Obedience = Faith
Notes
Transcript
Ruth 2:1-7
Ruth 2:1-7
How many of us can honestly say we are obedient? Growing up, I was a mischievous child. My parents had every right to spank me. If I could find trouble, I was knee-deep in it. My older sister was the opposite of me. She was obedient, and it would drive me crazy because I knew she did stuff.
God has called us to be obedient. The Hebrew word is “שׁמץ” (shama), which means: to hear, listen, obey. We see this when God spoke to Israel in Exodus 19:5. The Ten Commandments are commands to obey God. By obeying our parents, we honor them and therefore, honor and obey God. We are only allowed not to obey our parents if they contradict God’s word.
‘So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
Obedience is shown through a person’s work ethic, manners, and character. Ruth embodied what obedience resembles in these passages. We see obedience to her mother-in-law, obedience to authority, and obedience to God.
Parents:
Parents:
Deuteronomy 5:16 commands us to honor our parents and obey them to have a long life. Our relationship is directly correlated to our relationship with God. Parents, how you treat and instruct your children will have a lasting impact on their lives. We are not clear how or what Naomi treated Ruth, but her desire to stay with her and take her people and God as her own is a testimony to Naomi.
‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the Lord your God gives you.
Ruth does not tell Naomi what she will do; she asks permission. The words “Let me go” in ESV are missing one part of the Hebrew word (NA) particle of entreaty or exhortation. It should read “Please let me go.”
As a teacher, when students would come and ask me if they could go to the restroom, they would say, “Can I go?” I would correct them and ask them to ask correctly. Eventually, they would say, “May I go?” Ruth is asking Naomi in this manner. Ruth was an adult but still respected Naomi enough to ask her permission to go and glean in the fields.
Naomi responded, “Go,” allowing her to do what she was not ready to do. Ruth knew they needed food, but also knew Naomi was still mourning her loss. Ruth was also mourning since she had lost her husband, too. Ruth’s desire was not to allow her mourning to interfere with her obedience and willingness to live. Ruth is also learning about the True God and how He commanded Israel to leave some of the ground for the poor on purpose. Leviticus 19:9
‘Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
Ruth carries her obedience to the fields in her obedience to authority.
Authority:
Authority:
How many of us respect authority? So, we all obey governments? Do we obey speed limits or red lights? Do we obey our boss even if we think they are wrong? Because of Ruth’s obedience to Naomi, God directed her steps. We read in verse 3 that she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz.
Boaz was a man of great wealth. That means he was respected and possessed many materials. God’s providence caused Ruth to come to the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s. Why would God do this? Ruth’s obedience to Naomi and the authority of the men in the field. She did not just go into the fields and start gleaning; she once again asked permission.
Obeying our parents is obeying authority. Obeying those in authority over us in the world and in our spiritual lives is obedience. Hebrews 13:17 Ruth obeyed the authority figures in the fields just as she obeyed Naomi.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
Her obedience to Naomi and the authority led her to obedience to God.
God:
God:
You know, we can obey God. Our problem is when we act like kids and demand that He do something for us. What do I mean? When I was young, I was in the grocery store and wanted candy. I kept after my mother, throwing a fit over this candy. My mother turned around and, without saying a word, popped me on my mouth. I was stunned. Some of us need to be popped on the mouth by God for the way we throw fits over not getting what we want.
Listen to what God told Israel, which He is telling us now. Deuteronomy 13:4 Nowhere in there does it say we get to use Him as our genie!
“You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.
We are to follow Him, FEAR Him, KEEP His Commandments, LISTEN to His voice, SERVE Him, and CLING to Him.
Ruth obeyed God by keeping His commandments. Therefore, His Providence was for her to go into Boaz’s field. It was His plan all along to redeem her and Naomi by Baoz. She followed what the Lord told Joshua 22:5.
“Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Could you imagine your life would resemble Ruth’s? There is a reason why Ruth is in the lineage of our Lord and Savior. She represents what we should be like and what a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend should be. Her obedience led to her blessings. We, too, can have the same outcome if we are willing to put forth the effort to be obedient.
Warning I want to leave you with. The enemy will come at you from all directions when you become obedient to God. He will use whatever authority he can to deter you from obeying God. Ruth persevered through many trials and tribulations to start having God's blessings on her.
