Ruth
An Overview of Chapter 1
A man named Elimelech from the tribe of Judah took his wife and kids to the land of Moab to escape a famine. While there, his two sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. The man and his sons both died over the course of ten years and his widow Naomi decided to return to Judah. She requested that her two Moabite daughter-in-laws stay in Moab. Orpah agreed, but Ruth refused saying, “where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.”
So Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem, and when the women of the city saw them they asked if it really was Naomi. Naomi said her name had changed from Naomi (sweetness) to Mara (bitterness).
An Overview of Chapter 2
Ruth asks Naomi if she can go to the field of Boaz and pick up the remnants that the reapers left laying in the field. When Boaz saw her gleaning he asked who she was, and when he realized she had come with Naomi he treated her like one of her maids, and even let her drink from the water that his servants were carrying and gave her lunch. He instructed his workers to leave extra grain for her. When she returned to Naomi she told her all that had happened and Naomi instructed her to work the rest of the harvest at Boaz’s field.
An Overview of Chapter 3
Naomi instructed Ruth to lay at Boaz’s feet when he was sleeping, and she did as she was told. Boaz woke up from his sleep and asked who was laying at his feet. Ruth answered and asked Boaz if he would take her as a wife. Boaz said he would, but he was not the closest relative and hew would first have to find out if the closer relative wanted to be her kinsman redeemer. He gave Ruth some food and sent her away.
An Overview of Chapter 4
Boaz met with the close relative and the elders of the city to see if he would be willing to redeem Ruth and Naomi’s land. The relative could not afford the land so he refused. Now Boaz was a shoe-in to marry Ruth. Boaz payed for the field that was Naomi’s husband and married Ruth. They had a son named Obed and Naomi became the babies nurse. From Boaz and Ruth’s lineage came king David (and eventually Jesus).
Reflection
When you have struggles in your life do you become bitter? How loyal are you to your in-laws? Could you have shown restraint as Boaz did when tempted sexually? What means could you provide gleanings for the poor in your town?
For Further Study
Gleaning: Leviticus 19:9-10, Leviticus 23:22, Jeremiah 49:9, Matthew 12:1
Kinsman redeemer: Genesis 38:6-10, Leviticus 25:23-28, Deuteronomy 25:5-10
A man named Elimelech from the tribe of Judah took his wife and kids to the land of Moab to escape a famine. While there, his two sons married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. The man and his sons both died over the course of ten years and his widow Naomi decided to return to Judah. She requested that her two Moabite daughter-in-laws stay in Moab. Orpah agreed, but Ruth refused saying, “where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.”
So Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem, and when the women of the city saw them they asked if it really was Naomi. Naomi said her name had changed from Naomi (sweetness) to Mara (bitterness).
An Overview of Chapter 2
Ruth asks Naomi if she can go to the field of Boaz and pick up the remnants that the reapers left laying in the field. When Boaz saw her gleaning he asked who she was, and when he realized she had come with Naomi he treated her like one of her maids, and even let her drink from the water that his servants were carrying and gave her lunch. He instructed his workers to leave extra grain for her. When she returned to Naomi she told her all that had happened and Naomi instructed her to work the rest of the harvest at Boaz’s field.
An Overview of Chapter 3
Naomi instructed Ruth to lay at Boaz’s feet when he was sleeping, and she did as she was told. Boaz woke up from his sleep and asked who was laying at his feet. Ruth answered and asked Boaz if he would take her as a wife. Boaz said he would, but he was not the closest relative and hew would first have to find out if the closer relative wanted to be her kinsman redeemer. He gave Ruth some food and sent her away.
An Overview of Chapter 4
Boaz met with the close relative and the elders of the city to see if he would be willing to redeem Ruth and Naomi’s land. The relative could not afford the land so he refused. Now Boaz was a shoe-in to marry Ruth. Boaz payed for the field that was Naomi’s husband and married Ruth. They had a son named Obed and Naomi became the babies nurse. From Boaz and Ruth’s lineage came king David (and eventually Jesus).
Reflection
When you have struggles in your life do you become bitter? How loyal are you to your in-laws? Could you have shown restraint as Boaz did when tempted sexually? What means could you provide gleanings for the poor in your town?
For Further Study
Gleaning: Leviticus 19:9-10, Leviticus 23:22, Jeremiah 49:9, Matthew 12:1
Kinsman redeemer: Genesis 38:6-10, Leviticus 25:23-28, Deuteronomy 25:5-10
posted by Shaun Sells | 10:15 AM
2 Comments:
Pastor, what is the scriptural way to fend off bitterness?
Acts 8:22-23 - repent, pray, and have others pray for you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 - by showing kindness and forgiveness to those who you are bitter with.
Hebrews 12:3-15 - consider how Jesus suffered at the hands of sinners and yet showed love to them.
1Peter 4:8 - show love to others who have sinned against you.
1Corinthians 6:7 - if it is bitterness towards another believer, then prefer to be wronged by them then have a dispute with them.
Hope those help - as you can see I have dealt with this before!
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