Ruths Rejoicing

The Cause of the Rejoicing (v13)

1.) The Commitment for the Birth

The Marriage in the commitment

We see here that Boaz fulfills his promise to marry Ruth.

This time her marriage to and Israelite worked out better than it did the first time.

The first time she did this it was against what Gods will for His people was.

This time she followed the rules to the letter and it worked out.

The morality in the commitment

The child that was produced from this marriage gave great joy to everyone in the town.

Everyone was pulling for this couple to have children and be a blessed family.

The reason for that great joy was because they did this the right way.

When you work hard for something and don’t cut corners the end result is that much sweeter.

When you have the patience to wait for things to happen in Gods time and not your own it make things that much more worth the wait.

2.) The Conception in the Birth

It says in verse 13 that “the lord had given her conception” but what does that mean?

Ruth has given birth to a son. On the surface this may not seem so remarkable, but when one considers that she had been married to Mahlon for ten years but had borne no children for him.

The significance of the statement becomes evident. The barren womb has been opened.

As far I know Obed was their only child.

3.) The Community of the Birth

Bethlehem was a very small town.

It was so small that it was left off the register of the cities and towns of Juda given in Joshua 15

But even though it is a small town it has had some famous births take place in it.

The birth of Benjamin Gen 35:16-18

Genesis 35:16–18 ESV

Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

The birth of David 1 Sam 16:1

1 Samuel 16:1 ESV

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

The birth of Jesus Micah 5:2

Micah 5:2 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Luke 2:4 ESV

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

Luke 2:11 ESV

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:15 ESV

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

The Congratulations in the Rejoicing (vv 14 15 17)

1.) The Praise for the Lord v14

The readiness in the praise

The first words in verse 14 are “Blessed be the Lord”

Praise indicates gratefulness.

Great blessings need great gratefulness.

Often times our gratefulness to God is the last thing we think about but it should be the first thing that comes to mind when we have good things happen to us.

The redemption in the praise

These women also showed gratefulness for the redeemer.

They were thankful for Boaz for doing what was right in the sight of God; not what was right in the eyes of man.

We’ve talked during this study of this book about how bad things were during this time.

We have talked about the end of Judges 21:25

Judges 21:25 ESV

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Just like today people willing to do the right thing and to follow Gods will and not their own was rare.

The recognition in the praise

Boaz was worthy of the recognition that he was getting

We must lead a life worthy of the praise that we get in our lives.

The things that are worth doing are the things that gain us Heavenly rewards not earthly rewards.

This life is short it is a meer blink of the eye compared to eternity.

The things of this life are temporal but the things we do for God in this life carry over to the next.

2.) The Prediction of the Future v15

The Son of Ruth

This child would bring great joy to Naomi.

It was the fulfillment to the dreams that she had for her son before he died.

He will restore her faith and make it stronger.

She went from bitter to blessed.

The Son of God

During this whole book one of the underling things is the parallel between the man of Boaz and the Acts of Jesus on the cross.

Boaz was an earthly redeemer and Christ was a Heavenly redeemer.

Just like Boaz had Christ not followed everything to the letter and will of the father His work of the cross would have been worthless.

Just like Boaz restored Naomis faith and future, Christ restores ours.

3.) The Praise for Ruth

Her compassion

Ruths love for Naomi was shown throughout this whole book.

Everyone in the town saw how much she cared for her mother-in-law.

Love is showed more in our works than in our words.

Just like the old saying “actions speak louder than words”

Her comparison

Ruth’s worth as a daughter-in-law here is compared to that of having seven sons.

Sadly during this time girls just were not thought of being worth as much to a family as boys were.

Girls were married off and there inheritance went to another family, but if you had a son then your land would go to your son and when he married his wife’s would include land as part of her dowery

The women were saying that this one daughter-in-law was worth far more than many sons.

4.) The Providing of a Name v17

It is important to understand here that the women did not give him his name but they affirmed the name that was given to him by his parents Ruth and Boaz.

The name “Obed” in Hebrew means “servant”.

That one word is the perfect word that can be used to describe both Boaz and Ruth.

The Caring in the Rejoicing (16)

1.) The Holding of the Child

What a powerful picture this would have been.

Here we see the full return of Naomi from the bitterness in chapter 1 to the fullness in these last verses.

This is a perfect picture of how God can take someone broken and bitter and bless them beyond their wildest dreams.

2.) The Helping of the Child

The word here for Nurse would best translate into caregiver.

This word is used 24 different times in the old testament to mean “one that is faithful”

Naomi was being a Faithful grandmother to her Grandson.

The Chronicle in the Rejoicing (vv 18-22)

1.) The Pedigree in the Chronicle

This list show the great pedigree that Obed is a part of.

It shows the list of descendants from Jacob(Israel) to his son Juda to his son Perez ....

This line also included another famous women from the early part of the Old Testament and her Name was Rehab.

2.) The Prerequisite in the Chronicle

This family tree being in this book is the reason that it is included in the Old Testament.

Without this the story would be just another hallmark movie.

It gives a traceable line from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob (Israel) to Juda to Perez

3.) The Proof in the Chronicle

In this family tree lies the proof of who Jesus Christ truly is.

It gives the reason for him to be born in Bethlehem.

It gives him a direct line to the Great king David.

It shows that God will use anyone who is willing to follow him for the advancement of His Kingdom and for His Glory.

Benedictions 059 Benediction

059 BENEDICTION

The God who sent His Son to save,

From guilt and darkness and the grave,

be gracious to you and bless you

And cause His face to shine upon you.