Who is a direct descendant of Ruth. . (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 478479, or visit www.esvbible.org. In the context of the Bible, the act of buying back someone who had become enslaved or something that had been lost to someone else. ' , , // , , . Amen. Naomi means pleasant, but Mara means bittera name with which Naomi identifies at this point. Take a moment also to look back through this unit of study, to reflect on a few key things that the Lord may be teaching you. They pointed ahead to the means for that return: the promised seed, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christthe one born in Bethlehem, the very city to which Naomi is returning, in the land of Gods promise. Ruth was a foreigner who found her home in a small Judean town surrounded by fields of grain; Esther was a Jew who found herself living in the royal courts of the Persian empire, surrounded by luxury. Take a moment also to look back through this unit of study, to reflect on a few key things the Lord may be teaching youand perhaps to highlight and underline these things to review again in the future. So with Ruth and Boaz: they are in the place God has mercifully visited (Ruth 1:6), supplying their needs and making them part of his people. What similar themes do you notice? By the time we reach the final two chapters of Esther, the plot has been resolved! SOVEREIGNTY. Unmerited favor, especially the free gift of salvation that God gives to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. What we can see is that she (and Mordecai) stood in the place of blessing, with Gods covenant people. Do any proverbs come to mind? . Gods providence hovers over this chapter. Ruth is not called the Moabite in this chapter. This is the very gospel pattern of reversal sung about by women like Hannah (1 Sam. God made male and female from the beginning to enjoy sexual purity in relation to marriage, the marriage of a husband and a wife (Gen. 12). Summarize the explanation for the Feast of Purim (Esther 9:2027). 8:2829). Many have found here echoes of Psalm 122:69. Along with the Persian word pur, the writer gives the Hebrew word lots (3:7)which resonates with other Old Testament uses of this word. Finally, write down and comment on that pile-up of joy-words bursting out of Esther 8:1517. This story shows the unfailing truth of those covenant promises to this people. Biblical history traces Noahs descendants to Abraham, Abrahams descendants through his 12 sons and eventually through the tribe of Judah to David, and finally Davids line to the promised Christ. We cannot press this pattern far: certainly not the specifics of the scene but rather the general contours remind us of Gods grace to us as suppliants of the heavenly King. In Esther 6:1011, what does the narrator not tell usand what is the effect of this brief telling? What, specifically, do Ruth and/or Esther teach us about the human condition? Ruth - Mother of Royalty - Midrash BEN ISH HAI At the center of the book we find its turning point, when Haman the enemy of Gods people reaches his high point but then begins to fall, and Mordecai the sentenced-to-death Jew begins to rise. In each of these narratives, Gods promises prevail not only through the courage of a remarkable woman but, even more, through the merciful providence of the Lord God. Comment on several of the whole-Bible themes in Ruth and Esther that stood out to you or that you hadnt noticed before. The question is: is he at work when we cant see him or even hear his name? What is it in the story of Ruth that is so intriguing and appealing? Genesis 38:29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? But even in the Old Testament the rejoicing of Gods people points to more than temporal battles; it points to an eternal God who rules all the nations with perfect justice and who blesses all who take refuge in himultimately through his Son (Psalm 2). This book shows multiple efforts of human beings to raise themselves to a godlike position. Esther opens in a world seemingly without Godcertainly without any mention of Godand ruled by those who do not know him. The pattern continues: Jesus told his followers they would be hated and persecuted even as he was (John 15:1825)until that day when he comes again to judge the world and to dwell forever with his people. In the final victory of Esther we see a vivid portrayal both of Gods steadfast love for his people and of Gods holy wrath that punishes his enemies. But now, looking back, perhaps a bit of compassion and understanding for Orpah in her situation would not be uncalled for. We must say that God washes all sin clean, through the blood of Christ, as we return to him. Jesus described his ministry as serving others and giving his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). REDEMPTION. The New Testament as well carries the theme of fasting and prayer: for example, the prophetess Anna worshiped with fasting and prayer night and day (Luke 2:37); the believers in Acts 13:2 were worshiping the Lord and fasting. The broader biblical context of fasting helps us see the never-mentioned but sovereignly active God at work in this book, faithfully watching over his peopleand hearing their prayers. Sovereignty over all things is a distinctive attribute of God (1 Tim. Gods providence infuses this story from beginning to end, but in this chapter, the pictures of it are especially rich, particularly in relation to harvest plenty. in verse 17: grace and favor (Hebrew hesed and hen). 1. 7:25). Point to a passage or two to explain what youve seen. We have described Ruth as the story of a God who provides for his people according to his promises. What details in the text confirm this observation? To grasp more of the books symmetry, make as many specific observations as you can about the ways in which chapter 8 mirrors and undoes the action of chapter 3. So Boaz said, "Come aside, [ a]friend, sit down here." So he came aside and sat down. Chone Shmeruk; Jerusalem: Hebrew University, Dept of Yiddish Literature, 1969), 115-116. 20:28). Take a moment now to ask God to bless you with increased understanding and a transformed heart and life as you study the book of Ruth. Only as the story develops do we with fuller understanding celebrate the way Ruths enfolding into Israel is actually a beautiful part of the fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham that, in him, all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Gen. 12:3). The Babylonian Talmud (Sotah 42b) identifies Orpah as the mother of Goliath, based on a midrashic reading of a passage in the book of 2 Samuel (21:1822) that describes four Philistine warriors as sons of the giant (harafah). The rabbis understand the word harafah not as the giant but as a personal name of a woman, Harafah, and note that it is similar to Orpah: her name appears as Harafah and as Orpah. The names share three out of four consonants,[9] and this is enough for the rabbis to identify them as referring to the same person. 103:4; 106:7; Psalm 136). Note and comment on the various ways in which Mordecai is shown to be raised up high in these final verses. Dragon against the woman, Revelation 12. That God should work through such common, ordinary occurrences is most wonderful, for it reminds us of his sovereign redemptive purposes in every common, ordinary occurrence of our liveswhether we see it and name it as his providence or not. God displays mercy toward his people and they, in turn, are called to display mercy toward others (Luke 6:36). He purifies his people; he makes his bride beautiful (Rev. 1:16). (Tel-Aviv: Yedioth Aharonoth, 2005), 482-483 (translation mine). While Biblical Antiquities does not reference biblical verses to explain its expansions, Rabbinic literature does. In the very shape of the narrative emerge the raising up of Gods people and the destruction of his enemies that together show Gods promises in action. After the destruction of Sodom, Lots daughters thought that the entire world had been destroyed. Book of Ruth - Wikipedia How do these statements grow, reaching a climax at the end? Reading the book of Ruth, we marvel at Ruths story and we see more clearly the God who so kindly directs it. 26:1113; Jer. The Bible shows a long line of barren women whose wombs God opens, in his perfect timing: Sarah (Gen. 21:12); Rachel and Leah (Gen. 29:3130:24); Hannah (1 Sam. She does not envision herself at the mercy of a random or chaotic universe. Take a moment now to ask for the Lords blessing and help as you prepare to conclude this study of Esther and Ruth. Look back through this introductory chapter and underline words or thoughts you would like to pray about or consider further. , for she turned her back on her mother-in-law.. Perhaps it is not accidental that Ruth, a Moabite princess, is the one who epitomizes this trait. As Haman falls and the Jews rise, we sense even more vividly the powerful hand of God on his people. It is tempting so to focus on the worthiness of this virtuous man and woman that we forget the kind providence of God directing and enabling every moment of their story. Ruth 4:12 And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman." Ruth 4:17 The neighbor women said, "A son has been born to Naomi," and they named him Obed. Elchanan of Bethlehem, whom the rabbis identify as David, kills, Jonathan ben Shima kills a six fingered giant named. Among many prophets who call for fasting and heartfelt prayer, Joel offers a pertinent example, as he in the midst of national calamity extended Gods call for his people to return to him with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning (Joel 2:12). We know nothing so far of Elimelechs land and what has happened to it. At this point in the narrative, the fact that Boaz is a potential redeemer leads to no immediate conclusions. In her speech, Ruth first refers to Naomis God, with the more universally understood name (1:16). The Orpah/Harafah connection explains how Orpah becomes identified as the mother [or ancestor] of Goliath and the other three warriors in 2 Samuel 21, but what still needs explaining is how a Moabite woman ends up as the mother of Philistines from Gath. Back to the story . God was drawing the nations with his saving truth, just as he promised. The lack of gratitude exemplified by this nation is a clear indication of an ingrained flaw in their character. Moab is the nation of whom it was said: A Moabite may not come into the congregation of Hashem (Deuteronomy 23:4-5). [20] Malka Shaked, : [Ill Play You Forever: The Bible in Modern Hebrew Poetry] (translation mine). He meant only to sojourn (1:1), or to stay a while in Moab, to escape the famine in Israel. This kings sovereignty is potent in its harmful ramifications for the lives of his subjects but pathetic in its foolish ineptitude. View this set. REJOICING OF GODS PEOPLE. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Mordecai was compassionate to the needs of others. [9] Also, the opening letters heh and ayin, are both gutturals, and were pronounced very similarly in this period. The midrash reads as follows (Ruth Rabbah 1:9): [15] The root ../ has a complicated semantic range. Review Hannahs song in 1 Samuel 2:110 and Marys song in Luke 1:4655. The Reflection and Discussion questions pointed us to passages that show the extent of those promises (Lev. How do his words show that he understands the purpose of the laws he is fulfilling? Esther is crafted as a complete but not an independent narrative; its story is firmly embedded in the whole story of Gods chosen people who grew from Abraham into a great kingdom, and who lost that kingdom as they disobeyed God, were conquered, and suffered in exile. 2. Read carefully through Ruth 4. To what does she appeal? We have returned many times to the background of Gods covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:13 and his covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7:1217. Chapter 6 leaves us with a sense of inevitability, and yet Esther still must play her crucial part in the action. The purpose of the genealogy in Ruth is to show that Ruth's husband Boaz was a descendant of Judah, the man who fathered the tribe of the King-Messiah (Gen. 49:10). They are helpless, and by themselves will perish. Hamans counselors have bumped up against the truth that Gods redemptive purposes will not be thwarted. Everyone knows, says Boaz, that Ruth is an eshet khayil (3:11Hebrew for worthy woman, the same words used in Proverbs 31:10). She looks forward to renewal, to beginning life anew in her beloved homeland. Hebrew University Professor of Meteorology, Avraham Husss (1924-2015) Orpah is written in the first person, in the voice of Orpah, who speaks to Naomi and Ruth and tells them that she has fulfilled all her obligations and duties, she owes no one anything, and she just wants to return home to live with her memories. The tenth, . 91:4; Mal. She, a princess herself, did not demonstrate any pride, but rather joined the other paupers in the field to support her mother-in-law. The opening chapters of Esther are like the elegant opening moves of a perfectly executed chess game, with pieces set in just the right positions in the first few turns. It is evident from the start of the book of Esther that Mordecai's heart always beat for the needs of others, beginning most of all when he took in his orphaned niece Hadassah (later named Esther) after her parents' deaths. THE FOREIGNER WELCOMED. In Jesus Christ, the promised Seed of Abraham is the full and final rejoicing of all Gods people. Imagine, though, what other possible words might have come from Naomis mouth at various points in the chapter, had she been more alert to Gods gracious hand at work. [14] The reason for this has little to do with Orpah, in this case, but is a result of the combination of two midrashic notions. Take time to reflect on the implications of Esther 12 for your own life today. The pictures this book uses to show such a human redeemer are pictures the Bible uses to show our redeeming God: the one who saves and protects us under his wings (Ruth 2:12; 3:9; Ps. This is a world that needs a much greater king than the great Ahasuerus. 7:1217), which included the promise of an eternal kingdom in his line. In this larger context, how might we talk about what Esther is doing as she identifies herself with her people (7:34)? Then consider and write your reflections on the following questions, which move through the chapter and conclude the book. Now we would greatly encourage you to continue to study the Word of God on a week by week basis. One who appeals to one person on behalf of another. WORTHINESS AND UNWORTHINESS. Back in the time of the judges, Ruth points us to the fullness of Gods love that, finally rejected by his own people, reaches out to create a people from all the nations of the world. Originally applied to anyone specially designated for a particular role, such as king or priest. For a glimpse into the period of the judges (1:1), read Judges 2:623 and 21:25. . Essentially it is a rhyming of concepts rather than sounds. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, "Sit down here." Read verse in GOD'S WORD Translation. In 1860, writing the third of six editions of his book "Leaves of Grass . Ruth 1 started at a low point, with Naomi alone, bitter, and empty. Naomis Plan and Ruths Determination (1:618). Verse 10 of chapter 4 is a turning point in the narratives presentation of Esther. Take a moment now to ask for the Lords blessing and help as you continue in this study of Ruth. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. This one huge disconnect stands outand connects us to the biblical context of those battles in which God commissioned his people to devote everything in a pagan city to complete destruction, keeping nothing for themselves. 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. [6] The author of this anonymous work is generally referred to as Pseudo-Philo, since early scholars mistakenly believed it was written by Philo. First, briefly review a bit of the history to which they refer: of Rachel and Leah (Gen. 2930); of Perez, Tamar, and Judah (Gen. 38; Matt. 21:25). After Mordecais introduction as a descendant of King Saul (2:5), Hamans introduction likewise links him to a kingan enemy of King Saul. 14:1; Mal. The maidservant of Boaz 2:8-13 3. Notice the word rest in Ruth 3:1, and recall the context of the same word in Ruth 1:9. 1:35): this is the beautiful inheritance David glimpsed and celebrated in Psalm 16:56. Let us grab the opportunity and make our holiday more meaningful by emulating Ruth and her greatness in the area of modesty. Yes, providence again! God's providential guidance of Ruth 2:1-7 2. This is all the more remarkable as the second edict permitted them to destroy, kill, and annihilate their enemies and to plunder their goods (8:11), which of course exactly mirrored the original edict (3:13). 1:89). (adapted), William Blake, 1795. Please make sure all fields are filled out. That leaves the "wife of Uriah." And again, no figure points more than blurrily and inadequately to the righteous Son of God who intercedes for us. Then all people will, either willingly or regretfully, acknowledge his sovereignty (Phil. Jesus looked over Jerusalem and his own people who rejected him, saying, How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matt.

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