Ruth & Boaz

February 14, 2021

Susan Hageman

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right

Reveal Answer

. —Judges 17:6 (NASB)

Jesus: If you love me, you will keep my commandments. —John 14:15 (ESV)

drove Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons to Moab, a pagan country and oppressor of Israel.

Naomi: ‘Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the

Reveal Answer

of another marriage.’ —Ruth 1: 8-9 (NLT)

Ruth: ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.’ —Ruth 1: 16-17 (NLT)

– a legally enforced entitlement

Ruth: ‘What have I done to deserve such kindness?…I am only a foreigner.’ —Ruth 2:10 (NLT)
Boaz:‘Yes, I know.…But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.’ —Ruth 2:11-12 (NLT)

Levirate Marriage – obligation of a dead man’s brother to care for the widow (See Deuteronomy 25:5-10)

• Go’el - the participle of the Hebrew word gal’al (“to deliver,” “to redeem”)

• Reveal Answer
  Redeemer – a male relative who has the responsibility to help a relative in need or danger. (see Leviticus 25:25-55)
  

Flawed but Chosen –

but Chosen

- Ruth is

.

- Ruth is a

, a Moabitess.

- They are both

.

- Naomi feels “

.” (Mara). - Ruth 1:20 (NIV)

Ruth (and Naomi) show us that:

1. Your background and circumstances do NOT

you from being chosen by God!

2.

determines your path.

a. Naomi demonstrates qualities of a

woman.

These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely… —Titus 2:4-6 (NLT)

b. Ruth’s loyalty demonstrates

:choosing to accept someone for who they are and sacrificially working for their good.

A pharisee tested Jesus with this question: Teacher, which commandment is the greatest…?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. —Matthew 22:34-40
(The Great Commandment, also found in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Mark 12:28-34)

is our Kinsman Redeemer.

…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 (ESV)