God's Word for Me Today
Friday, December 21, 2001
Unwrapping a Christ-Centered Christmas!
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You for including me in Your family, through the salvation You have given me through Jesus! As we draw to within a few days of our celebration of His birth, I pray that I may recognize the greatness of Your love and commitment to us, in that birth. I thank You that Jesus came in a humble way, so that I could identify with Him. I thank You that He fulfilled all righteousness while living here on earth, but constantly living in the power of Your Holy Spirit. Fill me anew with Your Spirit this day, that I, too, may bring You glory and honor as I live faithfully in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Ruth 4
1 So Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. When the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, Boaz called out to him, "Come over here, friend. I want to talk to you." So they sat down together. 2 Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses. 3 And Boaz said to the family redeemer, "You know Naomi, who came back from Moab. She is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 I felt that I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don't want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you."The man replied, "All right, I'll redeem it." 5 Then Boaz told him, "Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way, she can have children who will carry on her husband's name and keep the land in the family." 6 "Then I can't redeem it," the family redeemer replied, "because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land; I cannot do it." 7 In those days it was the custom in Israel for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party. This publicly validated the transaction. 8 So the other family redeemer drew off his sandal as he said to Boaz, "You buy the land." 9 Then Boaz said to the leaders and to the crowd standing around, "You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. 10 And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today." 11 Then the leaders and all the people standing there replied, "We are witnesses! May the LORD make the woman who is now coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you be great in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem. 12 And may the LORD give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah."
13 So Boaz married Ruth and took her home to live with him. When he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. 14 And the women of the town said to Naomi, "Praise the LORD who has given you a family redeemer today! May he be famous in Israel. 15 May this child restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you so much and who has been better to you than seven sons!" 16 Naomi took care of the baby and cared for him as if he were her own. 17 The neighbor women said, "Now at last Naomi has a son again!" And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. 18 This is their family line beginning with their ancestor Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron. 19 Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. 20 Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. 21 Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed. 22 Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David
Questions for Reflection
What is the greatest compliment anyone ever gave you?
What is the biggest turn around from “bad” to “good” that has ever taken place in your life?
Questions for Exploration
What role does God play in the relationship between Boaz and Ruth? (4:1-22)
Questions for Understanding
How does the story of Ruth demonstrate God’s guidance and providence in people’s lives?
How is the role Boaz plays in Ruth’s life like the role Jesus play in our lives?
Questions for Application
Pray for God to use you this day to bring joy to someone’s life, even as Ruth and Boaz brought joy to Naomi.
What relationship do you need to develop or repair among those closest to you right now? Pray for God to empower you to take the steps necessary from your side to develop or repair it.
Better Than Seven Sons!
At the end of the Book of Ruth the women of the town tell Naomi that Ruth has been better to her than “seven sons.” This is the greatest hyperbole in the Old Testament. In Old Testament times daughters (and daughters-in-law, we would assume) were considered a burden, while sons were considered a blessing. That’s because sons would one day produce income, and would provide their parents with a “retirement” income. Daughters, on the other hand, had to be “married off,” and it cost families money to do this. For the women to say that Ruth was better to Naomi than seven sons, is an unheard of kind of comment. It shows us what can happen in ANYONE’S life when that person is faithful and obedient to God’s presence and will in their life. All Ruth did was live out her commit to Naomi, to have Naomi’s people be her people and Naomi’s God to be her God. (Did I say ALL Ruth did?)
In any era of history, including our own, faithful obedience to God is the key to living a life that makes a difference both to oneself and to those around us. Ruth’s life impacted Naomi, Boaz and the town. It also impacted salvation history, because of Ruth’s being an ancestor of Jesus. We never know what God will do with our lives, but we do know this: God can do a lot with a little, if He has it all! God doesn’t expect us to be great. He simply expects us to live in relationship with Him, to love Him and be obedient. The results are then in His hands. Ruth’s obedience resulted in abundant blessing, and so will ours.
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