17. Ruth, Accountability to God

It is the faith of a foreigner Ruth that shines amidst spiritual dryness. Ruth, eventually becomes the daughter-in-law of Rahab (another foreigner) forming the godly line that Kings (including Jesus) emanate.

Snapshot

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

Ruth – A Background: Names and Story Line

The meaning of people’s names in the story reflects some truths:

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

Ruth – A Background: Moabitess

  • Their origin – Genesis 19: 36,37. Moab sounds like the Hebrew for “from father”.
  • Their condemnation – Deuteronomy 23:3. Cursed upto 10 generations. Ruth was the 8th
  • “Ruth, the Moabitess” is mentioned 6 times in the short book.

Ruth – Fast Forward: Geneology

Genealogy of Jesus according to Matthew

Abraham

Isaac

Jacob

Judah &

   Tamar

Perez

Hezron

Ram

Amminadab

Nahshon

Salmon & 

    Rahab

Boaz & 

     Ruth

Obed

Jesse

David &

    Bathsheba

Solomon                           &   Naamah

Rehoboam

Abijam

Asa

Jehosaphat

Jehoram

Uzziah

Jotham

Ahaz

Hezekiah

Manasseh

Amon

Josiah

Jeconiah

Shealtiel

Zerubbabel

Abiud

Eliakim

Azor

Zadok

Achim

Eliud

Eleazar

Matthan

Jacob

Joseph &

     Mary 

Jesus

  • What was Ruth’s direct experience with this Jewish family?
  • What was the basis of Ruth’s choice

The driver of Ruth’s choice was Accountability To God

Ruth: Accountability to God

 Some verses which reflect Ruth’s accountability to God are:

  • 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,… “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”’

Accountability to God Transforms

  • PERCEPTION (What you see)
  • ATTITUDE (What you think and feel)
  • CHOICES (What you decide)
  • ACTIONS (What you do)

Accountability and Perception-Discussion

In the book of Ruth, what are the perceptions of Orpah, unknown kinsman, Ruth, Boaz, Naomi. Share.

References:

  • Elimelech: Judges 21:25, Ruth 1:2,3
  • Orpah: Ruth 1:9-13
  • Unknown kinsman: Ruth 4:2-6
  • Naomi: Ruth 1:20
  • Boaz: Ruth3:10-14
  • Ruth: Ruth 2:12

 

Accountability and Perception

  • Orpah saw her widowhood, famine, a dead hope and a old widowed mother in law.
  • The unknown kinsman saw a moabitess, a widow and a lost inheritance
  • Naomi sees her emptiness and abandonment by God

Accountability and Perception

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

Ruth: Accountability and Choices

  • Contrast Ruth’s choices with other choices made – Elimelech, his sons, etc.
  • Who were they accountable to?

How can we demonstrate accountability to God in:

  • Big decisions?
  • Daily choices?

Accountability and Choices

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 gleaner

Risks rape, abuse

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

Serves her mother in law

Works for her

Cooks for her

God gives her a saviour in Boaz

Obeys without question

Spends the night in Boaz’s barn

Asks him to “cover” her

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

Recap: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)

Video Clip:Perception

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

 

 

References

  • Ruth: Choices and Decision Making – Anand Pillai

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