Ruth: Redemption for God’s Ami

Ruth: Redemption for God’s Ami Summer/Autumn 2013

Woman after God’s own heart

Week #1: Getting us started • Background • Set the scene • Introduce the important people • Ask more questions than receive answers

God’s anger burned: why? Israel did not know His heart Desire for a king: why? God’s desire vs. what he allowed When: the time of Judges

Where

Moab: Israel’s “washing pot” • Moab born out of incest • Moabite king (Balak) tried to curse Israel, was instead cursed by God • Israelites not to enter, even to pass through • Certainly not to inter-marry

Famine: why? Where is God? • Theme cycle through Old Testament • Israel restored, rebelled, rebuffed, repented • Time of Ruth in the rebel/rebuffing period: “they did as they chose” • And the “Lord’s anger burned” (and probably His heart broke) • Huge consequences

Today’s Reading • Ruth Ch. 1 • Questions to think about • How do Elimelech’s sins set the stage for our story? • How do we do the same thing? • Why do you think Naomi wanted to go home? • Why do you think Ruth chose to go with her? How was she different from Orpah?

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

The conversion • Who were main women in this scene? • Who was Ruth? • Where she came from and who had she “been” • Naomi’s influence • God’s calling

Ruth and Naomi

The homecoming • Called back to God, not for food • Naomi knew she was not home • What did Naomi expect? • What did she see in/want from Ruth? • We are God’s Ami, and he wants us home!

Last time • Time of “judges” • Elimelech flees to Moab • Lasting consequences • Choices to make

Ruth gleans

Descriptives for Ruth • Native of a pagan nation • Possibly daughter of a pagan king (Eglon) • Certainly great-grandmother of an Israel king • Powerful convert • “Foreigner” in the lineage of our Lord Conviction #1

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

We’re here, so now what? • Are we ready? • And are we going to let God do it his way? • Ruth asked and went • And she “just happened” upon a field… Conviction #2

Today’s Reading • Ruth Ch. 2 • 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?

Impressions • Boaz was a true leader Conviction #3 • Ruth was a humble servant, took off all royalty • “The Lord repay your work and a full reward given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge” (Ruth 2:12) • What a beautiful meeting

Ruth and Boaz meet

The meal • The audience and the setting • The bread and wine • Redemption from the “master” Conviction #4 • Grace toward a recent convert

Hope, at last! • Fear turned to relief • You gleaned where?! • Whose field??? • Can this be happening, after all the loss, all the hurt, all the consequences? Conviction #5

So far… • Week #1: sin and consequence • Week #2: Ruth and Boaz • Convictions from Ruth

Threshing Floor

Commentary “War” • Dianna Hagee in Ruth, the Romance of Redemption • Sinclair Ferguson in Faithful God • Rabbi’s Scherman and Zlotowitz in The Book of Ruth – ArtScroll Tanach Series • Harry Brewer in Ruth, How an Outsider Gained God’s Favor. • Steve Zeisler in Conspicuous Love

Today’s Reading • Ruth Ch. 3 • Questions to think about: • What do you think Naomi’s motives were? Does it matter? • Were you surprised by Boaz’s blessing (v. 10)? What inside Boaz do you think created that reaction?

Naomi’s “risky” move • Grace as we read and interpret • Harvest about over • So what happened to the spark? • Mikveh – ritual bath • Chalitzah – removing the shoes

Who are you??? • Surprise! Surprise! • Ruth’s response • Boaz’s integrity and God’s spark

Once more, a blessing • “My daughter” • Choosing a man of integrity • Symbolism of six measures • Done the right way!

Waiting on the sidelines

Loss, grief and redemption • The bookends of the story • From the garden… • …to the Cross • In the meantime • Ruth & Boaz • Naomi

Before we finish… • Sin and consequence • Actions and character • Our involvement in God’s work • Getting off the sidelines

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

The final act • Ploni Almoni • Interesting strategy by Boaz • “Buy” v. “Redeem” • The trap • Removal of the shoe

Table discussion • Read Ruth 4:9-22 • Discuss • What are your impressions of Boaz, not only in what he did but how he did it? How can we take that message to our daily lives? • So what do you think was going through Naomi now? What were the neighbor women trying to say to her in 14-17? • What is your one overall takeaway from the book of Ruth you want to apply to your life?

The covenant • Responsive blessing • All in the midst of “time of judges” • Boaz the redeemer • Scriptures: • Gal 4:4-5 • John 1:29 • 1 Tim 2:5-6 • Rom 8:16-17 • John 10:17-18, 27-30 • Matt 20:28

The restoration • God once again gave a child • Boaz’s mitzvah • Nurse Naomi • So who was restored?

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

Summary • Sleeping on Naomi’s lap • Additions to the genealogy • Tamar • Rahab • Bathsheba • Ruth • Key messages from book: grace, redemption & restoration

Ruth: final thoughts

Ruth: Redemption for God’s Ami