1. A Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern California, was eager for the title of "doctor" - until one newly degreed professor shared his story. He said: A friend had called his home and asked, "Is the doctor in?"
The Professor's 10 year old son replied, "Yes, but he's not the kind that can do you any good."
Credentials are important. When we see the letters: PhD, MD, DDS, etc. these titles indicate that the person bearing those letters is valuable to us as individuals, or to society at large. These credentials indicate that an authorized organization or individual has placed their stamp of approval on that person.
2. God put his stamp of approval on the life of Ruth in the little town of Bethlehem
3. The story of Ruth is simply this:
a. Ruth and her Mother-in-law, Naomi go to Bethlehem after their husbands die
1) "House of Bread"
2) During Pentecost/harvest of wheat/ceremony in temple with two loaves of leavened bread offered
3) Where Ruth takes care of her mother-in-law by gleaning the fields of Boaz.
b. As she works the fields she catches Boaz' eye; he makes inquiries about her; they meet and eventually marry. That's basically it!
c. But, that's not the whole story. You see, we live in a society where women have to...
* Win a beauty contest
* Marry a rich or prominent man
* Or have a position of prominence or importance (royalty/ actress/ politics) to get noticed.
d. GOD SAYS -- that's not what gets MY attention!!! CHARACTER is more important!
1) Tamar and Rahab have mention in the lineage of Jesus -- Ruth gets a book
2) She was humble (willing to convert)
3) She was noble in character (Proverbs 31)
4) She was a hard-working servant with a heart for others
e. Boaz' view of her: 11 But Boaz answered her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" Ruth 2.11-12
I. Bethlehem is the Place of Revelation -- Ruth 4.10-11; 13, 22
A. Revelation of Ruth's Character -- 3.11
1. Same as the Virtuous woman in Proverbs 31; of Boaz in 2.1
2. Seen in her loyalty (Orpah's departure; Ruth's commitment)
B. Revelation of the God of Heaven
1. Ruth's Faith in God begins with her Interaction with Naomi
2. We see a Unique God with a Unique Community ("Edah" -- witnessing community; Matthew 16.18)
a. God is King
b. Judges are Local Leaders
c. A Declaration to the World of the Living God and His Abilities
3. She sees Romans 8.28
C. Revelation of a New Land: Naomi's Home and Boaz' fields [Pic of Fields of Bethlehem
1. A Land of Milk (shepherds) and Honey (farmers)
2. Ruth returns to Bethlehem with Naomi -- Ruth 1.16-18
But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you." 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
3. Jewish Targum to Ruth 1.16
But Ruth said: "Do not coax me to leave you, to turn from following you, for I desire to become a proselyte."
Said Naomi: "We are commanded to keep the Sabbaths and holidays, not to walk more than two thousand cubits."
Said Ruth: "Wheresoever you go I shall go."
Said Naomi: "We are commanded not to spend the night together with non-Jews."
Said Ruth: "Wherever you lodge I shall lodge."
Said Naomi: "We are commanded to keep six hundred thirteen commandments."
Said Ruth: "That which your people keep, that I shall keep, as though they had been my people before this."
Said Naomi: "We are commanded not to worship idolatry."
Said Ruth: "Your God is my God."
D. In following God, Ruth is revealed as an ancestor to David and Jesus
1. Boaz and Ruth -- Parents of Obed ("Serving")
2. Obed -- Father of Jesse (I Possess)
3. Jesse -- Father of David (Beloved)
4. Lineage of Jesus -- Matthew 1.1-17
II. Bethlehem is the Place of Redemption
A. Boaz, the Kinsman (Guardian) Redeemer -- "Ga-al"
1. Rich in meaning -- Redeemer; Avenger; Relative
Speaks of God's relationship to us -- Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19.14
2. Levirate Marriage Laws: Deuteronomy 25:5-10 describes the legal code behind Ruth's marriage to Boaz and why he had to obtain permission from the closer relative.
B. A Change in Marital Status
1. Typically, Widows were on the bottom of the social Ladder
a. Verge of starvation; forced into prostitution -- 1 Kings 17.7-24; Ruth 2.12
b. Importance of the Levirate marriage Deuteronomy 25.5-6; Ruth 3.10-13
c. The presence of widows was a litmus test for communities -- how do we treat the most vulnerable members of society?
1) Easily victimized and mistreated
2) One of the things that truly angers God -- Isaiah 1.16-17; Malachi 3.5
3) God's Directions --
19 "'Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' Deuteronomy 27.19;
22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. Exodus 22.22-24
4) GOD'S DECLARATION TO US! James 1.27
2. She was redeemed from the uncertainty of widowhood to the sanctity of marriage with Boaz
C. Ruth Converts By God's Grace as we -- Ephesians 2.1-10
"A certain duke once boarded a galley ship. As he passed the crew of slaves, he asked several of them what their offenses were. Almost every man claimed he was innocent. They laid the blame on someone else or accused the judge of yielding to bribery. One young fellow, however, spoke out, 'Sir, I deserve to be here. I stole some money. No one is at fault but me. I'm guilty.' Upon hearing this, the duke seized him by the shoulder and shouted, 'You scoundrel, you! What are you doing here with all these honest men? Get out of their company at once!' He was then set at liberty while the rest were left to tug at the oars."
1. From the accursed nation of Moab. This dates from the time when Balak hired Balaam (the prophet with the talking donkey) to curse Israel as it passed through his land. When that failed the Moabites stooped to tempt the people of Israel into sexual immorality.
Deuteronomy 23.3 -- "No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever,
2. Under God's Protection/Wings (Ruth 2.12) -- the Gleaning laws for the poor: Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:19-21 demonstrates God's concern for those who are in need.
a. Protection of wings (Luke 13.34)
b. Provisions of the corners of the fields
D. God did more than she expected -- Ephesians 3.20-21
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
1. "Success," said General George S. Patton, "is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." That's not a bad definition, but here's a better one: Success is faithfully tackling and accomplishing the work God gives us day by day. In biblical terms, success has nothing to do with wealth, position, power, respect, or awards. God promises to grant us success in life, but He views success as finishing the work He has assigned us. In Colossians 4:17 Paul says, "Say to Archippus, 'Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.'"
2. The Bible tells us to persevere in obedience, "Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you ... that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book ... meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:7-8, NIV). Don't worry about failure; just be faithful in your Christian walk and work. That's SUCCESS in capital letters.
3. This is the type of person who impresses God - whether male or female. But before you can truly impress God, you must make the decision that Ruth made when she first considered leaving with Naomi. You must decide to take this God as your own...
4. Naomi and then Ruth bounced back from the bottom and took God as theirs, living day to day before Him.
