The book of ruth devotion series focuses on four important life lessons that can be learned from the story of naomi and ruth. The devotion of ruth childrens bible during the days of the judges, there was once a famine in the land. Yahwehs rejection of the moabites had nothing to do with their ethnicity. Then orpah kissed her motherinlaw goodbye, but ruth clung to her. When life leaves us feeling empty and bitter, the book of ruth reminds us not to give up on god.
Ruth 4202015 women of the bible bible gateway devotionals. Even though its small, this remarkable book contains many principles with profound impact to our lives today. This moabite woman, who was free to stay with her people and idols, chose to accompany her bitter motherinlaw and worship the god of israel. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth,andrew wilson, alastair robert study from the bible and be encouraged to grow your faith. In the book of ruth, the titular heroine finds herself at such a crossroadsshould she go forward with her destitute motherinlaw to an unknown land or backward with her sisterinlaw to home and security. Few examples can compare to that of ruths devotion to naomi. Somewhere between diapers and sippy cups, piano lessons and soccer practice, dating and college searches, even the most wellintentioned family can lose sight of creating a god. Elimelech, the family head, took his wife, naomi, and their two sons and moved to the nearby country of moab to avoid the famine in judah. But the greatest love displayed in this book is gods love for naomi and all of israel. See all books authored by ruth graham, including in every pew sits a broken heart. Ruths story begins in bethlehem, in judah, when a father and mother and their two sons strike out for greener pastures. This fascinating story is detailed in the book of ruth, and we see the beautiful way god brought about his plan. Todays objective is to gain an understanding of the. In contrast to naomi and most of the book of judges.
The book of ruth is a beautiful story, and probably one you may have heard in sunday school as a child. This dialog between naomi and ruth illustrates a few important and valuable themes in the book of ruth representative of the bibles larger narrative arc. The book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times. The book of ruth is set during the time when israel was ruled by judges.
The story centers on the life of ruth, a moabite woman who married an israelite living in a foreign countrymoab. Ruth 1 begins on a very tragic note as it recounts the story of one particular family from the tribe of judah and city of bethlehem. Her daughterinlaw insists on returning with her and the decision changes their lives and ultimately all of the world. Whats more, these people became ancestors of israels great king davidand of an even greater king, the king of the world, jesus christ. Its main character is a moabite woman named ruth, the daughterinlaw of a jewish widow named naomi.
Women of the bible ruth naomis grief women of the bible ruth has been told over and over, and yet we still love to read it. Dec 18, 2007 in the introduction, ruth graham explains how her parents used a 19th century book titled steps for little feet along gospel paths by charles foster for family devotions while she was growing up. He knew who ruth was and what she had done for naomi, so he was very kind to her. But boaz knew there was one obstacle that could yet spoil things. Women of the bible ruth faithfulness of god ruth then went to a nearby field and gleaned after the reapers. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. So ruth lay at his feet until morning, rising before the early light could reveal her presence to others. So much more than a love story,paula hendricks marsteller study from the bible and be encouraged to grow your faith. Following the death of her husband and sons, naomi decides. Naomi loses her husband, her sons, and her joy, but one of her daughtersinlaw sticks with her, gets married, and gives her a grandson. Jul 21, 20 the book of ruth is a love story, but it is far more than a romance. Olivers new book, devotions penguin press, is unlikely to change the minds of detractors. Ruths loyal devotion can inspire us to remain faithful to god, his truth and.
A study of the book of ruth coalition for christian outreach. Its an intimate family tale of misfortune, crafty use of kinship ties, and ultimately, loyalty. And what the book of ruth does for us is give us a glimpse of the hidden work of god during the worst of times. Ruths loyal devotion can inspire us to remain faithful to god, his truth and his church. On one certain night, naomi told ruth, now do as i tell youtake a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Countdown to easter daily lenten devotions for children by. Ruth gave birth to a grandson for naomi to preserve her family name. May 18, 2020 the book of ruth gives us a glimpse into the hidden work of god during the worst of times. Browse daily devotions with scripture passages fromruth, from the today daily devotional library.
Ruths devotion to naomi and boaz devotion to ruth provide two compelling portraits of love among the people of god. Look at the blessing that the women of the village spoke to naomi. The hidden symbolism you never saw in the book of ruth. Naomi believed boaz to be the guardianredeemer in her family line.
This is the same devotion we are to have to the lords people today. Devotions archive billy graham evangelistic association. Following the death of her husband and sons, naomi decides theres nothing left for her in moab. Everybody in town knows what a courageous woman you are. This was a time when the people of israel had abandoned gods ways and fallen into idolatry, horrific social conditions, and a disastrous civil war, as told in the chapters of judges immediately preceding the book of ruth in christian bibles. But when ruth was ready to use it with her own children, she felt it really needed updating. Your people will be my people and your god my god ruth 1. Naomi wanted ruth to find a home where she can be provided for. In the book of ruth, boaz had to make a quick decision. Winner of the 2008 christian book award and written by ruth graham, the daughter of todays most beloved evangelist, billy graham, this beautiful fourcolor family devotion with over 300 photographs retells 100 bible stories and helps parents and children walk together on their faith journey.
What mary olivers critics dont understand the new yorker. Apparently, even though ruth is a widow, shes still considered to be married to her husbands family. If she marries again, it needs to be in the family. After the death of ruths husband as well as his brother and father, her motherinlaw, naomi, decides to return to her hometown in bethlehem. Even they could join his people israel if they trusted in him. The poor of the land were welcomed to go into fields that had already been reaped and gather whatever fragments they could find. In other words, ruth clung to her motherinlaw in covenant fidelity, knowing that she was bound by her promise before the face of god to remain with and aid her motherinlaw, no matter how difficult it would be. My sisters name is ruth, so reading through the biblical book of ruth always has that extra significance for me. Jan 10, 2018 the book of ruth is one of the bibles shortest books, telling its story in just four chapters. Little wonder that the book of ruth would be read in synagogues. A family affair by ruth ward a copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. To start off, i would suggest that you sit down and read through this beautiful book.
Women of the bible ruth devotional reflections from the. But the keynote of the book of ruth is the kinsman redeemer. Theres a lot of cultural stuff in this story that seems odd to me. To get the most out of this bible study, read the entire book of ruth, preferably in one sitting. An unlikely hero of the old testament because she was from the moabite nation, ruth won the respect of gods people and an honored place in the genealogy of the christ.
She told ruth to get dressed up in her best clothes and perfume and go to boaz. In him we see christ, who has purchased the church to be his bride. Ruths faith is more striking when we consider the family she married into. No matter our flaws, we christians must love and serve one another. Scripture from ruth and lifeinfusing commentary itjust like that delicious first taste of coffee in the morning. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Apr 04, 2015 but ruth replied dont urge me to leave you or turn back from you, where you go i will go, and where you stay i will stay.
The story begins with a famine in the days when the judges ruled ruth 1. The book of ruth is one of only two books of the bible to be named after women the other is esther. She makes a plan to return to her hometown of bethlehem and sends her daughtersinlaw back to their families to start over. God orchestrated a wondrous plan for boaz to take ruth as his wife, give her a child, and provide for her and naomi. In the book of ruth, god is the ultimate source of hesed the source of ruths hesed, the one who uses hesed to reach out and redeem naomi and the one who pours out his hesed on ruth and boaz. After working in the field all day, one night, ruth said to boaz, i am ruth, your maidservant. The book of ruth explains that this strange turn of events was due to ruths great faith. Book of ruth devotion series christian devotions, bible. Where you go i will go, and where you stay i will stay.
She let boaz know of her interest by lying at his feet after he had fallen asleep. Countdown to easter daily lenten devotions for children. The book of ruth is such a touching love story and such a charming tale of emptiness to abundance that we can easily think there is nothing more to it. And so like all the other scriptures, as paul says romans 15. Devotions with scripture from ruth today daily devotional. When i was in graduate school, a hundred years ago or so, a hebrew class i took focused some of its attention on the book of ruth. Naomi had a closer relative than boaz, a man who could play the role of kinsmanredeemer, marrying ruth and restoring her dead husbands name. The book of ruth devotion series focuses on four important lessons to be learned from the story of naomi and ruth. With 100 devotionals, faith forward family devotional by authors patrick and ruth schwenk equips parents to raise faithfilled kids who know, love, and live for god. The book of ruth has been called the most beautiful short story ever written huey, 1992. Ruth graham books list of books by author ruth graham. The hesed of the book of ruth in any and all of its manifestations points forward in the bible to. Boaz had to do some clever bargaining to redeem the land and marry ruth, but he was successful, and the story of ruth ended happily. Naomi, a widow whose sons had also died, travels back to bethlehem.
440 1091 1230 699 1323 906 481 1394 840 1181 123 1070 1190 430 390 252 437 1264 906 825 982 815 419 1194 90 63 579 652 1353 185 724 37 1223 1312 1087 359 552 611 242