RUTH DAY TWENTY SIX
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[start with a moment to step out of your thoughts and life and into the presence of God]
Lord, as I enter your presence now I take a moment to pause and to be still….
….to breath slowly and to re-centre my scattered thoughts and senses upon You.
…. Speak to me I pray, and fill me with your Holy Spirit afresh this day.
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Take time to read through and reflect on the passage. Don’t rush it but be open to God speaking to you as you read.
What did God say to you through this passage? Why don’t you pop it in the chat to encourage others?
Devotional reflection: The blessing from the people at the gate is significant. It ties Ruth and Boaz’s story into the history of Israel. Rachel and Leah were the woman that bore Jacob (Israel) sons that became the tribes of Israel. They literally, “built up the family of Israel”. Here Ruth’s story is likened to there’s. It is setting the stage for the Messiah to come and a people of God to be birthed.
The other story of Perez is a little less known. It can be found in Genesis 38 and there are many parallels with Ruth’s story. Tamar (Perez’s mother) is also a foreigner who marries into Israel. She was a widow and required a redeemer. The story of Tamar and Judah is in contrast with Ruth and Boaz. Judah didn’t do what was right originally and it forced Tamar to take the initiative. She had to come up with a plan. Although the plan was quite shady she is seen as forcing Judah to do the right thing through wrong means. When Judah and Tamar come before a public tribunal they are put to shame and condemned. In contrast, Ruth’s plan with Boaz in the middle of the night is met with shows Boaz to be a willing participant in doing what is right. Ruth and Boaz are shown to be people of character. Where Judah and Tamar are put to shame by the people, Ruth and Boaz are blessed by the people. Interestingly enough both Ruth and Tamar bore sons that would be in the Messianic line. They both had risky plans, they both took the initiative, they both had great needs and they are both in the heritage of David and Jesus.
Matthew 1 in the New Testament lists the genealogy of Jesus. In this genealogy five woman are mentioned - Rahab, Ruth, Tamar, Bathsheba and Mary. Amazing women of great courage and faith. All give birth to sons that are included in the line of the Messiah. Publicly all could be called out for questions of sexual ethics. Yet all are shown to take steps of faith and courage. All could be potential outsiders yet seek to be part of God’s people. All are important in the story of the Messiah.
God is committed to working with a lost humanity even with our dysfunctions and sin. His heart is to include everyone in his story of salvation and all it takes is a person who is willing to open their heart to Jesus, repent and follow Him.
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Prayerfully reflect how this passages applies to your life. Ask God to speak to you now
GROW people prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am so grateful for your commitment to working with broken humanity. Thank You for your love for me and for accepting me, a sinner, into your family.
GO People prayer:
Lord, You move in ways I don’t always understand. There are people in my world that I think could never be part of Your family. But you don’t judge as I judge and you are always seeking for ways to include everyone as part of Your kingdom. I ask for forgiveness in not seeing others as You do and today pray and believe that you will draw people into your kingdom in ways that surprise me.
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Take a look at the passage again. Take time to see if there is a word or phrase that the Holy Spirit reveals to you as a focus for your day today.
What has the Lord revealed to you? What will you take into your day today? What action is He asking you to take? Take a moment to pray a yielding prayer along these lines to the Lord today.
Prayer for today: Lord, thank you for speaking to me to day. Give me courage to obey your word and yield to your Holy Spirit. I take seriously your leading today and seek to put your word into practice in my life through action today. Amen.