May 3: The Fruit of Wasted Years
“When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” Ruth 1:18-19 NKJV
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Psalm 23: The Lord is My Shepherd and My Host
Like many others, this beloved psalm bears a simple title, “A Psalm of David.” It was probably written by David as a mature man. It has comforted more people than we can think of! Millions, I would say, have committed this psalm to memory.
Worship Sermon: The Fruit of Wasted Years
Worship Sermon: Ruth 1:18-22. The focus of our story is on Naomi, now coming back to Bethlehem after 10 years in Moab. I would call them years wasted outside of the will of God. I believe that just about all of God’s children have experienced some years wasted outside of His will of God. Not only can it be wasteful, it can also be painful.
As Naomi explains in verse 21, “I went out full and the Lord has brought me home empty.”
Thank God she was humble enough to go back home (Ruth 1:18, 19). Verse 19 says, “So they two went until they came to Bethlehem.” This tells me as we travel on our spiritual journey, don’t underestimate the importance of companionship. Bethlehem was not a large city. I don’t know first person who saw Naomi, but word got out.
I. The Bewilderment of the People (Ruth 1:19). As the people proceeded to greet her, the question went out, Is this Naomi? What happened to that sweet, pleasant Naomi that we used to know?
II. The Bitterness of Naomi (Ruth 1:20, 21). She said to them, call me not Naomi (Pleasant), but call me Mara (Bitter). I doubt if Naomi gave Ruth one encouraging word on their trip home. Many say they are Christians, but you can’t tell because they are bitter.
Listen to Naomi’s blame (Ruth 1:20, 21). Recognize that God does Chasen (Hebrews 12:6). For example, we should remember the life of Jonah (chapter 1). When you walk out on God you have no other direction to go but down. The one good thing about Naomi here, is that she knew ultimately her battle was with God.
III. The Blessing was to Come (Ruth 1:22). Notice the part that says, “and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.” This is the season of first fruits, typifying Christ’s Resurrection. Once Naomi positioned herself In the right place, the blessing was going to come. Spiritually speaking, you can gain everything you lost. Fall at his feet in repentance, confess your sin. You can once again experience his favor.
—Pastor Alvin Berkley
May 10: Ruth – What Every Woman Needs
MOTHERS DAY
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NKJV
Worship Service
Ruth 2:12-16
Earlier in chapter one of this book, we were looking at the downside of walking away from God’s will for your life. In this chapter we see the upside of what can happen when you walk under the umbrella of God’s favor. These truths our contrasted in the life of Naomi in chapter one and the life of Ruth in chapter two. —Pastor Alvin Berkley
Meeting the Conditions
If we want God to work in our lives and circumstances to accomplish His will then there are certain conditions we must be willing to meet. These conditions can be illustrated in the life of Ruth. I will all these risks and conditions
I. We Must Live by Faith In the Lord (Ruth 2:2-3).
Noami gave no thought or suggestion on how they could alleviate their problem of provision. It was Ruth who came up with the plan.
Notice Ruth’s suggestion in verse 2:
So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” Ruth 2:1 NKJV
Ruth had read the word of God in Leviticus 19:10, 11. She was not operating out of fear or emotionalism. She was operating out of faith. What Is Faith? It is taking God at his word and then acting on it. We should understand this—faith guides you to take some kind of action. You have no faith, little faith or Great faith.
II. We Must Live by the grace of God (Ruth 2:4-16). When Ruth
set out that morning to glean in the fields, she was looking for someone
who would show her grace. It is here that Boaz enters the story. Boaz means, “In Him is Strength.” He is a picture of Christ. Our God is El Shaddai—the all-sufficient One.
What Is Grace? “It is favor bestowed on someone who doesn’t deserve it and cannot earn it.
- Grace – for salvation. Ruth was undeserving (2:6).
- Grace – for provision (2:8, 15, 16; Phil. 4:19).
- Grace – for companionship (2:8, 9).
- Grace – for protection (2:9, 14-16).
- Grace – for refreshment (2:9).
May 17: Living a Life of Hope
“And when she rose up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Also let grain from the bundles fall purposely for her; leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
Ruth 2:15-16 NKJV
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Psalm 24: The Great and Sovereign God
- The Declaration: The whole world belongs to God..
- The Reason: God is Creator
- Whom does God receive?
- What is there moral character of those whom God receives?
- The promise of blessings to the righteous man
- A generation of the blessed and righteous ones (God’s covenant people)
- Receiving the great king
Worship Service: Living a Life of Hope | Ruth 2:15-23
The last time we saw Ruth, she had entered the field of Boaz. He had spoken kind words to her. He had heard of her faithfulness in leaving the land of Moab and coming back to Bethlehem with Naomi, her mother-in-law. Not knowing how they were going to sustain themselves, Ruth stepped out in faith, looking for somebody who would show her grace and favor. Guided by the sovereign hand of God, she entered the field of Boaz, who gave he protection and provision. Verse 17,
So she gleaned in the field until even. Ruth had faith and worked. The word “gleaned” in vs 17 means “to gather or collect bit by bit, slowly with difficulty.” It was the practice of collecting leftover crops from a field after the main harvest. It tells us that Ruth gathered up an ephah of barley (about 30 to 40 pounds), enough for 10 days or more. Verse 18 says she took it up and went into the city where she met Naomi.
Naomi had hope once again (Ruth 2:19) because she used the
word “blessed.” We should understand that God is our ultimate blesser.
Ephesians 1:3 talks about spiritual blessings. When Ruth told Naomi that the name of the man whose field she was in, Naomi really got excited (Ruth 2:20). Hope again was stirred in her heart because of what Boaz did and because of the words he spoke.
- Hope comes through the of the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:13). This is God’s gift to his people.
- We Have the Hope of Redemption (Romans 8:2, 3).
- We have a Living Hope (I Peter 1:3). It grows stronger as the years go by.
- We have the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13). The expectation that the Lord is coming back again. This is why we should live in hope.
May 24: A Midnight Meeting
“Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?”
Ruth 3:1 NKJV
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Psalm 25: Crying Out to God for Wisdom
Thus psalm pictures life as a difficult journey that we cannot successfully make ourselves. The psalmist is crying our to God for wisdom with three unwavering assurance.
- The help we need comes from God.
- Our God can be trusted.
- Trusting God brings us victory.
Worship Service: A Midnight Meeting
We learned from last week that Naomi’s hope has been stirred. When Ruth brough news of Boaz, a near Kinsman, that had the rights of redemption. Both Ruth and Naomi are excited for the possibility that the plight of their poverty might soon be over. There was also a promising relationship as Boaz took personal interest in this Moabite woman who was found gleaning in his field.
- Naomi’s counsel to Ruth (Ruth 3:1-5). Acting on the possibility that stands before them. Naomi instructs Ruth on what she is to do. How to approach him (Boaz) vs 3. When to approach him (vs. 4). Ruth agrees to follow the counsel of Naomi.
- Clarify Historical terminology.
Rest: To be settled or secure in life.
Threshing Floor: After the grain was harvested and clumped into sheaves, it was “threshed or broken up at a place called the threshing floor.
Winnowing: Another method used to separate tares from wheat. The process of throwing the harvest into the air, the chaff would be blown away and the grain being heavy would fall to the ground. - The Midnight Moment of the Passage (Ruth 3:6-9).
The midnight meeting: After Boaz had finished his work, eaten his meal and retired. Ruth came and lay at his feet, under a corner of his blanket. There was nothing evil or suggestive about it. At his feet was a position of submission. It was also a position of proposal for marriage. She was asking Boaz to take his place as a near kinsman. Being that Ruth knew she was going to meet Boaz; she was instructed to to cleanse herself and change her clothes. As believers we are about to meet the King of Kings, don’t you think we ought to cleanse ourselves and wear clean clothes? - The Response of Boaz (Ruth 3:10-12). He assures her. Then He accepts her.
- Naomi’s Word of advice (Ruth 3:18). Sit still my daughter. There is a midnight meeting for all of us.
May 31: God Still Gives Happy Endings
“Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there; and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz had spoken came by. So Boaz said, “Come aside, friend, sit down here.” So he came aside and sat down.” Ruth 4:1 NKJV
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Standing In an Even Place: Psalm 26 and 27
Psalm 26 and 27 both reveal God’s love for His sanctuary (verses 26: 6-8 and 27: 4-7)
In David’s day, it was the tabernacle on Mt Zion. But not all who gathered to worship at the sanctuary were sincerer in their walk or their worship.
Notice David’s requests in Ps 26:1-2. Judge me. Examine me. Prove me. Try my reins. Vindicate me.
Enemies were slandering David. They were deceitful, hypocritical, wicked evil doers who schemed to rob others and accepted bribes. David could not stop the hypocrites from joining the worship congregation. But he could decide to not become one of them, asking God for deliverance from such sin through the gift of discernment.
Worship Service: God Still Gives Happen Endings
The first chapter of Ruth opened with 3 funerals but closed with a wedding. There is a good deal of weeping in the first chapter, but the last chapter records an overflowing of joy in the little town of Bethlehem (Psalm 30:5). Not all of life’s stories have happy endings. But this little book reminds us that for those who follow Christ, God still writes the last chapter. We don’t have to be afraid of the future.
The theme of this chapter is the word redemption. Th word redeem means to set free by paying a price. Every person save has been bought out of the slave market of sin.
Boaz the Redeemer (Ruth 4:1-10). Becomes the redeemer, the purchaser of the Land. He will also secure the hand of Ruth
the Moabitess. What we must understand is that not anyone can become the redeemer. Three qualifications had to be meet:
(1) Near kinsman. (2) Able to pay the price. (3) Willing to pay the price.
Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 4:11,12). What a wonderful
change Ruth’s life became, because she trusted Boaz and let him work on her behalf. She was no longer Ruth the Moabitess. God still gives happy endings!
