Thu, Oct 8, 2009
Finding Wisdom in the Book of Ruth – Introduction
I am beginning a Hybrid Study in my teaching and thought I would share my summaries here. It is focused on two old testament books, Ruth and Proverbs. I will be attempting to teach Ruth primarily and utilize the wisdom from Proverbs to apply Ruth’s principles. With that said, let us get started…
Background & Context:
Ruth is a Moabite woman who married a son of Elimelech, who became a widow, arrived in Bethlehem as a foreigner, became a maidservant, married a Bethlehemite – Boaz and ultimately ended up as an ancestor of Jesus Christ . Moabites were descendants of an incestuous relationship between Lot and his oldest daughter [Genesis 19:36-37]. The Moabites also opressed Israel for 18 years [Judges 3:12-14] and the Moabites were defeated by Saul in [1 Samuel 14:47].
Interesting Facts about the book of Ruth
Some suggest Ruth was attached to the book of Judges; Like Lamentations with Jeremiah. Due to most scholars believing Samuel was the author. Other Old testament Scholars believe that the events that took place in Ruth happened in or around the 10th chapter of Judges.
Ruth is part of what the Jews called “Megilloth” or “5 scrolls”. These 5 scrolls would be read at various times throughout the Jewish year, and Ruth would commonly be read around the time of pentacost during harves times. Most scholars believe it was read at harvest time because of the strong harvest scene in Ruth Chapter 2 (Which has a major focus in today’s teachings on Ruth)…
[Ruth 1:1 NASB]
Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land.
Why was there a famine?
Leviticus 26 gives us a picture of God’s judgment on Israel if Israel doesn’t follow God’s commandments provided through Moses. Such judgement includes “Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the lan will not yield their fruit ” (i.e. a famine).
As mentioned above, Ruth happens during the time of the Judges (A “Judge” is a govenor called by God to deliver His people from foreign oppressors [Judges 2:16]; therefore, when we read the Book of Judges we note; God becomes very angry with Israel for not following His commands (i.e. utterly destroying conquered enemies, intermarriage with foreign cultures ect) and begins to place judgment on Israel [Judges 2:1-23; 3:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:1-6].
Israel repeatily did evil in the sight of God, forgot God and His commands and worshiped idols [Judges 3:7-14; 4:1-3; 5:3; 6:1; 10:6-8; 13:1] Israel and the Book of Judges ends with this infamous phrase:
[Judges 21:25 NASB]
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Therefore, the time of the Judges consisted of excessive selfishness, evil, disobedeince, obstinante faith and “religion” (in the sense of a checklist mentality to get out of trouble, then when “things” are “ok” you allow yourself to fall back into sin – this is not Faith but Religion and it kills). The people in the tiem of the Judges repeatdily did two things:
1. Forgot God, Ignored leaders/teachers (i.e. didn’t put their faith into practice)
2. Worshiped the created over the Creator
The people in these days no doubt became tired, beat down, hard hearted and obstiant. When people get to this part in life they do one of two things:
1. White knuckle it and try not to show their true emotions – this gets you nowhere but on a vicious cycle of religion and ultimately destroys your life, this does not get at the root; rather only the fruits of the problem
2. Realize they are not right with God and in need of repentance – this is root issue.
Israel became disobedient to God and they received the penalty for their violations. Because, they didn’t fully fulfill God’s law when driving out and destroying nations God commanded them to; rather they only did part of God’s word. When they took their eyes off of completing God’s word 100%, they forgot the Lord, worshiped things that were not God and spent time under the oppression of other countries. God ignored their prayers until their penalty was “fulfilled” and once Israel was “ok” – they forgot God again and went back to their old ways. This not only impacted them personally but their children’s, children, children (i.e. multiple generations ).
We too follow this same way of behavior.
We know God’s will and we either ignore it or only do part of it to “feel good” with ourselves “today”. This is the evil of religion, there is NO heart change and ultimately remain selfish and receive the penalty that not only impacts us but others. This is a Vicious Cycle: we get down on ourselves, turn around for a short time until we are happy with ourselves and then relapse.
What Can Ruth Teach Us?
* God doesn’t always teach scholastic books but also teaches us through true stories.
* The book of Ruth falls in the middle of Judges, a time of a vicious cycle of disobedience and obedience, sin and righteousness and it provides us a glimpse of hope in the midst of darkness, and hopelessness. This actually reminds me of THIS SCENE in Batman: The Dark Knight; where in a city of such darkness – there is a glimps of hope and goodness. We can apply this to our lives, that in the midst of our very hard times, there is still Mercy and the Grace of God.
* The Book of Ruth Provides us with models of Mercy,Grace and Lovefor us to strive to live. This should move us to act for the benefit of another without respect to the advantage it might bring to one who is being merciful/gracious
* Perhaps God has you a “hard time” right now, for the purpose of doing something awesome and great in your life that will impact others for Good and bring hope to those who are hurting. (i.e Ruth went through hard times, but ultimately used all that happened for His Glory by placing her in the lineage of Jesus)
Conclusion: This is what I want you to remember
* The book of Ruth takes place in a HARD time – Economic status was down, spiritual adultery and evil times.
* When these times occur in our lives we do 1 of 2 things:
1. Obey God and persevere
2. Forget/disobey God and those He appointed to be over us (i.e teachers); and we will seek to live for those things which are not God.
Practical Application This Week
* Write down glimps(es) of hope during these hard times and pray for them to impact others with the same hope seen.
* Write down some people you know personally who are models of such Mercy and Grace and pray for them to be to be blessed this week.
All Glory to God Alone, You Are Loved
Judson
http://vesselsofmercy.wordpress.com
Background & Context:
Ruth is a Moabite woman who married a son of Elimelech, who became a widow, arrived in Bethlehem as a foreigner, became a maidservant, married a Bethlehemite – Boaz and ultimately ended up as an ancestor of Jesus Christ . Moabites were descendants of an incestuous relationship between Lot and his oldest daughter [Genesis 19:36-37]. The Moabites also opressed Israel for 18 years [Judges 3:12-14] and the Moabites were defeated by Saul in [1 Samuel 14:47].
Interesting Facts about the book of Ruth
Some suggest Ruth was attached to the book of Judges; Like Lamentations with Jeremiah. Due to most scholars believing Samuel was the author. Other Old testament Scholars believe that the events that took place in Ruth happened in or around the 10th chapter of Judges.
Ruth is part of what the Jews called “Megilloth” or “5 scrolls”. These 5 scrolls would be read at various times throughout the Jewish year, and Ruth would commonly be read around the time of pentacost during harves times. Most scholars believe it was read at harvest time because of the strong harvest scene in Ruth Chapter 2 (Which has a major focus in today’s teachings on Ruth)…
[Ruth 1:1 NASB]
Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land.
Why was there a famine?
Leviticus 26 gives us a picture of God’s judgment on Israel if Israel doesn’t follow God’s commandments provided through Moses. Such judgement includes “Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the lan will not yield their fruit ” (i.e. a famine).
As mentioned above, Ruth happens during the time of the Judges (A “Judge” is a govenor called by God to deliver His people from foreign oppressors [Judges 2:16]; therefore, when we read the Book of Judges we note; God becomes very angry with Israel for not following His commands (i.e. utterly destroying conquered enemies, intermarriage with foreign cultures ect) and begins to place judgment on Israel [Judges 2:1-23; 3:5-6; Deuteronomy 7:1-6].
Israel repeatily did evil in the sight of God, forgot God and His commands and worshiped idols [Judges 3:7-14; 4:1-3; 5:3; 6:1; 10:6-8; 13:1] Israel and the Book of Judges ends with this infamous phrase:
[Judges 21:25 NASB]
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Therefore, the time of the Judges consisted of excessive selfishness, evil, disobedeince, obstinante faith and “religion” (in the sense of a checklist mentality to get out of trouble, then when “things” are “ok” you allow yourself to fall back into sin – this is not Faith but Religion and it kills). The people in the tiem of the Judges repeatdily did two things:
1. Forgot God, Ignored leaders/teachers (i.e. didn’t put their faith into practice)
2. Worshiped the created over the Creator
The people in these days no doubt became tired, beat down, hard hearted and obstiant. When people get to this part in life they do one of two things:
1. White knuckle it and try not to show their true emotions – this gets you nowhere but on a vicious cycle of religion and ultimately destroys your life, this does not get at the root; rather only the fruits of the problem
2. Realize they are not right with God and in need of repentance – this is root issue.
Israel became disobedient to God and they received the penalty for their violations. Because, they didn’t fully fulfill God’s law when driving out and destroying nations God commanded them to; rather they only did part of God’s word. When they took their eyes off of completing God’s word 100%, they forgot the Lord, worshiped things that were not God and spent time under the oppression of other countries. God ignored their prayers until their penalty was “fulfilled” and once Israel was “ok” – they forgot God again and went back to their old ways. This not only impacted them personally but their children’s, children, children (i.e. multiple generations ).
We too follow this same way of behavior.
We know God’s will and we either ignore it or only do part of it to “feel good” with ourselves “today”. This is the evil of religion, there is NO heart change and ultimately remain selfish and receive the penalty that not only impacts us but others. This is a Vicious Cycle: we get down on ourselves, turn around for a short time until we are happy with ourselves and then relapse.
What Can Ruth Teach Us?
* God doesn’t always teach scholastic books but also teaches us through true stories.
* The book of Ruth falls in the middle of Judges, a time of a vicious cycle of disobedience and obedience, sin and righteousness and it provides us a glimpse of hope in the midst of darkness, and hopelessness. This actually reminds me of THIS SCENE in Batman: The Dark Knight; where in a city of such darkness – there is a glimps of hope and goodness. We can apply this to our lives, that in the midst of our very hard times, there is still Mercy and the Grace of God.
* The Book of Ruth Provides us with models of Mercy,Grace and Lovefor us to strive to live. This should move us to act for the benefit of another without respect to the advantage it might bring to one who is being merciful/gracious
* Perhaps God has you a “hard time” right now, for the purpose of doing something awesome and great in your life that will impact others for Good and bring hope to those who are hurting. (i.e Ruth went through hard times, but ultimately used all that happened for His Glory by placing her in the lineage of Jesus)
Conclusion: This is what I want you to remember
* The book of Ruth takes place in a HARD time – Economic status was down, spiritual adultery and evil times.
* When these times occur in our lives we do 1 of 2 things:
1. Obey God and persevere
2. Forget/disobey God and those He appointed to be over us (i.e teachers); and we will seek to live for those things which are not God.
Practical Application This Week
* Write down glimps(es) of hope during these hard times and pray for them to impact others with the same hope seen.
* Write down some people you know personally who are models of such Mercy and Grace and pray for them to be to be blessed this week.
All Glory to God Alone, You Are Loved
Judson
http://vesselsofmercy.wordpress.com
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