A walk thru’ the Old Testament (OT)..

Lesson 18: Ruth, Familiarity to Faith

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS

Old Testament SummaryThe Patriarchal AgesThe JudgesThe Reign of RoyaltyThe Royal VersesThe Prophetic Era

OT WALKTHRU- THE JUDGES

1. Joshua, the first Jesus2. The Judges3. Ruth – Familiarity to Faith4. Hannah, the Liberated Woman

RUTH

Ruth – a background Accountability and Perception Accountability and Choice Accountability and Attitude

RUTH – A BACKGROUND:NAMES AND STORY LINE

Elimelech -God is king Naomi –Pleasant Mahlom – Sickly Chilom – Failing Marah – Bitter Ruth – Friendship Orphah – Stubborn/Stiff Boaz – Swift Strength Bethlehem – House of Bread.

RUTH – A BACKGROUND:MOABITES

Their origin – Genesis 19: 36,37 “So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant

by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named

him Moab[1] ; he is the father of the Moabites of today.”[1] Moab sounds like the Hebrew for “from father”.

Their Condemnation – Deuteronomy 23:3– “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants

may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation.” (Ruth was the 8th generation from Jacob)

RUTH – A BACKGROUND:MOABITESS

Ruth, the Moabitess is mentioned 6 times 1:21-23 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by

Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law,... 2:1-3 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go

to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor…."

2:5-7 The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi.

2:20-22 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "He even said to me, `Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.'"

4:4-6 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess,.."

4:9-11 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess,..

RUTH – FAST FORWARD: GENEOLOGY

1.Abraham2.Isaac3.Jacob4.Judah & Tamar5.Perez6.Hezron7.Ram

8.Amminadab9.Nahshon10.Salmon &  Rahab11.Boaz &  Ruth12.Obed13.Jesse14.David & Bathsheba

15.Solomon &Naamah16.Rehoboam17.Abijam18.Asa19.Jehosaphat20.Jehoram21.Uzziah

22.Jotham23.Ahaz24.Hezekiah25.Manasseh26.Amon27.Josiah28.Jeconiah

29.Shealtiel30.Zerubbabel31.Abiud32.Eliakim33.Azor34.Zadok35.Achim

36.Eliud37.Eleazar38.Matthan39.Jacob40.Joseph & Mary *41.Jesus

Genealogy of Jesus according to Matthew

RUTH: FAMILIARITY TO FAITH

Her direct experience with the Jews was famine and death other than a strong affection for Naomi, an empty widow. What was the basis of Ruth’s choice?

Ruth 1:17Ruth 2:11,12

The driver of Ruth’s choice

was

ACCOUNTABILITY

TO GOD

The driver of Ruth’s choice

was

ACCOUNTABILITY

TO GOD

RUTH:ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD

Ruth 1:17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.

Ruth 2:11,12 ‘Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”’

I call on people to be 'obsessed citizens,'

forever questioning and asking for

accountability. That's the only chance we

have today of a healthy and happy life.

Ai Weiwei

I call on people to be 'obsessed citizens,'

forever questioning and asking for

accountability. That's the only chance we

have today of a healthy and happy life.

Ai Weiwei

ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERCEPTION

The unknown kinsman saw a moabitess, a widow and a

lost inheritance

Orpah saw her widowhood,

famine, a dead hope and a old

widowed mother in law.

Ruth sees her accountability to God, a loving mother in law and a heritage with

God’s people.

Boaz saw

a devoted

lady, a

woman of

noble

character, a relative and a

great

heritage

Naomi sees her

emptiness and

abandonment by God

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

The story of the Humming bird and the Vulture:Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation’s deserts.

ALL, THE VULTURES SEE IS ROTTING MEAT, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY LOOK FOR. THEY THRIVE ON THAT DIET.

But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals.

Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants

THE VULTURES LIVE ON WHAT WAS. THEY LIVE ON THE PAST. THEY FILL THEMSELVES WITH WHAT IS DEAD AND GONE.

BUT HUMMINGBIRDS LIVE ON WHAT IS. THEY SEEK NEW LIFE.

They fill themselves with freshness and life.

EACH BIRD FINDS WHAT IT IS LOOKING FOR.

We all do.

We all do.

RUTH: ACCOUNTABILITY AND CHOICES Contrast Ruth’s choices with other

choices made – Elimelech, his sons, etc.

Who were they accountable to?

ACCOUNTABILITY AND CHOICES

•Naomi goes back to Bethlehem when she hears there is food again

•Ruth sees a powerful God she was accountable to for life

• Mahlon and Chilion marry Moabite women

• Elimelech left God’s people for the condemned Moabites

Faith to Food

Faith to Foreigner

s

Foreigners to

Familiarity

Familiarity to Faith

Only Ruth demonstrated a strong and clear accountability to God

ACCOUNTABILITY AND ATTITUDE, ACTION – GODS RESPONSE

Ruth’s Attitude Ruth’s Action God’s Response

Humbles herself Gives herself completely to work as a poor gleanerRisks rape, abuse

God leads her to a field where she will be cared for and protected

Serves her mother in law

Works for herCooks for her

God gives her a saviour in Boaz

Obeys without question

Spends the night in Boaz’s barnAsks him to “cover” her

God gives her a new life and makes her part of a royal heritage

ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD TRANSFORMS

Accountability can transform your life by transforming:

PERCEPTION (What you see)

ATTITUDE (What you think and feel)

CHOICES (What you decide)

ACTIONS (What you do)

I learned in an extremely hard way that the accountability falls with me.Stephen Baldwin

I learned in an extremely hard way that the accountability falls with me.Stephen Baldwin

DISCUSSION

How can we demonstrate accountability to God in: Big decisions? Daily choices?

A walk thru’ the Old Testament (OT)..

Lesson 19: Hannah, The Liberated Woman

GOD’S TOUCHPOINTS

Old Testament SummaryThe Patriarchal AgesThe JudgesThe Reign of RoyaltyThe Royal VersesThe Prophetic Era

OT WALKTHRU- THE JUDGES

1. Joshua, the first Jesus2. The Judges3. Ruth – Familiarity to Faith4. Hannah, the Liberated Woman

HANNAH THE LIBERATED WOMAN

She Released her Burden to God She Received a Blessing from God She Released her Blessing to God She Received more Blessings from God

SHE RELEASED HER BURDEN TO GODPeople around did not seem supportive: Elkanah did not fully understood what

Hannah was going through Peninah kept taunting her on her

childless condition Eli made a hurtful remark asking if she

was drunk while she was pouring out her grief before God

God had closed her womb

Sometimes God witholds a blessing when He has planned a windfall later

Sometimes God witholds a blessing when He has planned a windfall later

SHE RELEASED HER BURDEN TO GOD

When Hannah releases her problems to God, she completely leaves it with him She released her pain She released her problem She released her pride

Eats heartily and is no longer sad

HANNAH COMPLETELY LET GO

Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 1 Sam 1:18

HANNAH COMPLETELY LET GO

She released her pain She released her problem She released her pride

SHE RECEIVED A BLESSING FROM GOD The gift of Samuel was not only a gift to

her but to the whole nation As she praised God, little did she know

that a great prophet was born

When hope seems goneGod’s leader is bornWhen hope seems goneGod’s leader is born

As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshipped the LORD there. 1 Sam 1:26,27

SHE RELEASED HER BLESSING TO GOD

When Hannah released Samuel it was: Joyful Permanent With Gratitude Without

expectations

What could have been some deterrants to Hannah releasing Samuel?

SHE RELEASED HER BLESSING TO GOD

SHE RECEIVED MORE BLESSINGS FROM GOD

And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. 1 :21

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor 9:7

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor 9:7

DISCUSSION

What are some difficult things to release in our lives?What spirit of giving do we need to maintain?

DECLINE OF THE PRIESTHOOD

Eli’s sons:

Stole from God’s offerings Fornicated with women serving at temple Ignored their father’s warning Despised God25 If one person sins against another, God[d] may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the LORD, who will intercedefor them?” 1 Samuel 2

DECLINE OF THE PRIESTHOOD – GOD’S JUSTICE

 Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained. 31 The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, 32 and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. 33 Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.

34 “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointedone always. 36 Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat. 1 Samuel 2

GOD’S JUSTICE

God punished them by Removing the priesthood from Eli’s

family Getting them killed in battleThe punishment extended to Israel when the glory of God withdrew from them as ark was captured

GOD’S JUSTICE

21 She named the boy Ichabod,[c

] saying, “The Glory has departed from Israel”—because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, “The Glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.” 1 Samuel 4

SAMUEL – A FAITHFUL PROPHET

Samuel on the other hand Grew up in an evil environment Received gods call at a young age Remained faithful to God all the days of

his life Restored peace and stability in Israel Was recognized as a prophet by all Systematically travelled and supervised

his people