Ruth and Naomi are rescued in this convoluted love story! But there is a bigger story that they are woven into leading to Israel's greatest King and the human race's promised Messiah.
4. So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife.
And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her
conception, and she bore a son.
Ruth 4: 13
5. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the
LORD, who has not left you this day without a
redeemer, and may his name be renowned in
Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a
nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law
who loves you, who is more to you than seven
sons, has given birth to him.”
Ruth 4: 14-15
Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the
LORD, who has not left you this day without a
redeemer, and may his name be renowned in
Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a
nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law
who loves you, who is more to you than seven
sons, has given birth to him.”
6. So the two women went on until they came to
Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the
whole town was stirred because of them, and
the women exclaimed, ‘Can this be Naomi?’
‘Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me
Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very
bitter.
I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back
empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted
Ruth 1: 19-21
7.
8. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the
LORD, who has not left you this day without a
redeemer, and may his name be renowned in
Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a
nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law
who loves you, who is more to you than seven
sons, has given birth to him.”
Ruth 4: 14-15
9. Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap
and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the
neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, “A son
has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed.
He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth 4: 16-17
10. 1. Ruth & Boaz
2. Naomi
3. King / Messiah
4. Where do you fit in?
Your story in God’s bigger story
Notes de l'éditeur
Ruth is a story of hope and love, of rescue and redemption … in the middle of hard times.How do you keep going when you are in a bad place?How do you get to a better place?
So, let’s start
The story of Ruth draws to a close in this verse. With amazing brevity, the adventure in God’s grace for this Moabite woman pretty much draws to a close here.This study started with a brief introduction to the tragedy of Naomi, Ruth’s mother in law – Naomi's family needed to leave Bethlehem during a famine; this was followed by the death of her husband in a foreign land, and the childless marriages of her two sons to Moabite women. Ten years later, both of these sons die in short succession and Naomi's tragedy is complete. The focus then moves to Ruth as the unexpectedly wonderful daughter in law and her adventure when they return to Naomi's home in Bethlehem. Until now, we have seen the edited highlights of an unfolding romance between Boaz and Ruth. But now that Ruth has her man, the story is almost over.However, Ruth has one more gift for Naomi, and it is a breathtaking one.
This story is set in a larger context, the rescue of Naomi.The women here have seen an amazing transformation for Naomi. Perhaps only a year previously.
Naomi = pleasantMara = BitterThe story of Ruth, whose undoubted rescue of Boaz is the core of this book. Is not the primary subject of this book. Naomi is.
God rescues the bitter woman who has nothing left to offer God, nothing to give, nothing to trade, nothing to bargain with. A woman who has nothing that God wants, except her love.This is a book, amongst other things about the salvation of hopelessness, the rescue of the unworthy, and those who feel like they have nothing left to offer.If, for any reason, you feel that way today, God is interested in you, he loves you, and he wants you. You are still valuable to him.
Foster motherObed … He servesThere is more to say about this family tree next week.