The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Ruth

  • A Picture in Ruth

    “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

    John 14:21

    In my last post, I remembered a people who had what many call a “Kadesh-barnea” moment: because God’s people refused to obey God to enter into the Promised Land, all but Joshua and Caleb over the age of twenty died in the wilderness. They never progressed into the life God had for them. 

    There is an even greater picture found in an individual. A woman named Ruth.

    Ruth was a woman from Moab who had married into the Israelites. When her husband died, she returned with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to the land of Israel. She declared her faith in the God of Israel (see Ruth 1:16-17). The whole book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of an amazing love story – for both Ruth and Boaz. However, there is also a great picture for us that should be recognized found in the full commitment of Ruth.

    Once in the land of Israel, Ruth began to live according to the Law of God’s people. Naomi immediately recognized God working in the life of Ruth (see Ruth 2). However, there was a major step that Ruth must take. Although she had moved to the land as a part of God’s people, there was something that needed to be done that could only come by a Kinsman Redeemer (Boaz). This would allow her fully live as an Israelite. Naomi, who understood God’s Law, instructed her in what she needed to do. “3. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4. And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do” (Ruth 3:3-4). Ruth was to present herself to Boaz (much as one would propose marriage), enabling him to be able to bring her fully into the family of God’s people. Ruth had to make the first step. This is a picture of what each Christian must do in order to move forward into a full relationship with Christ. Once one has become a Christian, it is up to that person to present oneself to Christ, in order to fully live a Christ-like life (see Romans 12:1-2 as a reminder). There are four definite steps that will bring our hearts and lives to the place where we can live as Christians in this world.

    Step 1: Wash thyself: Knowing God has forgiven our sin, we need to actively remove sin from our lives.  

    • “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8).
    • “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
    • “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

    Step 2: Anoint thyself: We need to remember that we have God’s Spirit within us (our anointing) and allow Him to teach us.

    • “21. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22. Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). See also 1 Corinthians 2:9-11.
    • “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him” (1 John 2:27).

    Step 3: Put thy raiment upon thee: Remember that we are clothed with Christ’s righteousness.

    • “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference” (Romans 3:22).

    Step 4: Get thee down to the floor: Fully commit to the Lord in every aspect of your life, understanding He will help you.  

    • “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
    • “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21).

    Too many Christians are willing to remain forever trapped in Ruth chapter two (living with only the gleanings left by others not realizing that God has so much more for them). It would make all of the difference in a Christian’s life if they would just fully commit to this new life found only in Jesus.  “21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:21-24).

    Have you reached your Kadesh-barnea moment in which you decided to fully submit to and live for Jesus?

  • Jesus, our Redeemer

    “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
    Ephesians 2:13

    In the book of Ruth, after reading about Ruth and Boaz, we see the parallel to the redemption Jesus did for us on the cross. Ruth was drawn to God and His people. She found out about a kinsman redeemer; Ruth was to go to him, uncover his feet, and lie down, and he would tell her what to do. The same thing happens when we come to Christ. Notice the ones who came to Jesus’ feet and what He did for them. “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them” (Matthew 15:30). When they believed, they were not only healed but redeemed (saved).   

    God brings us to Him (sometimes through unusual circumstances):

    “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). There is another verse to see. “12. That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12–13).

    Jesus is our Redeemer:

    “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate” (Psalm 34:22). There is another verse to see. “13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13–14).  

    God reveals the need for redemption, if only we will ask:

    “6. They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8. (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever)” (Psalm 49:6–8). See also the following. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). There are more verses to see. “8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:8–10).

    God reveals the price for redemption was paid by Jesus’ death on the cross and we are then made His own:

    “18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18–20). See also: “8. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:8–11).  

    Why and what should we do?

    “11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11–14). Then we are to show the world what Jesus can do for them. “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18).

    Have you believed in Jesus by faith, having then been redeemed, becoming a Christian?

    How to be Saved

  • Remembering the History

    “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent …”
    Revelation 3:3a

    Do you remember anything you have learned from the Bible? It is important to daily read God’s Word. If you do not read it, you will not remember it. Remember is the key word. If we do not remember and hold fast to what we learn from God’s Word, we will never grow in Christ. The more we learn about God’s Word, the more we will want to be like Him. By learning the history in the Bible, we will understand the significance of why things happened. God had a plan, which is hard to understand unless you learn the Old Testament history. While it was happening, men did not fully understand what that plan was, but through faith, they believed. The more we learn, the more pieces of the puzzle we can fit together. Each piece helps us become better students of God’s Word, which helps us become better Christians.

    For instance, remember the book of Judges. The dominant theme within the book is this: “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Notice that it doesn’t say they did wrong, men thought what they were doing was right. But also notice this: “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves” (Judges 3:7). Although it didn’t appear wrong to them, it was wrong in God’s eyes. They did not obey the commands God had given them.

    There was a vicious cycle that occurred in Judges:

    • The people forsook God.
    • God allowed the enemy to oppress the people.
    • The people cried out to God.
    • God sent a deliverer (a judge) to end the oppression.

    In Judges, the people as a whole rejected God.

    But then we remember the book of Ruth. It is a breath of fresh air in a time of turmoil in the nation of Israel, for it is a picture of redemption. Ruth was a Gentile (a Moabitess) who lived in a pagan land. She did not know the true God. When an Israelite family moved to Moab because of a drought in Israel, Ruth married into this family and heard of God. When her husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law died, she returned with her mother-in-law to the land of Israel. Because she had recognized a light in her dark world, she wanted to follow that light. She had learned of God and did not want to lose that. Her view is clearly stated: “16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17.  Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17). It was there after being redeemed by a kinsman, that she forever became a part of Jesus’ genealogy. She was the great-grandmother of King David.

    One important thing about studying the history in the Bible is to be aware of God’s plan for His people. As we consider what God’s Word says, we should understand how it fits together, much like pieces of a puzzle. As we try to keep in mind and hold fast to the things we learn from God’s Word, it will help us recognize God’s plan for our lives. We must remember what God’s Word says.

    Have you recognized God’s plan in your life?

    Also published at Lighthouse Gospel Beacon.

  • Lesson 5 (Lesson 31): Ruth: A Picture of Redemption

    Key Verse

    “As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.”  Isaiah 47:4

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they know what a “redeemer” is.

    redeemer:  basically means that of buying something back.

    After you help them understand the word “redeemer”, explain to them that Jesus (the Lord of hosts) is our redeemer.  He bought every one who belongs to him with his blood on the cross (I Peter 1:18-19:  “18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” and Ephesians 1:7:  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”)  We have learned that we all deserve the punishment of death (because of sin.)  Jesus paid the penalty, for those who believe, and died in their place which “bought” us back.  We will see a picture of redemption (buying something back) in the book of Ruth today.

    Summary:  During the book of Judges we saw how the nation as a whole had rejected God as their king.  Last week we noticed a couple, Samson’s parents, who heard from God and responded to God’s call.  We saw that God did what He had promised in their lives.  The book of Ruth takes place during the time of Judges.  This book, too, shows us there were people (although few) who still believed God and allowed Him to rule in their lives.

    Because of the turmoil and terrible times during the time of the Judges, Ruth is a breath of fresh air.  The book of Ruth is a picture of redemption.  She was a gentile (a Moabitess) who was living in a pagan land.  She did not know the true God.  When an Israelite family moved to Moab (because of a drought in Israel), she married into this family and heard of God.  When her husband, father-in-law, and brother-in-law died, she returned with her mother-in-law to the land of Israel.  Her view is clearly stated in Ruth 1:16-17:  “16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”   It was there, after being redeemed by a kinsman, that she forever became a part of Jesus’ genealogy.  She was the great-grandmother of King David.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  To know Jesus is our redeemer, and that He bought us, if we will believe in Him.  Then, we should live as a light in this dark world so others can know Him.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 31 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 31 – Volume 1 Reinforcement Worksheet 1

    Lesson 31 – Volume 1 Reinforcement Worksheet 2

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson we made hanging verse.  We took a copy of the verse Ruth 1:16-17 and glued it to construction paper.  We discussed just what that verse meant, and how important of a decision it was to Ruth.  We also had a coloring sheet.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.