Friday, August 9, 2019


WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 11, 2019

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A MOTHER-DAUGHTER COVENANT
(People from different backgrounds can form GODly relationships)
(Ruth 1)

   The book of Ruth is a shining example of how GOD continues to move on the hearts of HIS people during times of struggle, especially when HIS people remain faithful to HIM. The events chronicled in the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, occur during the period when Judges ruled over Israel. It was one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history, and it sets itself against the backdrop of “national irresponsibility” and “weak spiritual and moral character” among the populace.
    The Book of Ruth is one of only two books in the Holy Scriptures that is named after a woman (the other being Esther), and is one of only three books in the Holy Scriptures that are named after Gentiles (the others being Luke and Titus). Early unsupported Rabbinic tradition identifies Samuel as the author of the Book of Ruth, as well as Judges, and First and Second Samuel, which bear his name.
    Here in the Book of Ruth, the 11th century B.C. personalities Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, portray a contrasting side to the chaotic times of the Judges, and provide us with a welcome relief from the immorality, bloodshed, famine, and mayhem, that then, so permeated the land of Israel due to her sins against GOD. This biblical account shows us quite clearly, that, even in times of crisis and despair, we can still continue to live by GOD’s principles and directives, and also that, GOD will reward us richly when we do.
    “Faith”, “Hope”, and “Love” are the three great enduring things. They are “virtues” that will always overpower all things that are anti-CHRIST in this world. Those anti-virtues, which are namely “doubt”, “depression”, and “fear” can be overcome when we choose to abandon our own plans, and totally access, embrace, and incorporate GOD’s plan into our lives.
    Here in chapter 1 of this magnificent example of how human beings can respond positively to the call of GOD with faith, hope, and love, instead of reacting negatively out of doubt, depression, and fear, we see a man named Elimelech, during a time of great famine in the land of Palestine, move his family from Bethlehem to the pagan country of Moab. His family consisted of his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion.
    While living in Moab, however, Elemelech died, leaving Naomi alone with their two sons, who each grew up and married Moabite women. One son’s wife was named Orpah, and the other, Ruth. Unfortunately, 10 years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died, thereby leaving all three women alone in the world with no husband or children.
    One day Naomi received news that the famine in Palestine was over, and that GOD had begun to bless the people of Judah with bountiful crops again. She made the decision that it was time to return home, and so she struck out on the road back to Judah, taking her two young widowed daughters-in-law with her. It was a move that highlighted her “faith” in GOD, her “hope” for the future, and her “love” for her daughters.
    Along the way, however, we see the spirit of satan begin to work on the mind of Naomi and try to interrupt the plan of GOD for their lives, in particular, GOD’s plans for Ruth, who was now destined to be “in the direct line of the descendants” of the future, SAVIOR of the world, CHRIST JESUS.
    And so in verses 8-15 of this passage we see Naomi begin to be overcome with “doubt” and “fear”, and later “depression” (Vs.20-21). Here in this passage she convinces herself that maybe it was not the best thing that Orpah and Ruth leave their “paganistic homeland” and gods (v.15), and travel with her to “the chosen land of the real GOD” (only satan can make a person think such a thought).
    Naomi then fortifies her ungodly argument with “a grain of truth” by reasoning that she had nothing to offer to Ruth and Naomi in the way of “hope” and security for their future through new marriages, because she herself was now too old to marry and bear more sons for them to marry. And then too, they would have to wait years for those sons to grow up to the marrying age (Vs.11-13).
    Satan, through Naomi, was able to convince Orpah to return to Moab, however his main goal here was to convince Ruth to return. Satan knew about Ruth’s coming place in the lineage of David and the ancestral line of CHRIST, and all down through biblical history we see him trying over and over again, to interrupt that lineage, and GOD’s plan for the future human birth of JESUS. Here in this biblical account, GOD once again thwarts satan’s plan to cut off the line of CHRIST at Ruth, the eventual great great-great-grandmother of King David.
    Ruth, through GOD’s prevailing will, was able to make the decision to stay with Naomi and commit to live in a new community in the land of Judah. Here in verse 16 she proclaims “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your GOD will be my GOD” (NLT). Ruth’s, now famous expression of commitment to Naomi, not only shows loyalty to a friend and mother-in-law, but it also exhibits clear theological insight and focus on the things of GOD, during times of uncertainty.
    In the Old Testament times, everyone eventually came to know that GOD had a covenant relationship with Israel, and by Ruth identifying herself with GOD’s covenant people, she also qualified herself to claim Israel’s GOD as her own. Apparently Naomi had lived the kind of exemplary life around Ruth that enabled her to draw Ruth out of the worldly atmosphere of Moab, and into the community of GOD. We should all strive to be the kind of people who draw others to us through right living, which will ultimately draw them into the community of GOD, where CHRIST, through HIS vicarious sacrifice, has shown, that HE wants us all to be.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
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