Ruth 1-2

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Ruth 1-2

• Faithful Living in Faithless Times

2
Recap

• Judges cycle sin, servitude, salvation
• The proof of discipline God lifts His hand of
  restraint (Rom. 117f.)
• How does God treat His faithful followers who
  live in a nation under His discipline?

3
Ruth

• Ruth takes place during the time of the judges
• Every man did what was right in his own eyes.
  (Judges 176)
• Ruth and Boaz reveal Gods abundant grace in dark
  times
• Ruth and Boaz served the Lord faithfully, in
  spite of their sinful and idolatrous culture.

4
Ruth

• While God may discipline a nation, He can also
  bless the individuals in that nation who honor
  Him
• Daniel was not exempt from the exile but God
  blessed and used Daniel in Babylon

5
Ruth

• A powerful love story
• Gods grace manifests itself through people
• Gods grace overcomes our fallen world
• The book teaches us about faithful living in
  faithless times because of the favor of the Lord

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Ruth 1 Act 1 Tragedy and Loyalty

• Bethlehem house of bread
• Elimelech My God is king
• Naomi pleasant
• Mahlon sick or sickly
• Chilion dying or puny
• Orpah stiff-necked or stubborn
• Mr. Puny (Chilion) married Ms. Stubborn (Orpah)
• Mr. Sick (Mahlon) married Ms. Comfort (Ruth)

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Ruth 1 Act 1 Tragedy and Loyalty

• Ephrathites were the upper-class of Bethlehem
• This is a riches to rags story
• Deut. 73-4 forbade Israelites from marrying
  foreigners so that they would not be tempted with
  idolatry (13-5)
• Widows were physically, emotionally, and
  financially vulnerable

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Ruth 1 Act 1 Tragedy and Loyalty

• Carrying on the family name was extremely
  important in this culture
• It was the means of retaining the familys land
  and inheritance (19)

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Ruth 1 Act 1 Tragedy and Loyalty

• Ruth shows great faith and takes the road of
  trusting God (116-17)
• Ruth is a conduit of Gods grace for Naomi
• Show kindness and God will reward you
• Boaz will be Ruths reward for her kindness to
  Naomi

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Ruth 1 Act 1 Tragedy and Loyalty

• Naomi cant see that the answer to her prayers is
  right in front of her (118-21)
• Maintain an attitude of gratitude
• Dont let your circumstances dictate your
  theology

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Ruth 2 Act 2 Boy Meets Girl

• Boaz in him is strength (21-3)
• Mahlon sick
• Ruth follows Proverbs in some Hebrew arrangements
  of the Old Testament
• Ruth is a Proverbs 31 example a virtuous woman

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Ruth 2 Act 2 Boy Meets Girl

• Gleaners poor people allowed to pick up
  leftovers after the reapers (21-3)
• She happened to go to Boazs field, a
  kinsman-redeemer
• Ordinary life is the glove that holds the
  sovereign hand of God
• God is the God of the ordinary

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Ruth 2 Act 2 Boy Meets Girl

• Naomi May the LORD deal kindly with you as you
  have dealt with those who have died and with me.
  (Ruth 18)
• Ruths kindness is being rewarded by God through
  Boazs kindness (210)
• Boaz was obeying the Law of Moses (Lev. 199-10,
  2322 Deut. 2419-22)

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Ruth 2 Act 2 Boy Meets Girl

• A good name is to be more desired than great
  wealth, favor is better than silver and gold.
  (Proverbs 221)
• God cares for His children as a hen protects her
  chicks (211-12)
• God helps those who help other people

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Ruth 2 Act 2 Boy Meets Girl

• The generous man will be prosperous, and he who
  waters will himself be watered. (Proverbs 1125)
• One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the
  LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good
  deed. (Proverbs 1917)
• And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to
  one of these little ones even a cup of cold water
  to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose
  his reward. (Matthew 1042)

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Ruth 2 Act 2 Boy Meets Girl

• A little kindness goes a long way
• Seek refuge in the Lord, under His wings
• Boaz will be the answer to his prayer (212)

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God Has Two Hands

• King David and Jesus Christ in His humanity, are
  descendants of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 416-22,
  Matt. 15-6)
• God used the Moabites to discipline Israel
• Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the
  sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon
  the king of Moab against Israel, because they had
  done evil in the sight of the LORD. (Judges 312)

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God Has Two Hands

• Gods hand was against Israel for their idolatry
  and sin
• God used the Moabites to discipline Israel
• But, God used a Moabite (Ruth) to bless Israel
  because this Moabite will be in the lineage of
  Jesus Christ, the Savior and King of Israel

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Ruth 1-2

• Faithful living in faithless times is possible
  because of the favor of the Lord