming!
Synopsis of the Book of Ruth Due to a severe famine in the land of Judah, Elimelech, a native of Bethlehem, emigrated to Moab with his wife (Naomi) and his two sons (Mahlon and Chilion), who later married two Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. At the end of ten years in Moab, all three women were left widows and Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. Despite Naomi's protests, Ruth was determined to return to Bethlehem with her.
Synopsis of the Book of Ruth Ruth's loyalty and dedication to Naomi and to her religion is stated in Ruth 1:16-17: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.
Synopsis of the Book of Ruth Naomi & Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest (between March & April). Through divine providence, Ruth went out to glean in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy man who was related to Elimelech, Naomi s husband (Ruth 2:1).
Synopsis of the Book of Ruth In biblical times when barley or wheat fields were ready for harvest, reapers were hired to cut down the large stocks of grain and tie them into bundles. If a loose stock should fall to the ground they were to be left alone for the gleaners (Lev 23:22). The gleaning was performed by the poorest and most helpless of the land, the widows who were going to die of starvation.
Synopsis of the Book of Ruth Keep in mind that Ruth was a Moabite woman, and her decision to move to Judah as a foreigner was a big deal in the culture of their day. But she was committed to Naomi as her daughter-in-law, and was determined to take Israel as her people, and Israel s God her God. While in Judah, God worked out an amazing plan for a man named Boaz to take Ruth as his wife, give her a child, and provided for her and Naomi. Even in the midst of pain & affliction, God still had a plan to take care of them. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jer 29:11).
The Moabites Ruth came from a people who had a scandalous past and a turbulent history. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:1-35), the incestuous relationship between Abraham's nephew Lot and his daughters resulted in the birth of the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites (Gen 19:36-38). Lot's elder daughter named her son Moab, meaning "from my father." (Gen 19:37). The Moabites did not worship Abraham's God but instead worshiped a pantheon of false gods including the Canaanite god Baal and their national god, Chemosh (Num 21:29; 25:1-3; Jer 48:46).
The Moabites The Moabites had an uneasy and sometimes violent relationship with the children of Israel after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt (Deut 23:4). At the end of the Israelites' forty year wilderness journey, the Moabites opposed the Israelites traveling through their lands and camping to the north of their territory along the Jordan River in preparation to conquer Canaan (Num 22:1-6). They successfully enticed the Israelites to worship Baal and other pagan gods. (Num 25:1-3).
The Moabites Concerning any future relations with the people of Moab, God commanded that no descendant of Moab may be admitted into the community of Israel because of their incestuous origins and their refusal to help the Israelites at the end of their wilderness journey: No child of an incestuous union may be admitted into the community of the LORD, nor any descendant of his even to the tenth generation. No Ammonite or Moabite may ever be admitted into the community of the LORD, nor any descendants of theirs even to the tenth generation, because they would not succour you with food and water on your journey after you left Egypt, and because Moab hired Balaam, son of Beor, from Pethor in Aram Naharaim, to curse you... Never promote their peace and prosperity so long as you live (Dt 23:3-7).
Authorship & Date According to the Talmud (Jewish tradition), the prophet Samuel wrote the book of Ruth. The text itself says nothing of the author, but whoever wrote it was a skilled storyteller. It has been called the most beautiful short story ever written. The exact date the Book of Ruth was written is uncertain. However, the prevalent view is a date between 1011 and 931 B.C.
OT Canonicity In the Hebrew Bibles, Ruth is placed between the Song of Songs and Lamentations, as if with sorrow on the left and joy on the right In the Septuagint and the Vulgate, Ruth is found at the close of Judges, like a little biographical attachment to the history of Israel. This arrangement was also adopted by the authors of the King James English Bible The Hebrew manuscript is well preserved; there were four copies of Ruth in Hebrew discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls. Hebrew Bible LAW PROPHETS WRITINGS Genesis Joshua Psalms Exodus Judges Proverbs Leviticus Samuel Job Numbers Kings Song of Songs Deuteronomy The Twelve Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther Chronicles Ezra- Nehemiah
OT Canonicity That the book of Ruth is historical is confirmed by Matthew s genealogy of Jesus Christ, which lists Boaz, Ruth, and Obed in the line of descent (Mt 1:5; compare Ruth 4:18-22; 1Ch 2:5, 9-15) Jehovah s guidance in the preservation of the line of descent leading to the Messiah and also in the choice of individuals for that line is clearly seen in the book of Ruth. The fact that Ruth, a Moabitess, was so favoured illustrates the principle stated by the apostle Paul: It depends, not upon the one wishing nor upon the one running, but upon God, who has mercy (Ro 9:16). Ruth had chosen Jehovah as her God and Israel as her people, and in His great mercy, Jehovah granted to her a perfect wage in permitting her to become a link in the most important line of descent (Ru 2:12; 4:13-17).
Thesis of the Book The most often repeated reference in the Book of Ruth is not the three main characters, Naomi, Ruth or Boaz BUT God! He is the main influence behind the scene, and drives those events, though they seem like coincidences, according to His divine purpose for the great salvation of mankind. God is mentioned an amazing twenty-three times in eighty-five verses! Of those 23 times, the Divine Name YHWH (Adonai) appears eighteen times, the title El Shaddai (Almighty) is used twice, and the word Elohim (God plural) is used three times
The Book of Ruth is more than the story of a destitute Moabite widow who finds love in the land of Israel. It is a story that foreshadows the redemption of the Gentile nations and their entrance into the covenant family of the One True God. Ruth's redemption by Boaz and her conversion and inclusion into the covenant community of Israel prefigures the redemptive work of Jesus as our "Blood Redeemer," of both the Jews and the Gentiles. Thesis of the Book
Thesis of the Book Three things were required in order for a kinsman to redeem his relative under the law: 1. A near kin (Lev 25:48) 2. Willing to redeem (Ruth 4:6) 3. Willing to pay the price (Lev 25:27; Ruth 4:7-11). In the book of Ruth, Boaz the kinsman redeemer is set before us as a type of Christ as our Great Redeemer.
Thesis of the Book The word Go el in Hebrew which translates kinsman redeemer, means to redeem, receive or buy back. The theological concept of God our great redeemer in providing Jesus Christ as our Go el, forms the thesis of the book of Ruth. Is 54:5, For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.
Thesis of the Book 1. Jesus is my nearest kinsman through His incarnation. "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (He 2:17). In order to identify Himself with us He "emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men" (Ph 2:7).
Thesis of the Book 2. Jesus is willing to redeem me. Jesus Christ "gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds" (Tit 2:14). Jesus said, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45).
3. Jesus has paid the price in full and I can receive my redemption. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). In view of all these, Jesus is my kinsman redeemer and therefore He has the right to redeem me. The invitation is still open. Jesus is the sinner's nearest kinsman. Are you willing to be redeemed? Thesis of the Book
I Had A Debt I Could Not Pay I had a debt I could not pay, He paid the debt He did not owe, I needed someone, To wash my sins away. And now I sing a brand new song, Amazing grace all day long, Christ Jesus paid the debt, That I could never pay. My debt He paid upon the cross He cleansed my soul from all its dross I tho't that no one could all my sins erase But now I sing a brand new song Amazing Grace Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay By: Ellis J. Crum
Theological Concept (Chesed) The key word in the book of Ruth is the Hebrew word Chesed/Hesed which means unfailing love, mercy and faithfulness" in action as well as in attitude The word is found some 249 times in the Old Testament. Most often, we encounter chesed in the Psalms - 26 times in Psalm 136 alone! You might recall the familiar refrain from that wonderful Psalm of thanksgiving: For His lovingkindness (chesed) endures forever.
Theological Concept (Chesed) It is used in 3 passages: (Ruth 1:8; 2:20; 3:10). In Ruth 1:8-10, Naomi says to Ruth and Orpah, May Adonai deal kindly (do chesed) with you as you have dealt with the dead [husbands] and with me. In Ruth 2:20, Then Naomi said to her daughter-inlaw, Blessed be He of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness (Chesed) to the living and the dead! In Ruth 3:10, Boaz said, Then he said, Blessed are you of the LORD, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness (chesed) at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich.
Theological Concept (Chesed) Ruth is a book about chesed, a chain of acts of kindness, that transform the lives of some people living in a dark time (the days of the Judges). Ruth shows kindness by refusing to abandon the widow, Naomi. Boaz goes beyond obligation to show kindness to Ruth and Naomi. Naomi seeks a way to help Ruth marry Boaz. Ruth offers herself to Boaz and encourages him to become her redeemer. Boaz extends his care to Ruth and Naomi. Boaz goes even beyond all this and marries Ruth. The community acts with chesed in affirming this marriage. Chesed heals Moabite-Israelite relations in one small circle of people. Chesed is a light in the dark days of the Judges in one place in Israel.
Theological Concept (Chesed) Chesed is about an act of benevolence. In general it means an act that is not done out of obligation. Yet one act of chesed leads to another, so that a recipient of chesed often feels an obligation to reciprocate. The greatest chesed of God, is when he suspends justice to give us what we do not deserve (grace). God s act of chesed leads us to do chesed for others and starts a chain of chesed, each link in the chain adding goodness to the world. Praise the Lord and pass the chesed around!
Key Word We might say that chesed lives on a two-way street, as something which God certainly shows to His people, but also desires for us to give back to Him, as well as to one another. Thank God for His chesed, because: like King David, we can cry out to God for forgiveness of sin based on His chesed: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness (chesed); according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions (Ps 51:1). like the prophet Jeremiah, we can be confident in the midst of great trial, Through the Lord s mercies (chesed) we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not (La 3:22).
Key Word And also because chesed is what He desires from His people: He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, (chesed) and to walk humbly with your God? (Mi 6:8). But while we human beings often fail in showing chesed, God never fails. Rather, His response to Israel s failure, and to the failure of the human race, was the greatest act of chesed of all time. He sent His son, Jesus, to atone for our sin. The Lord s Day is a good time to think about God s chesed, to thank Him for it, and to look for ways to show it to others.
Proposed Themes Chapter 1: The Bitter Pill of God s Providence. Big Picture: Crisis creates an opportunity to trust God s character and capability Chapter 2: The Hidden Hand of God. Big Picture: God rewards those who take refuge in Him Chapter 3: Hoping in God. Big Picture: Hope in God is our greatest help in hardship Chapter 4: The Promise of Redemption. Big Picture: Redemption is coming through Christ Conclusion: The Living Message from the Book of Ruth - The Providence of God
Conclusion How do I apply this lesson? The book of Ruth came along at a time of irresponsible living in Israel s history and appropriately called the people back to a greater responsibility and faithfulness before God even in difficult times. This call applies just as clearly to us today. We belong to a loving, faithful, and powerful God who has never failed to care and provide for His children. Like Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, we are called to respond to that divine grace in faithful obedience, in spite of the circumstances in which we live in. Are you willing?
Next Week.. The Bitter Pill of God s Providence