RUTH Redeeming Love
RUTH: Redeeming Love Ruth 1:1 In the days when the judges ruled,
RUTH: Redeeming Love God is weaving a grand story of redemption out of all the threads of our individual lives.
I. Misery in Moab: tragedy & death
Ruth 1:5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
Naomi s Assessment Ruth 1:13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD s hand has gone out against me!
Ruth 1:20-21 Don t call me Naomi, she told them. Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.
Often in the pain and affliction of life our perception is obscured. We depend on our logic, which is helpful to a point. But human logic breaks down in the midst of pain. - K. Lawson Younger Jr.
Lesson: God uses even the ugly and challenging threads of our lives in the fabric of redemption.
II. Blessings in Bethlehem
Providence God s activity in guiding and directing the course of events to fulfill his purposes.
Two Blessings Bread Boaz
Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
Boaz kinsman redeemer Deut. 25:5-10
Rom. 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
III. Matchmaker
Ruth 3:1-2 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
Ruth 3:9 He said, Who are you? And she answered, I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.
Lesson: Be open and sensitive to God s work around us.
John 5:19 So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
IV. Restoration: fullness & joy.
Conclusion: God turned destitution into a royal dynasty.
Ruth 4:17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, A son has been born to Naomi. They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Matt. 1:1-6 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac,... Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
God is weaving a grand story of redemption out of all the threads of our individual lives.
Next Steps: 1. Hold onto hope.
Rom. 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Troubles almost whelm the soul; Griefs like billows o er me roll; Tempters seek to lure astray; Storms obscure the light of day: But in Christ I can be bold, I ve an anchor that shall hold. - Verse 4 of My Anchor Holds
2. Walk by faith in the ordinary events of everyday life.
3. Please God in everything.
4. Love well.
John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.