A Royal Grandma

Can you imagine what that poor man’s ride would have been like if that lady had a prince or a king for a grandson?

We want to think about a woman who became David’s great-grandmother.

We want to think about a woman who became David’s great-grandmother.
In the Book of Ruth, we see how Ruth became a great-grandmother to David.

Grandparents have great influence.

Enoch had a profound impact on his great-grandson.

“ Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Gn 5:24, ESV).

“ Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God” (Gn 6:9, ESV).

You grandparents here can greatly influence your grandchildren!

You grandparents here can greatly influence your grandchildren! That’s why we’ll talk about Ruth this morning.

Ruth was David’s great-grandmother.

“ They named him [Ruth’s son] Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:17, ESV).

The purpose of the Book of Ruth is to demonstrate how a foreigner became an ancestor of Israel’s most famous king.

David had a Moabite—a “bad apple” in his family tree.

This book seeks to explain that.

Today, politicians “spin” this stuff away.

That far different from what we have here.

That far different from what we have here. This is not half-truths, but it is the Word of God!

Ruth provides an example of what a family member should look like.

Ruth provides an example of what a family member should look like.
Ruth:
LEAVES
LOVES
LABORS
LISTENS

Ruth Loves
1:15-18

Naomi “said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.’ And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more” (Ruth 1:15-18, ESV).

What an amazing passage!

What an amazing passage!
We aren’t supposed to love our mothers-in-law!

Ruth loves her mother-in-law unconditionally.

Ruth loves her mother-in-law unconditionally.
Had Ruth not loved her mother-in-law unconditionally, she would never have become David’s great-grandmother!

How much do we love our in-laws?

“ Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandments, are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rm 13:8-10, ESV).

“ Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandments, are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Rm 13:8-10, ESV).
“ Love one another earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Pt 1:22, ESV).

“ Justin, no one can love my in-laws!”

“ Justin, no one can love my in-laws!”
Jesus thought differently!

I do NOT use this text to make a joke or to be funny, but to make a point.

I do NOT use this text to make a joke or to be funny, but to make a point.
“ Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44, ESV).

If we are to love our enemies , can’t we love our own families ?

How do we love our in-laws?

Appreciate what they have given you.

Try to understand their motivation.

Try to understand their motivation. They generally act out of love for our families.

Make a list of every admirable quality they possess.

Focus on those good qualities.

Focus on those good qualities.
“ Out of the heart come evil thoughts” (Mt 15:19, ESV).

Understand that if you really detest your in-laws, you wouldn’t have married your spouse.

Understand that if you really detest your in-laws, you wouldn’t have married your spouse. We have quite a bit of our parents in us.

Let us love our in-laws!

Ruth Leaves
1:15-18

Naomi “said, ‘See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.’ And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more” (Ruth 1:15-18, ESV).

Let’s refresh ourselves with Ruth’s story.

There was a famine in Judah & Elimelech took his wife Naomi & his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and went to Moab.

Elimelech died & his two sons married Moabite women, Ruth & Orpah.

Elimelech died & his two sons married Moabite women, Ruth & Orpah.
In time, Mahlon & Chilion both die, leaving 3 widows in 1 family.

Ten years later, Naomi hears there is food again in Judah & sets out for Bethlehem with her daughters-in-law.

Naomi has a change of heart & tells the two daughters-in-law to go back to Moab.

After some pleading & begging, Orpah turns back.

“ They lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her” (1:14, ESV).

We then read the famous exchange in 1:15-18.

Naomi encourages Ruth to go back to Moab like Orpah.

Instead, Ruth pledges to leave her own family for Naomi.

“ Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people” (1:16, ESV).

Talk about trust!

Talk about trust!
Ruth has never been to Bethlehem.

Talk about trust!
Ruth has never been to Bethlehem.
She’s leaving family she’ll never see again to go with Naomi.

Naomi also gives Ruth a chance to return to her idols.

Ruth further pledges to follow Naomi’s God.

Naomi gave Ruth a chance to follow Moabite idols: “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law” (1:15, ESV).

Naomi gave Ruth a chance to follow Moabite idols: “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law” (1:15, ESV).
Ruth says, “No, I won’t follow those lifeless idols; I’ll follow your living God.”

Why would Ruth willingly give up her family, her homeland, & her gods?

Why would Ruth willingly give up her family, her homeland, & her gods?
How many of us would be willing to walk away from our family, homeland, & God?

Could it not be that Naomi lived a wonderful example in front of Ruth?

Could it not be that Naomi lived a wonderful example in front of Ruth?
There is great power in examples!

“ Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tm 4:12, ESV).

“ Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tm 4:12, ESV).
“ Wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives—when they see your respectful and pure conduct” (1 Pt 3:1-2, ESV).

Naomi had undoubtedly demonstrated God’s love & grace to Ruth?

Naomi had undoubtedly demonstrated God’s love & grace to Ruth?
What kind of examples do we set in our homes?

Even with a wonderful example some refuse to follow.

Even with a wonderful example some refuse to follow.
Only 39% of American teens want to be like their parents.

Ruth did not have to follow Naomi.

Ruth likely knew that staying in Moab meant learning nothing more of Yahweh.

Ruth likely knew that staying in Moab meant learning nothing more of Yahweh. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26, ESV).

Ruth likely knew that staying in Moab meant learning nothing more of Yahweh. Lk 14:26.
Ruth also knew that nothing in this world is more important than following God.

Ruth likely knew that staying in Moab meant learning nothing more of Yahweh. Lk 14:26.
Ruth also knew that nothing in this world is more important than following God. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37, ESV).

Had Ruth not left her homeland & her gods, she could never have become David’s great-grandmother!

How much like Ruth are we?

Are we willing to leave the things of this world to follow God?

How different would our lives be if we served God that way?

Ruth Labors
2:2-4

“ Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.’ And she said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, ‘The LORD be with you!’” (Ruth 2:2-4, ESV).

Ruth volunteers to go to the field & glean.

When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands” (Deut 24:19, ESV).

Widows were allowed to glean.

Why didn’t Ruth tell Naomi to go glean in the field?

Why didn’t Ruth tell Naomi to go glean in the field?
Ruth’s attitude was service!

Are we willing to serve?

“ Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mk 10:43-44, ESV).

“ Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all” (Mk 10:43-44, ESV).
“ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do just as I have done to you” (Jn 13:14-15, ESV).

Do we labor in our families?

Do we labor in our families?
If Ruth had not labored in hers, she would never have become David’s great-grandmother!

Ruth Listens
3:1-5

“ Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.’ And she replied, ‘All that you say I will do’ (Ruth 3:1-5, ESV).

Naomi provides Ruth instructions on how to find a husband.

Naomi tells Ruth to wash herself, put on her cloak, not make herself known until after Boaz lies down, & then uncover his feet and lie down.

Naomi tells Ruth to wash herself, put on her cloak, not make herself known until after Boaz lies down, & then uncover his feet and lie down.
That’s strange!

Boaz had an obligation to marry Ruth.

“ If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her” (Deut 25:5, ESV).

“ If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her” (Deut 25:5, ESV).
Naomi counsels Ruth as a woman seeking to honor God in her time & culture.

Ruth says, “All that you say I will do” (v 5, ESV).

If I die today, two things will happen:

Tammy isn’t going to marry one of my brothers!

Tammy isn’t going to marry one of my brothers!
My mom isn’t going to tell Tammy whom to marry.

Can you imagine an in-law telling you whom to marry if your spouse dies?

Ruth recognizes good advice & she’s willing to listen.

“ Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Prov 11:14, ESV).

“ Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Prov 11:14, ESV).
“ By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom” (Prov 13:10, ESV).

Are we willing to receive counsel from those who have walked life before us?

Don’t hear me say that we must do whatever our in-laws think.

Don’t hear me say that we must do whatever our in-laws think.
But, on the other hand, we need not reject counsel simply because it comes from them.

If Ruth had not followed Naomi’s counsel, she would never have become David’s great-grandmother!

What counsel do we need to heed?

Paul provides some wonderful counsel.

Paul provides some wonderful counsel.
“ We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Cor 6:1, ESV).

Have you received God’s grace in vain?

Have you received God’s grace in vain?
Have you received his grace at all?

http://www.preachinghelps.com	94
http://justinimel.com	85
http://www.justinimel.com	51
http://expositorysermonssite.info	1
http://ruth.justinimel.com	1
http://preachinghelps.com	1

A Royal Grandma

by JJustim on Sep 24, 2008

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

6 Embeds 233

Statistics

A Royal Grandma — Presentation Transcript