09WK8- RUTH - GOD REWARDS FAITHFULNESS

Week 8

RUTH – GOD REWARDS FAITHFULNESS
KEY VERSE: The women living there said, “Naomi has a son.” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David RUTH 4:17

SCRIPTURE LESSON: RUTH 4:1-22
RUTH 4”:1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. When the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along, Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.
2. Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so.
3. Then he said to the kinsman- redeemer, ”Naomi, who has come back from Moab, it selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no on has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it, “he said.
5. The Boaz said, “On the day you buy will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has Moabitess, you acquire the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”
6. At this, the Kinsman-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”
7. (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)
8. So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
9. Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. Maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!”
10. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!”
11. Then the elders and all those at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the hose of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.
12. Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may you family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”
13. So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
14. The women said Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!
15. He will renew your life and sustain you in you old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth,”
16. Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.
17. The women living there said. “Naomi has a son. “Andy they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18. This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,
19. Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab,
20. Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
21. Salmon the father of Boaz the father of Obed.
22. Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

For The Teacher…
BACKGROUND
The stories of several people in the Bible are woven together so closely that they are almost inseparable. We know more about their relationship than we know about them as individuals. And in an age that worships individualism, their stories become helpful models of good relationships. Naomi and Ruth are beautiful examples of this blending of lives. Their cultures, family backgrounds and ages were very different. As mother – in – law and daughter-in-law, they probably had as many opportunities for tension as for tenderness. And yet they were bound to each other.
They shared deep sorrow, great affection for each other, and an overriding commitment to the God of Israel. And yet as much as they depended on each other, they also gave each other freedom in their commitment to one another. Naomi was willing to let Ruth return to her family. Ruth was willing to leave her homeland to go to Israel. And Naomi helped arrange Ruth’s marriage to Boaz although it would change their relationship.

God was at the center of their intimate communication. Ruth came to know the God of Israel through Naomi. The older woman allowed Ruth to see, hear, and feel all the anguish of her relationship to God. Sharing openly about our relationship with God can bring depth and intimacy to our relationships with others. Theirs was:
v A relationship where the greatest bond was faith in God
v A relationship of strong mutual commitment
v A relationship in which each person tried to do what was best for the other.
v A relationship in which God’s living presence overcame differences that might otherwise create division and disharmony.

IN DEPTH
RUTH 4:10 “Acquired Ruth… as my wife”. Boaz became a redeemer in two ways:
v He married Ruth and preserved the name of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased Elimelech’s line (verses 5.10).
v Boaz redeemed (i.e. bought) the family land that Naomi was selling and restored it to Elimelech’s line (verses 3,7 – 10).
VERSE 14 “ … The LORD… has not left you without a kinsman redeemer”. Although Naomi had experienced great sorrow and adversity in her life; she had maintained her faith in God. Because of her persevering faith, God so ordered events that “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (Jas. 5:11)
VERSES 13,17: “A son… the father of David”. This was the wonderful drama which brought David and “the son of David”, Jesus Christ unto the earth. God honoured the decision of a virtuous young woman who forsook her pagan homeland in order to remain loyal to her mother-in-law and to the God of Israel (Ruth 1:16) by allowing her to become a part of the earthly family through whom Jesus Christ came into the world (cf Mt. 1:5).


THE WORD IN OUR LIVES
Faithfulness is one of the cardinal virtues of life. God rewards faithfulness. “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” *Rev. 2:10).

The reward of Ruth’s commitment and faithfulness include the following:
v She got new husband Boaz who could best be described as a generous man who was also a man of integrity.
v The people of Bethlehem showered praises on her at her wedding.
v Ruth (a stranger, from Moab) became one of the only five (5) women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16, especially verse 5).
To some the book of Ruth may be just a nice story about a girl who was fortunate. But in reality, the events recorded in Ruth were part of God’s preparation for the births of David and of Jesus, the promised Messiah. Just as Ruth was unaware of this larger purpose in her life we will not know the full purpose and importance of our lives until we are able to look back from the perspective of eternity. We must make our choices with God’s eternal values in mind. Taking moral short-cuts and living for short-range pleasures are not good ways to move ahead.
Because of Ruth’ faithful obedience, her life and legacy were significant even though she could not see al the results. Live in faithfulness to God knowing that the significant of your life will extend beyond your lifetime. The rewards will outweigh any sacrifice you may make.





TEST YOURSELF
1. Why was the kinsman redeemer required to marry the dead man’s widow? (Verse 5).
2. Why did the kinsmen redeemer turn down the offer to buy Elemelech’s property and marry Ruth? (verse 6).
3. How were transactions legalized regarding the redemption and transfer of property and marry Ruth? (Verse 6).
4. a Complete the following by picking the correct option below:
“May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like
------ .(A) Rachel and Leah B) Sarah and Rebekah (C) Jezebel and Athaliah D). Eve and Hannah (verse 11)
b. What was the name given to Ruth’s son? (A) Obadiah (B) Obed (C) Boaz (D) Ram (verse 17)
5. Who was David’s Father? (verse 17,22).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. a. From the study in Ruth count the manifold blessings that Ruth, the Moabite woman, received in the land of Israel.
b. Why was Ruth, a stranger, the recipient of so many blessings?
2. Read 2 Timothy :1-8. What may we learn concerning God’s reward for faithfulness?
3. Read Luke 16:10-12. What further lessons may we learn concerning faithfulness and God’s reward?
4. Boaz is an Old Testament type of Jesus Christ. In what ways is Jesus our kinsman redeemer?

BIBLE LESSON APPLICATION
Reflect on an even / issue in which God demands commitment and faithfulness from you and resolve to please the Lord no matter what it may cost.


DAILY BIBLE READINGS
Monday Deuteronomy 7:7-11 God is Faithful
Tuesday 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 Christ’s Faithfulness
Wednesday Hebrews 10:19-23 Steadfastness Rewards
Thursday Luke 19:11-17 Fidelity Friday Matthew