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 to 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. One of the surprises is that
Boaz is very kind to Ruth. Or is it that surprising? I 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.
Ruth 2
Vs. 1-3 It is interesting that suddenly everything began
going the right way. There was this great guy named Boaz, and Ruth just happens
to end up in his field. Regardless of how things go, God is always involved and
we follow, but it is nice to see how He can smooth the way. Boaz and his
kinship to Elimelech is mentioned a lot.
Vs. 4-7 Boaz seems like a good guy and he was very
observant.
Vs. 8-13 In Boaz you see the wise man of Proverbs and lover
of God in one glance. It was possible to follow God during the times of the
judges. Remember too, that this story is describing the family background and
spiritual heritage of David. And for that matter, this is the family background
of Jesus.
Notice that Boaz mentions that Ruth has taken shelter under
God’s wings.
Vs. 14-16 In response to Ruth’s humble answer, Boaz really
gets kind. I wonder if he was having stirrings. J
Vs. 17-23 According to John Reed in the Bible Knowledge
Commentary-OT, p. 423, this was quite a haul for one day’s work, about 30
pounds of flour. During these weeks it could be that both Boaz and Ruth began
getting the idea that God was bringing them together. I say this because Boaz
had already looked into the legalities of who was the nearest kinsman. As we’ll
see in chapter 3, Naomi was also revived in spirit and was playing matchmaker.
Ruth 3
Vs. 1-5 Apparently the threshing floor was a public place
used by everyone. It would have been reserved for this day by Boaz; then when
they finished, they would have celebrated and Boaz would have slept there to
guard the barley until it could be hauled away in the morning. This was a
fairly private meeting place. Ruth was 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.
Vs. 6-13 Although Boaz was surprised, he understood what was
happening and was honored. In what she was doing, Ruth was being obedient to
Naomi and she was honoring God.
V. 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. In
essence, Boaz could have lost his name and all of this land would have gone
into the dead man’s name.
Vs. 14-18 They both kept the matter very quiet, but Boaz
showed Ruth that he meant business by sending her away with more barley.
Ruth 4
Vs. 1-6 So, the other redeemer just happened to pass by.
What a break. Notice v. 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.
Vs. 7-10 Here is the public ceremony of the one guy giving
up his right as a redeemer. This is very significant and very symbolic that
Boaz is now recognized as the redeemer.
Vs. 11-12 Notice that the people knew the family heritage of
Boaz. Boaz’s background was special in that two Gentile women were part of it,
and Boaz was in the lineage of the Messiah.
Vs. 13-17 Don’t you like a happy ending, finally? If Samuel
was writing this, it was probably after he had anointed that teenage boy,
David, to be the future king of Israel.
Vs. 18-22 Notice here that although Boaz had a son who
should have been named for Ruth's first husband, Mahlon, God honored Boaz. Boaz
is the named father of Obed in the line of David.
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. Now, people
back then did live a little longer than today, but 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
Vs. 43-45 Although Jesus went to Galilee, He didn’t go back
to Nazareth. It is only in Nazareth, twice, that the words of v. 44 are quoted.
Nazareth (in the territory of Zebulun) was His own country. Instead, Jesus went
to live in Capernaum (in the territory of Naphtali).
Vs. 46-50 Jesus’ sharp response to the official was to see
how sincere he was. The man was humble and was not there to see a sign, but to
save his son. The fact that he came to Jesus meant that he believed. That Jesus
simply told him to go, and that his son would be well without Jesus going with
him, is a great proof of the faith of this man.
Vs. 51-54 The impact of this man meeting his servants must
have been known among the disciples. The apostle John knew, so the others must
have known also.
The thing in this passage that speaks to me as a disciple is
in vs. 50 and 53. The correspondence between hearing what Jesus said, believing
His Word and doing it is what makes a disciple. Jesus never would have found
this kind of faith in Nazareth. I think Jesus wants this kind of faith among
His laborers in the harvest who make disciples, who also have this same kind of
faith.
We forget in all of this proof of Jesus’ identity, that as
we work in the harvest we are introducing people to the only person who can
make sense of this tragedy on earth. We obey, but we are compelled because of
His amazing love and gentleness. He suffered so that we can be saved. We follow
out of love and give our lives so that others can know Him and be saved and
follow Him. We spend our lives so that disciples can be made who will make
disciples for Him into the generations to come, until He comes. And He is
loving and compassionate. He is our source of hope and He hears when we cry out
to Him.
Psalm 105:16-36
We are in the middle of a psalm, probably written by David,
celebrating the faithfulness of God to Abraham in saving Israel and giving them
order through David. Underline or circle every occurrence of He, and see if that helps you get to the
point of this psalm and what it means to us.
Vs. 16-24 Notice that God afflicted Joseph in order to save
Israel. Joseph was then blessed so that the people could be blessed. This was
what God did in faithfulness to His promise to Abraham.
Vs. 25-36 Notice that God is the cause of v. 25. Again, He
brought affliction to make the people ready. Then He sent Moses and He showed
His deliverance, as we will see, because of the promise to Abraham.
I think this psalm is going to end in a call to grateful
obedience and praise to God. The argument of the psalm is that praise should be
natural, and confidence in God’s faithfulness should be overpowering. He loves
His people and remembers His covenant with Abraham.
Do you remember how often in Deuteronomy God and Moses told
the people to always be telling the story of Israel's deliverance to their
children? I don't think they did that, but here David is putting the story into
song. When the man healed of the legion wanted to follow Jesus, Jesus told him
to go home and tell the story of his rescue; and he did. It was the wonder and
fascination of Christ and being rescued by Him that gave the man his story and
message. In the same way it is our love for our Lord because He saved us that
gives us our message in the harvest.
Proverbs 14:26-27
Amen, and I think this is exactly what Psalm 105 is getting
to.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year
Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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 complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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.
Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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