Well, this is it ladies.  It's a little bitter sweet for me.  I have thoroughly loved and enjoyed studying the book of Ruth with all of you.  I'm so happy we did this but I'm also a little sad that it is ending.  I appreciate the comments and the time and effort you put into it.  I know you are all busy and you could have spent the time over the past few weeks doing something else.  I'm glad you accepted my invitation and God used you to teach me a little more.  Thank you for sharing some of your time and yourself with me.  



Ruth:  Week 5  -- Chapter 4

The outline is titled “Ruth’s Reward - A Husband, A Son, A Lineage”.  When I got out my Bible to re-read chapter 4, the outline for our final study on Ruth really stood out to me this time; a husband, a son, a lineage.  (Is it just me or do you like how her blessing came as three things?)  Look at all Ruth had been through.  She had sadness, loss, trials - but she didn’t lose sight of God and what was right.  Most importantly, God didn’t lose sight of Ruth.  He never loses sight of us either.   If God had just stopped with giving Ruth a new husband and a son, I think she would have been happy with that.  Ecstatic even.  What more could she ask for?  But God didn’t stop there.  He put her in the lineage of Jesus, God’s own Son.  It was like He was saying to her “I’m not just going to give you a loving husband and a child.  No, I’m going to make you part of MY family.  People will read about you and your faithfulness for a long time to come.”   What a reward!

In reading the text for this week, I have to smile thinking about Boaz going to this (nameless) “nearer” kinsman and telling him about how Naomi, being destitute, had sold a parcel of land that belonged to her dead husband.   And since it was the right of the nearest kinsman to buy the land back, this nearer kinsman had first rights to purchasing the land to keep it in the family.  Before the poor guy can answer, Boaz points out something along the lines of “Oh, and by the way, you’ll have to marry and support the widow Ruth too”.  Doesn’t that make you smile?  Don’t you just love how Boaz sticks that in there?  I wonder if the nameless relative thought that since Boaz was offering her to him first – maybe Ruth was ugly, high maintenance, lots of baggage (the real kind and the figurative kind), snored loudly, hogged the blankets or hid the remote. He might have thought Boaz was trying to pawn Ruth off on him.  I wonder this because he doesn’t even give Ruth a thought once he finds out that in order to get the land he is going to have to marry and support her too.  The text reveals that he refuses because he was concerned it would jeopardize his own inheritance and he was worried about the financial burden supporting Ruth would cause.  It’s kind of like he’s saying “Naw (that’s a southern term) you go ahead and marry her.  Sounds like a lot of trouble and money just to keep a field in the family.”  The whole interaction just makes me grin.  

On a serious note, I can’t help but wonder about Naomi too.  She played an important role in the story.  God didn’t forget her either and blessed her.  She got a grandson and another family.  I bet Boaz made a great son-in-law.  I know technically that isn’t what he was but I bet that is how he treated Naomi.  He shows all indication of being an all-around good guy.  

Lastly, I love that the book ends with the genealogy from Pharez through Boaz to David.

    

And one last random thing……

God did it again this week.  I was reading Psalms 3:3 “…the lifter of my head” and I thought to myself – “I think those are words in a song I’ve heard”.  This time I didn’t look it up though.  Well, wouldn’t you know it – we went to church on Saturday night again and I heard the song.  We were a couple of minutes late to church but the worship team was still singing.  We got to our seats just in time for the chorus ………………..

“I will praise the mighty name of Jesus,
Praise the Lord, the lifter of my head.
Praise the Rock of my salvation,
All my days are in His faithful hands.

I know it may seem like a small thing but we NEVER sing this song other than maybe once and that was a while ago.  And just like last week – the song wasn’t one of my favorites.  And isn’t it cool how it goes with this book?  Ruth could have sung this song long ago and I wouldn’t be surprised if she is singing it right now in Heaven…………

…….. I will praise the mighty name of Jesus, praise the Lord, the lifter of my head.  Praise the Rock of my Salvation, all my days are in His faithful hands…….

A small delay....

Hi,

I know that I have posted the week's study on Sunday night each time.  However, it will be tomorrow afternoon before I post this week.  I apologize for this and I plan to have it up tomorrow afternoon or early evening.  

I hope you understand and forgive me?

Hugs,

Kim

Week 4

Ruth's Request

• Suggested by Naomi
  
• Executed by Ruth
  
• Agreed to by Boaz

 

Ruth:  Week 4 – Chapter 3

Hi Ladies!  I hope you have all had a good week.  Mine has been good but busy as always.  I apologize for my semi-absence the past few days.  If I seemed MIA, I was still here but standing in the background.    Can you believe we are almost done with Ruth?  It seems like it is going to end before it gets started.  That’s okay; one of the points to this study was “manageable”.  I hope we’ve accomplished that together.  

I enjoyed my approach last week and diving into the “white space”.  I keep telling you this but it’s because I really mean it – I love all your comments!  I think that is why I like writing here.  It’s sorta like my time to comment. 

So, here we are in the third chapter of Ruth.  I think this chapter is my favorite of the four.  It’s where the love story takes place. I’m not going to rehash the entire chapter but just tell you the parts that stood out to me.   

We all see where Naomi tells Ruth to go to Boaz.  This part of the story is hard for me to imagine.  I’m getting caught up thinking about Boaz sleeping next to the grain to protect it.  I’ll admit I don’t quite understand the context – that people would have to sleep next to the food to protect it but then again, wasn’t a famine mentioned in the first chapter? 

 Boaz wakes up in the middle of the night, startled, and Ruth is there and asks him to spread his skirt over her - she is basically asking him to marry her.    She points out that he is her “near kinsman” or “kinsman redeemer”.  My Bible notes say that a Kinsman redeemer’s responsibilities included – redeeming any family property that had changed ownership and also marrying a childless widow so that children could be raised up in her dead husband’s name.  For Ruth to initiate this, it was in accordance with levirate law.

How cool is a kinsman redeemer?  Someone who steps in when there is no one else to look after us, help us, pay our debts, etc?   Jesus is the ultimate kinsman redeemer.  He paid our debt. A debt no one else could pay.

When Boaz wakes up and finds Ruth at his feet and figures out she wants him to marry her, he is delighted.  He thinks Ruth is the best thing since sliced bread and probably can’t imagine why she would want someone so much older.  I think about that.  Why would Ruth want to marry him when the scriptures even say there is another relative or “nearer” kinsman redeemer?  I think it’s because Ruth knows a good man when she sees one and isn’t about to pass him up.

Boaz proves he is a good man too.  He shows in verse 14 that he is concerned about her honor and reputation.  He wants to protect her. 

My favorite part to the story so far?  I love verse 18 – it says that Boaz “will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day”.   I picture Boaz getting up that next morning and rushing to get dressed.  Imagine him grinning from head to toe and almost running around to settle the matter of marrying Ruth.  That’s the kind of man little girls dream of.  Men who can’t wait to be their husband, to protect them, provide for them, be their friend and to love them more than anyone else.

The more I read this book, the more beautiful it becomes. 

On that note, I want to share the words to a song.  Why?  No reason other than this song has been in my head all week – literally - and I feel led to share it.  I’m trying to learn how to follow when led.  Not as easy as it sounds but I’m sure God has a reason for wanting you to know this song.  For me, I love that no one loves me the way He loves me.   A little background to the song - we sing it at church but it’s been a long time since and wasn’t even one of my favorites – until now.  Now I love it. 

Several mornings ago, I was reading in Job (sorry I dropped the ball on posting “Follow me through the Bible – told you it’s been crazy busy) and the words to this song randomly popped into my head.  It had been so long ago that I had heard it; I couldn’t remember most of the lyrics.  Like I said, it wasn't one of my favorites at that time so the fact that it came up HAD to be God.  I had to Google the two lines I could  remember and that led to me finding the song and adding it to the playlist at the side if you want to listen to it.  I still cannot get the song out of my head.  

I know it may sound a bit odd but this seems to be a familiar thing between God and me.  I’ll be reading my Bible and random words to a song that has NOTHING to do with the text, will pop into my head.  I’ll go around for the next 3 or 4 days singing that song.  It’s like God has His own mp3 hooked up to my brain.  (I can’t sing - even a little so this just proves that God loves a joyful heart.)  The best part to this little side story of mine is this…….My church has three services on Sunday morning and one on Saturday night.  Our church just doesn’t have enough seating so we’ve expanded to four weekend services.  Once in a blue moon, Kent and I will take the boys to the Saturday night service instead of Sunday.  I like Sunday better because I’m a creature of habit and the Saturday night service has a different praise and worship team.  It’s a petty reason, I know, but I said I was a creature of habit.  Saturday afternoon, Kent and I decided to go to church.   The very last song was about to begin and the worship leader began by saying they were going to do a song they had not performed on a Saturday night before -  Sunday services had done it but it would be new to Saturday evening people.  I knew without a doubt – before that song even played – it would be “Sing My Love”…… and it was.  Pretty cool if you ask me.

I don't believe in chance.  Chance removes God's hand and I believe firmly God is in control over everything.  That brings me back to why did He led me to post this song with this particular chapter?  I don't know.  He didn't tell me that part.  He only told me the part that concerned me.  He didn't tell me your part.  I do know that He wanted you to know it - and don't read "you" as a generic/general "you".  This song was meant for someone who is reading this and I bet it is literally YOU.  The "why" is between you and Him.  

It’s a great love story song. Maybe God just wants us to know the best love story ever written is the one between us and Him.  Maybe?  Without a doubt.

Here are the lyrics:

Kim Walker/Jesus Culture – “Sing My Love”

Words could never say the way He says my name
He calls me lovely
No one ever sees the way He looks at me
He sees me holy
Words could never hold this love that burn my soul Heaven holds me, oh heaven holds me

I can't hold my love back from You
I can't hold my love back from You
I've gotta sing, I've gotta sing, sing my love

You would not believe the way He touches me
He burns right through me
And i could not forget every word He said
He always knew me
The earth could never hold this love that burns my soul Heaven holds me oh heaven holds me

I can't hold my love back from You
I can't hold my love back from You
I've gotta sing I've gotta sing, sing my love

I can't hold my praise back from You
I can't hold my praise back from You
I've gotta shout, I've gotta shout, shout my praise
I can't hold my praise back from You
I can't hold my praise back from You
I've gotta shout, I've gotta shout, shout my love

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord
my soul makes, makes its boast in the Lord

Your turn........

Ruth: Week 3 – Chapter 2

In writing this week’s preliminary on Ruth, I’m going to offer my comments here instead of repeating basically what you guys have already read.  I hope you don’t mind this new approach.  I'm trying to mix things up and keep it interesting.  

When I read the Bible, besides concentrating on the words (because for my little brain to process the language, I have to pay attention), I also like to imagine the “white space”.   Not adding to the scripture but just wondering about what isn’t told.  So, here is my “white space”……….

I’ve read this chapter a few times.   It is building the story but just hasn’t gotten there yet.  I was thinking today about what to write.  I was at a little bit of a block thinking how tough it was to expound on this part of the story.   So I read a few commentaries on Ruth hoping to gain a fresh set of eyes.  In one of the commentaries (I can’t find it right now but when I do – I’ll link it), it was pointed out how in this chapter God begins to reward Ruth for her actions.  Ruth was doing what was right – following God, trusting, taking care of her mother-in-law, etc – and she did all of these things not thinking of herself.  Basically, others saw her life as a testimony, even as a Gentile woman.  She was living what she believed and it showed.   Boaz even points it out in verse 12 where he says: “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel under whose wings thou art come to trust.” (KJV) 

I really like that Boaz uses the example of “under whose wings thou art come to trust”.  It’s like a mother bird protecting her young when she spreads her wings over them. 

I wonder how Ruth felt being in a different place with no friends or family save Naomi. 

How did Ruth feel out there gleaning the fields with complete strangers?  Was she scared?  The Bible says she only rested a short while and worked all day.  I think about that and wonder if the other women rested longer than she did.  I sort of get the impression that they did rest longer simply because the Bible points out Ruth “tarried a little in the house”.  Was she trying to stay ahead of the others?  Did she feel like she didn’t belong?  I wonder if this group of women freely accepted her.

Ruth knew she was an outsider, so I think about the relief she felt when Boaz comes along and then not only makes sure she is allowed to glean as much as she needs but also ensures that she will be protected.  Kind of like God isn’t it in that He provides and protects?  He doesn’t promise that it will be without hardship but He continues to take care of us even during difficult times. 

I wonder when Ruth or Boaz met in the field, did either of them know that their lives were about to change?  Did they sense God had a plan?  Have you ever had such a moment where you could feel God working?  You didn’t know what, who, how - but you could feel it?  Maybe God showed you in one of those ah-ha!  moments.  In the white space, I like to think Boaz and Ruth knew.  I like to think that standing in the field, having that first conversation; they could tangibly feel God at work and orchestrating the bigger picture.  I mean, we all know He’s there and in control anyway but it isn’t always so obvious. 

Six years ago, I had just begun dating Kent.  Literally – we had been going out for a matter of weeks.  For those of you who may not know, my first husband left me the year before for someone else.  That day, Ken and I were sitting on his couch, having a nice conversation.  In the middle of what he was saying, I felt God say “You will marry this man.”  I must have looked confused or shocked.  I could see Kent still talking but I couldn’t believe what I suddenly knew and how it was so, so – THERE and I couldn’t understand how he didn’t know it too.  Actually, God had already pointed all this out to Kent.  I was the last to know. (Smile)  I need to say, I don’t have those moments often.  Most of what God says to me comes more in the form or a whisper, an inner thought/voice that I just know is God, or sometimes it’s a little nudge.  I almost never hear Him as loud and clear as I did at that moment.  If a neon sign had dropped out of the sky and landed in that room, it would not have been any more surprising or obvious.  And, it was in that moment that I knew that God was gonna fix it all.  All the past hurt.  The broken heart.  The mistrust.  The never feeling good enough.  The need and desire for a man that cared more about me than he did himself.  In a few brief, and almost time stopping, seconds - God showed it all to me.  Writing about that doesn’t do it justice.   I may even sound like a whacko but I’m okay with that because I know what God shared with me then and I'm looking back at it now.

When I get to Heaven, I’m looking Ruth and Boaz up and I’m going to ask them “Did you know?”

Your friend,

Kim

Your thoughts?

.... a note to some friends....

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all are having a good week.  It's Friday!!!  Yippee!  This week has been a little stressful for me.  Things have been super busy and I've been fighting a headache each day.  Funny, because when I tell my older brother my head hurts, he says "I knew it was gonna give you trouble the first time I saw it on you". Just a little humor.


The reason I'm writing this is to encourage you.  Not just those of you who have commented but also those of you who just come here to read.  There is so much more to the reason behind this post that I don't feel led to share yet.  Don't worry, it isn't anything big.  Simply God working behind the scenes and I like it when He shows me a glimpse of the big picture or tells me the "why" behind something.  God showed me something cool this week.


I've heard from a couple of people that they don't know if they have anything to contribute.  They seem to be enjoying the reading and following along but maybe just not feeling like commenting on their thoughts of the chapter.  And, that's okay.  I said in the beginning, and I maintain, don't feel like you have to comment.  Feel free to read and not comment, read and comment, just say "hi", or even email me your thoughts.  Your choice.  However, one of the highlights of my day is reading all the things you guys have posted and getting a new perspective on Ruth and also, where you're coming from.  


Please get this next part as I'm not pointing anyone out.  However, I do feel led to explain the reasoning and purpose of this study.  I've put this post off for several days but God keeps gently pushing me to write it.  So, I'm writing.  Forgive me if I ramble but I'm leaning on God to make sure the message and intent shows through.  

Learning about Ruth and her devotion to God is NOT the number one goal.  What?????  You're probably screaming at the computer "Why are we reading Ruth then???"  My hope is that, besides seeing the beautiful devotion and reliance on God Ruth displayed, you will know that you can read the Bible and learn everything and anything from God Himself.  No preacher required.  No theology degree.  Just you and God.  I promise, if you read the Bible and seek an answer to a question - He'll answer you.  Admittedly, I've asked some questions that He answered with "You don't need to know that" but it was an answer.  You might already know those things.  You might read your Bible everyday anyway.  If so, take this as a personal "Awesome!".  If you don't, I'm still simply encouraging.  My heart is to share what a great thing it is to know God and the Son He sacrificed for us. 


The ladies in this study are from all walks of life and we are all at different stages in our knowledge of the Bible.  THAT is why I asked you specifically - because whether you think you know "enough" is NOT the point.  I asked you, not by accident or on a whim, but because I knew you would bring something special to this and wanted us to share it together.  Also, some know a lot about the Bible and have wisdom and experience where God is concerned and some of us are just getting started.  I'm by FAR no expert.  Seeing even the obvious can be difficult for me and it makes me feel really dumb.  I'm more childlike in my thought process and understanding.  When I'm honest about it, that's important too.  Being super smart would have been nice but God said "Nope, that's not what I'm gifting you with."  I might not be able to talk intelligibly to Billy Graham but 4 year olds get me.  God has a great sense of humor.


So, if you are reading this and you feel overwhelmed by it, don't.  All I've asked from the beginning is to read with us and comment if you'd like.  That part about coming to your house in my Donald Duck pj's was really just a joke.  (smile)  I'll show up in Spongebob pj's.


Hugs,
Kim

Ruth 1:1-22 Week 2

  Chapter 1 – Get your Bible handy and read along.  Make notes as you go for comments at the end. 

This week……..

Ruth's Resolve 1:1-22

·         Her Background

·         Her Choice

·         Her Arrival in Beth-lehem

Her Background:

Read Ruth 1:1-5

Let’s start with Naomi, her husband Elimelek and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion.  We know from the first chapter that during the days of the judges (little tidbit – Samson was a Judge.  I didn’t know that until I read the book of Judges), there was a famine in the land so Elimelek took his wife and sons and moved from Beth-lehem to Moab to live.

We then find out that Elimelek dies and Mahlon and Kilion marry Moab women – Ruth and Naomi.   It is important to point out here why that stands out in the story.  

Moab was about 50 miles from Beth-lehem and situated on the East side of the Dead Sea.  Moabs are mentioned a few times in the Old Testament.  (Moab was the son of Lot from an incestuous relationship with his oldest daughter - Genesis 19:31-38).  

My Bible notes say that mixed marriages were not specifically forbidden in the Mosaic Law but male offspring could not be admitted into the Israel congregation to the tenth generation. (Deut. 23:3-6).  If you look up these additional verses – Deut. 7:3-4, Nehemiah 10:30, 13:25-31 -you see that Israelites marrying "foreigners” was really frowned upon.  

Ruth and Orpah were Moabites but Ruth chose to follow God.

Her Choice:

Read Ruth 1:6-18

Naomi adamantly encourages Ruth and Orpah to return to Moab.  They both refuse at first.  Naomi tells them she is too old for another husband and have more sons for them to marry.  Why would she say that?  Well, it was the custom of the levirate marriage that the brother of the husband who died childless would marry the widow - thus providing an heir to the deceased.  

Finally Orpah gives in and returns to Moab.  Ruth will have none of that.  She wants to stay with Ruth and says to Naomi – where you go I will go, your country (people) will be my country and your God will be my God.  When Ruth chooses Naomi and Beth-lehem over Moab and her own people, it meant final severance from her country and religion.  

In verse 17, Ruth seals the deal with a vow and subsequent punishment if she doesn’t keep her word.

Can you imagine – losing your husband and leaving for another place with your mother-in-law?  I wonder what Ruth’s parents said?  Did she tell them goodbye?  In the “white space” it makes me wonder if her belief in God had already put distance between her and her family because Moabs worshipped other gods.   (Chemosh was the Moab national god – Numbers 21:29, Judges 11:24 and 1 Kings 11:7)  

I also like to think about Naomi in this story.  I know it’s about Ruth but what a wonderful example Naomi must have been to Ruth that she would give up everything and follow her back to Beth-lehem and turn the one true God. 

Her Arrival in Beth-lehem:

Read Ruth 1:19-22

Verses 19 & 20 – The two women arrive in Beth-lehem and when the people saw them, they wondered if it was Naomi.  She tells them not to call her by the name “Naomi” because the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with her.  Note, we see that even though Naomi said God dealt bitterly with her, she refers to Him as the Almighty (Hebrew – El Shaddai, Gen. 17:1).  Naomi still respects God.  Naomi then tells them to call her Mara which means “bitter”.  Naomi meant “pleasant”.

Your turn…….

    Tell us what you got out of this chapter.  

    What does this story mean to you?  

    Any additional insight or information you found while reading this?

    Oh, and I know I said this but please be sure to say hi to your neighbor and go ahead and comment to each other.  I promise everybody here is very nice!

Coming to a blog near you.........................

Ruth 1:1-22

We start the first chapter of Ruth on Monday, Jan. 24th.  I'll be here.  Hope to see you too!

During the week, please comment on any questions or thoughts you have about this chapter.

P.S. - If you are just getting here, no worries - just jump right in and join us!