May 6, Reading Notes

Ruth 2-4

As you read these chapters, notice how different the spiritual tone is here, compared to what we've read in Judges. One man like Boaz influenced a very small community. Notice that Boaz tells Ruth to stay in his fields and not go to the fields of others. Naomi even warns Ruth against this. The danger of her being sexually molested was real. Boaz didn't have a huge influence that changed all the neighbors, but these fields and these servants were affected by this guy who loved God.

How do you think Boaz's family history shaped him in this story? There are some notable men and women in his background including Tamar and Rahab, two Gentile women.

In 3:4 Ruth is told to uncover Boaz's feet and lie down. I have heard some bizarre explanations of what this was. I think it is simply what it says. It was cold. She uncovered his feet and lay at his feet and when he woke up to cover them up again, holy moly, there was a woman! And that's all this was.

3:12 Apparently Boaz had already given thought to taking responsibility for Elimelech's family. This was the real issue. It didn't have to do with a field, it had to do with preserving the name and inheritance of a dead brother or relative. It was no small matter and involved some risk.

4:6 The risk was that the child would be called the son of Mahlon, who was the heir of Elimelech and husband of Ruth. This guy was afraid of having his name lost and his property belonging, not just to his son through Ruth in the name of Mahlon, but to those of another family. Boaz had no fear of this because he knew he was following the Lord.

4:11-12 Notice that the people here knew the heritage of Boaz. They all would have been from Judah and Perez but not all of them were from Salmon and Rahab.

4:21-22 Notice here that although Boaz had a son that should have been named for Ruth's first husband, Mahlon, Boaz is the named father in the line of David. God honored Boaz.

One slight tension in this text is that we can pinpoint the time when Boaz and Ruth lived because of the lineage of David, from Boaz to David. But between Boaz and Salmon there are about 250-300 years. Obviously some of the people in between are not mentioned. But this isn't a huge problem. It was common to call someone the "son" of a famous forefather. For example, Jesus is called "the son of David" meaning the descendant of David, not the immediate birth son of David.

John 4:43-54

The thing that I find in this passage that speaks to me as a disciple is in verse 50 and 53. The correspondence between hearing what Jesus said and doing it/believing is what makes a disciple.

Psalm 105:16-36

This psalm looks like a summary of what we've already read in the OT. So the real question is, "What was this song supposed to do for the people?" And we might as well ask what it is supposed to do for us as disciples following our Lord in the harvest. Try this out: Underline or circle every occurrence of "He," and see if that helps get to the point of this psalm and what it means to us.

Proverbs 14:26-27

That's what I'm talkin' about! This is exactly what psalm 105 is saying, right?

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.

If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.