02-19-16, Ruth 1;6-18, Faith Through Trials

Ruth 1:6-18
Faith Through Trials
February 19, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

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What’s the number one thing?

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The Glory of God!

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1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.

http://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M824600c9534029193ceef79dc4fff8fcH0&pid=15.1
First Baptist Church Jackson Mission:
Multiply Disciples to Live Like Jesus.

February MemoryVerse:
Matthew 11:28 ESV
28 Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest.

Friday, February 24, 2017 –
Saturday, February 25, 2017

Friday, March 31, 2017
Saturday, April 01, 2017

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Sunday

Ruth 3:8-13, 4:13-17
Redeemed and Secure
February 26, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

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Jon Courson's Application Commentary
OldTestamentVolume 1

A Prophetic Overview of Ruth
ATopical Study of Ruth 1-4
In the Hebrew Bible, the book of Ruth is placed
with the prophets because, as we shall see, it
really is a book that deals with prophecy.

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In Hebrew tradition and presently, the Book of
Ruth is read during the Feast or the Celebration
of Pentecost.
Pentecost was and is that annual celebration
that took/takes place fifty days after the
Passover.

It was celebrating the harvesting of the wheat
which was so crucial to the Israelite economy.
So, the wheat would be harvested and there
would be a celebration as it would be offered up
in thanksgiving to the Lord.

It was not only celebrating, but
commemorating an event that took place
historically.
That is, it commemorated the giving of the
Law.

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The rabbis and scholars came to the conclusion
that the giving of the Law—when God spoke
audibly on Mt. Sinai and gave Moses the two
tables of stone — was during this time of year.

It celebrated the wheat harvest, and
commemorated the giving of the Law and both
of these are aspects of the feast of Pentecost.
Why would Ruth be read during Pentecost?

First, the wheat harvest is mentioned in (Ruth
2:23) - the barley harvest was during Passover,
the wheat harvest during Pentecost.
Passover was in the springtime, Pentecost was
fifty days later.

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2017
April 11 Passover (Pesach)
May 31 Pentecost (Shavuot)

But an even more important reason is due to
what took place in the church on the Day of
Pentecost, as seen in Acts 2.

Fifty days after Jesus had died and risen from
the dead, the disciples were in the Upper Room,
numbering one hundred and twenty, praying,
wondering what would happen next.
They had been told to go to that place and wait
for the promise of the Father.

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Jesus said, "You shall receive power when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you."

And there on the very day of Pentecost, as the
disciples were in the Upper Room—waiting on
the Lord, talking to the Lord, there was sent
from the Lord an anointing and empowering of
the Holy Spirit.

A rushing mighty wind blew through the room
and there were tongues of fire on each of the
disciples' heads and they began to speak with
other tongues and on that day, Pentecost, was
the birthday of the church.

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The Holy Spirit was given to them and the
church was born!

Pentecost is the birthday of the church on one
hand, but also the birthday of Judaism because
it was on that same day 2,000 years earlier
when the Law was given.
So, Judaism and Christianity have the same
birthday—Pentecost.

This explains why they would take two loaves of
wheat bread in OT times and wave them before
the Lord, celebrating the harvest.
But there's something unusual about those
loaves of bread that was exclusive to that
particular day.

Those loaves were made with leaven and
leaven is a picture of sin.
So, when you ask the Jews today what do those
two loaves stand for, they will say—We're
celebrating the giving of the Law, and the Law
was given on two tablets.

So, the waving of the two loaves speak of the
Law being given, which sustains and nourishes
our soul like bread sustains and nourishes the
body.

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The problem with that is, leaven is in those loaves—this is
the only time leaven is allowed in any offering to the
Lord.
Is the Law leavened?
Does the Law have sin?
No, the Law is perfect.

Therefore, it's not primarily speaking of the
Law, but something pictured here in the Book
of Ruth and that is, the church.
Why two loaves?
Jew and Gentile—sinners, both—coming
together into a new entity called the church.

No longer am I a Gentile, now I'm in a new
entity—the church.
You see, in OT times, the world was divided into
two groups: Jews and Gentiles.
But something happened on the Day of
Pentecost.

Those two groups became one—a new entity
called the church.
Does the church have sin?
If you've been around church very much, you
know it's true.

We're righteous positionally, but we're all
dealing with leaven practically.
And that's what's going on.

Jew and Gentile walk together—just like those
two loaves would be held together by the priest
who would wave them before the Lord, two
coming together.
But on the birthday of Judaism something
happened.

On the day the Law was given, when Moses
comes down, what happened?
The people were already sinning, dancing
around the golden calf—which led to
punishment and 3,000 were killed that day.

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On the birthday of the church, 3,000 were not
killed, but saved because, as Paul would say,
the Law kills…

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but the Spirit gives life!

So, we see Jew and Gentile coming together
into a third entity, called the church —
comprised of former Jews and former Gentiles.
We are now Christians and that's what this book
of Ruth talks about.

We have a Jew (Boaz) and a Gentile (Ruth)
being brought together in this prophetic
portrait, they come together and something
marvelous happens.

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Boaz is a portrait of Jesus Christ.

The lord of the harvest, the owner of the field, a
wealthy man, a gracious man, a good man, a
generous man, his name literally means -
Standing in Strength.
Ruth is a picture of the church because she was
a Moabite (Gentile).

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In Deuteronomy 23, a Moabite was cursed for
ten generations.
In other words, the Law would shut you out just
for being a Moabite.

You moved in from Moab, and the Law would
say, "Sorry. Even though you've come to Israel,
even though you've left Moab, in your lifetime,
you're never going to make it into the house of
God."

Ten generations is a long time.
The Law shut the Moabite out and the Law shut
us out, too.
There's no way we can go in to the house of the
Lord, stand in the presence of God if it's by the
Law.

But what the Law shuts out, grace finds a way
and that's what warmed Ruth’s heart.
She said, "How could it be that I a Moabite
(2:10) would find grace in thine eyes?"

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She is so touched that Boaz would be so kind to
her - but what the Law shuts out, grace finds a
way.

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Ruth was washed, anointed, and clothed with
new raiment just like we have been washed in
the blood of the Lamb, anointed by the Holy
Spirit, and robed in His righteousness.

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She's washed.
She's anointed.
She's robed.
She's amazed.
She finds herself at the feet of her goel, her groom at the
threshing floor.

The threshing floor in OT Scriptures is
a picture of the time prophetically
when the world will go through a
threshing.
It's called theTribulation and it will be
brutal.

It will be a time of separation—the sheep from
the goats (Matthew 25), the wheat from the
chaff, when a Christ-rejecting sinful world will
be dealt with.
Now people have closed ears and hard hearts.

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But in that day, there will be a great awakening
and there will be the greatest revival in world
history during the seven-yearTribulation
(Revelation 6-19).

When the world is being tossed up and the winds of
difficulty are blowing about, the harvest has already been
brought in.
We are the harvest.
We are Ruth.
And where is Ruth?
She's at His feet.

Where will we be when the world is being
threshed?
We will be at Jesus' feet—just like Ruth.
In the place of intimacy, safety, security.

Boaz spotted her before she spotted him and
he was interested in her.
Boaz cared about her and wanted to be a
blessing to her.
But—it was up to her.
Boaz didn't force himself.

He waited to see if she would respond
to the goodness he was showing her,
but he left it up to her to make the
first move.
He didn't force her into a relationship.

Thirdly, we see the servant.
When Boaz is in his field, the unnamed servant
is the one who identifies the bride-to-be.
It's the unnamed servant who's involved in the
linking of the bride, Ruth, with the bridegroom,
Boaz.

The unnamed servant, of course, is an
illustration of the Holy Spirit.
Why is He unnamed?
Because in John 16, Jesus said concerning the
Spirit, that “when He comes, He will not speak
of Himself, but will speak all things concerning
Me”.

Boaz wanted to be a goel (Redeemer) for Ruth,
but there was a nearer relative that had first
dibs.
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The nearer kinsman was offered Naomi's property.
“Great!” Said the kinsman.
But if you choose to exercise the option, you need
to take Ruth as well and with her you need to have a
child that will not count as yours.
“Oh, no, this will mess up my inheritance for my
own kids”.

The nearer kinsman represents the Law.
The Law is indeed interested in property and
principles and procedures, but not in people.
The nearer kinsman is a picture of the Law &
while the nearer kinsman wasn't interested in
Ruth, Ruth is exactly who Boaz was interested
in.

Boaz had enough property, he was interested in
people.
Not so the Law.
The Law can't deal with you and me.

It's perfect.
We're not.
We mar its inheritance.
Which came first, the Law or the coming of
Jesus Christ?

The Law came first.
Naomi is a picture of Israel.
First, it was necessary for her to be in exile until
the bride, Ruth, was ready to be brought into
union with the bridegroom.

Israel was in exile from 70 AD, when theTemple
was destroyed until a miracle took place in May,
1948, when Israel became a nation.
That's why when Israel became a nation, the
stage was set for the return of Christ.

In Matthew 24, Jesus said the generation that
sees the fig tree blossom—always a picture of
Israel in Scripture—will not pass away.
In Romans 11, Paul says “Let their eyes be
darkened, through their fall, salvation is come
unto the Gentile.”

The Jewish people were cut off, or sent away,
but God had a plan.
Now they're being brought back in.
Israel was in exile, out of her homeland until the
bride is ready —just like Naomi.

She was from Israel—out in Moab until Ruth
(the Church) was ready to be brought in to meet
the Bridegroom during the threshing season.
God is at work with the Gentiles (the Church).

He was primarily working through the Jew, but
the Jews rejected His Son.
Consequently, they would be exiled while the
Bride—you and me, the Gentiles—were brought
in.

But once Naomi (Israel) goes back home, the
marriage feast of Boaz and Ruth is at hand.
While she was exiled, Naomi changed her name
from Pleasant to Bitter.

When Israel was in her land, was enjoying the
blessings of the Lord, it was pleasant.
In fact, Israel is called just that—the Pleasant
Land.

But when she was kicked out, driven away,
there was bitterness.
The Jewish people were hunted, haunted, and
hounded everywhere they went.
Persecution and execution followed them.

While Naomi was gone, the land was being
destroyed and while the Jewish people were
gone from 70 AD until 1948, the land was
destroyed.
Boaz (Jesus) and Naomi (Israel) never met until
the marriage feast.
When will Israel meet Jesus?

When the church is Raptured.
It is at that time that the veil will be lifted and
her eyes will be opened.
There is a remnant now who are part of the
kingdom but the majority don't get it because
Paul says there is a veil over their (Israel) eyes.

But when the marriage happens, guess who's
going to meet Boaz (Jesus) — Naomi (Israel)!
Naomi learns of Boaz' whereabouts through
Ruth (the Church).

She knows there is a man named Boaz, but she
doesn't know if he's dead or alive until Ruth
comes home and says, “Guess who I met”.
Israel does not know if Messiah is dead or alive.

The only way she'll hear about her Messiah is
through the Church.
Israel learns of the whereabouts of Jesus (Boaz)
through the Church, but equally true is that
Ruth learns the ways of Boaz through Naomi
(Israel).
That's why this book is such a key.

It's a Jew and a Gentile walking together, and
together something happens!
Ruth and Boaz have a baby named Obed, which
means “Worshiped One”, and guess what
happens to thisWorshiped One?

The baby is then given to Naomi.
We, the Bride of Christ, have been impregnated
by the Spirit and the Lord is birthed in and
through us.
Then, as we are caught up and taken away, the
baby is handed to Naomi.

When you share with Jewish people, when
you're on your honeymoon, the baby will be
nursed and nurtured by Naomi (Israel).
Ruth does not take the place of Naomi.
Naomi is not displaced by Ruth.

Rather, Ruth creates a family for Naomi.
Gentile and Jew, dependent on each other,
gleaning from each other, gaining because of
each other.
And the two travel together in this glorious
story.

God doesn't give up on His people.
Ever!

Today
Ruth 1:6-18
Faith through Trials

Ruth 1:6-18 ESV
Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi
6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return
from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the
fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people
and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place
where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and
they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,
“Go, return each of you to her mother's house.
May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have
dealt with the dead and with me. 9The LORD
grant that you may find rest, each of you in the
house of her husband!”Then she kissed them,
and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And
they said to her, “No, we will return with you to
your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters;
why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my
womb that they may become your husbands?
12Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I
am too old to have a husband. If I should say I
have hope, even if I should have a husband this
night and should bear sons,

13 would you therefore wait till they were
grown?Would you therefore refrain from
marrying? No, my daughters, for it is
exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the
hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
14Then they lifted up their voices and wept
again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but
Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has
gone back to her people and to her gods; return
after your sister-in-law.” 16 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.

17Where 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.”
18 And when Naomi saw that she was
determined to go with her, she said no more.
Ruth 1:6-18 ESV

Naomi, the Prodigal Daughter, goes back home
and that reminds us of Luke 15.
When the prodigal son—after leaving his
father's house, going to a far country, and
spending his father's fortune on wine, women,
and song—finally came to his senses, he
realized he was sitting in a pigpen eating pig
slop.

There are prodigal sons and then there are
prodigal pigs.
The difference between a prodigal son and a
prodigal pig is that although the prodigal son
might spend some time in the pigpen, he
doesn't make it his home.

A prodigal son leaves the Father’s house, stays
in the pig pen (the world) for awhile but then
goes back to the Father’s house.
Prodigal pigs leave the pig pen for awhile, go to
the Father’s house (church) but return to the pig
pen.

1 John 2:19 ESV
19They went out from us, but they were not of
us; for if they had been of us, they would have
continued with us. But they went out, that it
might become plain that they all are not of us.

If the pigpen is your home today, you need to
seriously evaluate your relationship to your
Father.
But if you find yourself in the pigpen today,
wanting desperately to get out—take hope.

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Take the first step back home towards your
Father, and, like the prodigal son, you will see
Him running to meet you.

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The only time in the Bible when God is seen to
be in a hurry is in the person of the prodigal
son's father, who hitched up his robes and ran
down the road with abandon to meet his son.

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What a beautiful picture of renewal,
restoration, redemption and revival.
That's our Father!

Ruth still saw in a broken, embittered Naomi a
spiritual reality that superseded anything she
had seen in Moab.
For you who perhaps have been in Moab
recently – be encouraged!
You may be like Naomi — coming back to
nothing, and coming back with nothing.

But, like Ruth saw in Naomi, there will be those
who will see your brokenness and repentance
and follow you right into the kingdom.
Why?

Because "good people" usually do not draw
sinners.
Naomi realized she herself needed to get back
to the Lord — and that is the person with whom
the sinner feels most inclined to travel.

If you have been in a place where you know you
haven't been what you should be, or doing what
you should do — you still have the opportunity,
like Naomi, to bring someone back with you.

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In chapter 1:1-2, we are introduced to a joyful
Hebrew family residing in the country of Judah,
in the city of Bethlehem.
How do we know they were joyful?

Check out their names.
Elimelech means, "God is my King;" Naomi
means "Pleasant;" and, according to Our
Nearest Kinsman by Roy Hession, Mahlon
means "Song;" while Chilion means
"Satisfaction."

This family was one where God was King; where
there was pleasantness, song, and satisfaction.
Why?
Because they resided in the city of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem means, "House of Bread," and it is
the city where Jesus, the Bread of Life would be
born centuries later, no wonder there was
satisfaction and pleasantness in Elimelech's
family - no wonder there were songs and joy.

God was their King and they were living in the
House of Bread.
We will always be a joyful, blessed people if we
dwell in the House of Bread, which is the Word
of God.

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When we eat of Heavenly manna, we will
experience Earthly satisfaction.

How do we know this?
Psalm 1 declares that the man who meditates
in theWord, and who delights in the Law of the
Lord will be like a tree whose leaf does not
wither, a tree which prospers in whatever it
does.

Picture a strong oak tree.
An oak tree is simply a little nut that refused to
give ground.
That's what we are, we're all a little nutty!

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I heard Adrian Rogers say several times, “If you
are ever feeling down & blue just look at an oak
tree and see what a nut can do!”

If we refuse to give ground and plant our roots
in theWord of God—if we hear it, read it, study
it, memorize it, meditate on it, devour it, and
make it top priority in our lives—we will find
ourselves growing in strength and stability.

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We will find ourselves experiencing God's
blessing.

Notice also that Elimelech's family not only
resided in the city of Bethlehem, but in the tribe
of Judah.
Throughout the Book of Ruth, Bethlehem is
always hyphenated with Judah.
Judah means, "Praise."

The connection is more than coincidental, for
there is an intimate, intricate correlation
between the House of Bread — which is the
Word of God — and Praise — which ascends
toward God.

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David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, declared
this in Psalm 119: "I will praise thee O Lord,
when I have learnedThy statutes."

A person who is learning about the ways of God
and the character of God through the Word of
God cannot help but overflow in praise to God.
If you're having a difficult time praising and
worshiping, if you feel far removed from Judah,
the Place of Praise — it could be because you're
not dwelling in Bethlehem, the House of Bread,
the Word of God.

https://godwordistruth.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/worship-is-to-have-the-whole-heart-engaged-steadfastly-for-god.jpg
Once you're dwelling in theWord, you can't
help but become a worshiper.

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Ruth 1:6a ESV
6aThen she arose with her daughters-in-law to
return from the country of Moab,

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Ruth 1:6b ESV
6b for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the
LORD had visited His people and given them food.

"God is my King" is dead.
"Song" is dead.
"Satisfaction" is dead.
Now Naomi realizes that allowing her family to
go to Moab was an unmitigated disaster and
she longed for Bethlehem the "House of Bread".

While Naomi was in Moab, in misery and in
rebellion, she heard reports of how God was
blessing Bethlehem.
It's always that way.
Those who waited it out in Bethlehem were
indeed blessed.

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Those who wait (hope, trust) upon the Lord will
renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31).

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Psalm 145:15 ESV
15The eyes of all look toYou, andYou give them
their food in due season.

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Second Chronicles 6 declares that if God's
people turn away from Him, He will stop the
rain and curse the land.

But the next chapter goes on to say that if His
people humble themselves and pray, He will
hear from Heaven and heal their land.
Therefore, while many were playing, there
must have been someone praying.

As a result, a prophet must have come on the
scene, calling the people to forsake their
heathen idols and turn once again to theTrue
and Living God.
When they did, God revived and rebuilt the land
which had become so fruitless and dry.
And Naomi heard the report of God's blessing.

It was Naomi's loss that led her to listen.
This story is not to show God punishing Naomi
for wandering off into Moab.
Her loss was not punitive—it was corrective.

Its purpose was to get her back on track—back
to Bethlehem, the House of Bread; back to
Judah, the Place of Praise.
In your life and in mine, when there is loss, it is
not for punishment.
Why?

Because the punishment for our sin could never
be severe enough.
We all deserve to be totally consumed and
whatever God could send our way could never
be punishment enough for our sin.

The punishment which should have come upon
us was poured out upon Jesus Christ,Who died
in our place.
Therefore, His work in our lives is not punitive -
it's corrective!

If you have been in a place of loss—materially or
internally, vocationally or relationally—know
this:You are experiencing loss not because God
is mad at you, angry with you, or disappointed
in you—but because He wants to speak to you.

https://daughtersdialogue.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/article-2233811-160fd21a000005dc-806_964x645.jpg
And He knows that sometimes the only time we
will listen is when we are at a place of loss
where we can do nothing else.

http://alexforrest.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Ruth-Image-A.jpg
Ruth 1:7 ESV
7 So she set out from the place where she was
with her two daughters-in-law, and they went
on the way to return to the land of Judah.

Ruth 1:8-9 ESV
8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,
“Go, return each of you to her mother's house.
May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have
dealt with the dead and with me. 9The LORD
grant that you may find rest, each of you in the
house of her husband!”Then she kissed them,
and they lifted up their voices and wept.

As Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah are on their way to
Bethlehem, Naomi turns to her daughters-in-
law and says, "Why are you traveling with me?
I'm going back with nothing and I'm going back
to nothing. I lost everything in Moab, but you
have been good to me. May the Lord bless you.
Now go back to your people."

http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20120504-Naomi_and_Her_Daughters-in-Law.jpg

Ruth 1:10-13 ESV
10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with
you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn
back, my daughters; why will you go with me?
Have I yet sons in my womb that they may
become your husbands?

12Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am
too old to have a husband. If I should say I have
hope, even if I should have a husband this night
and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait
till they were grown?Would you therefore refrain
from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is
exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the
hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
Ruth 1:10-13 ESV

Naomi is referring to the practice outlined in
Deuteronomy 25, whereby if a woman lost her
husband, it was the responsibility of his
younger unmarried brother to marry his sister-
in-law.
Their children would then bear the name of the
deceased brother.

In reference to this, Naomi is saying, "Even if I
married right now and bore sons, it would be
ridiculous for you to wait until they were old
enough to assume the responsibility of
marrying you."
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e4V4rH_dfEg/Tc4s3OO6meI/AAAAAAAAESA/mL1J-j1-XqA/s1600/RuthAndNaomiSandyFreckletonGagon.jpg

Ruth 1:13b ESV
13b No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter
to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD
has gone out against me.”

Not true, Naomi.
Yes, you've felt the brutal, bitter repercussions
of being in Moab.
But God is not against you.
He has a good plan for you, a divine design.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUOcJeF5qu4/TzkVozQfgPI/AAAAAAAAAGg/MXyKVVh3J0s/s1600/redeeming+ruth+copy.jpg
God's at work.
He takes even our backsliding blunders and is
able to transform them into beautiful blossoms,
it's an amazing thing called – redemption!

Ruth 1:14 ESV
14Then they lifted up their voices and wept
again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but
Ruth clung to her.

http://media1.shmoop.com/images/bible/ruth/naomi-ruth-orpah
In this verse, we see - Naomi grieving, Orpah
leaving, & Ruth cleaving.

Orpah, whose name means "Youthful" or
"Immature," shows the reaction of an immature
believer — much emotion, but no devotion;
conviction, but no commitment.
Jesus talked about this in the parable of the
sower (Mark 4).

http://larrydelacruz.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/parable-of-the-sower1.jpg
Some hear theWord and spring up quickly, but
when the hot sun comes out, they dry up and
wither away because they have no roots.

Some believers get totally excited when they
hear a sermon, or a testimony, or a concert —
but their roots are not grounded in theWord of
God.
There is no devotional life, simply an emotional
hype.

And when the hard times come — when there's
a price to pay to follow Jesus — like Orpah, they
turn away.
Ruth, on the other hand, cleaves to Naomi.

The same remains true today, for, there are
those who kiss with emotion — but others who
cleave with devotion.
The Bible indicates that God isn't impressed
with how high we jump, but how straight we
walk.

Ruth stayed with Naomi.
Ruth walked the walk.
The name Ruth means friend, companion.

http://bibletheater.org/clientimages/55501/ruth%20and%20naomi%20-1.jpg

Ruth 1:15a ESV
15a And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has
gone back to her people and to her gods;

This doesn't mean Oprah is a bad person but it
does mean she is no longer in the narrative of
this drama.
Her name never appears again.
There are times when you have to let people
go.

Far too often, people cling to some past
experience or relationship.
Let them go, they're not part of your story any
more.
God brings people into our lives for a reason
and sometimes for a season.

Ruth 1:15b-17 ESV
15b return after your sister-in-law.” 16 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.
17Where 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.”

"Even if God's hand is against you, Naomi,"
Ruth said, "the worst God gives is better than
the best the world offers."
What a sentiment expressed by Ruth!

Ruth 1:18-19a ESV
18 And when Naomi saw that she was
determined to go with her, she said no more.
19a So the two of them went on until they came
to Bethlehem.

Here we see the backslider returning home and
the outsider coming home.
Naomi and Ruth—Jew and Moabite—traveled
together to the House of Bread.

Ruth 1:19b ESV
19b And when they came to Bethlehem, the
whole town was stirred because of them. And
the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death,
died in this life to pay the penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second
death explained in Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as
for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters,
and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns
with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will
be his God and he will be my son.”
Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.

Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is
Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes and is justified, and with the mouth one
confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”

If you have questions or would like to know more, Please,
contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/

02-19-16, Ruth 1;6-18, Faith Through Trials

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02-19-16, Ruth 1;6-18, Faith Through Trials