CHA SOAP - Ruth 2: 1-13

Side comment... WOW life can wizz by...

S: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%202:%201-13;&version=31;

O: In this passage I am aware that me, the reader, needs to have some understanding of the culture during this time period so that I can fully understand what type of a person Boaz was. Unfortunately I lack the understanding of the social culture of the time so I don't have a real solid picture of Boaz from this passage alone. I will talk about both points of view and then close with what I feel is the more accurate picture.

Boaz greets his workers with a blessing of having the Lord at the side of his workers. Then the workers greet him back with blessing from the Lord to Boaz.

• So, from this passage one argument can be made that this was simply a standard greeting of the master and his workers just like so many of us in our time ask "How are you doing" without a real desire to get into the details of how the person is really doing. Along this same line one could also say that Boaz is feared by his workers for whatever reason and that they respond to him with a kind jester out of fear. This point of view creates a tyranny sort of personality for Boaz.
• Then there is the point of view that the first greeting Boaz makes to his workers means he wishes for the safety of the workers as well as the peace and love of God in their lives. The greeting back to Boaz from the workers are a sign of love and respect to their employer. This point of view shows a positive, caring, respectable, and God loving personality for Boaz.
• In my walk with Jesus I believe the second is a more accurate depiction of what sort of person Boaz is with his workers.

Boaz asks about Ruth and her background and then shows kindness and favor towards her.

• One argument I see that can be made (no matter how likely or unlikely) is that Boaz was stricken by Ruth and wanted to keep her near and in his field because of his lustful feeling towards her.
• The other side of this is that Boaz, upon hearing the background of Ruth and all that Ruth is doing and going thru for Naomi, realizes that he has in his presence a sort of diamond in the rough and he respects this and he chooses to help in whatever way he can. He shows favor towards Ruth because of the type of person she is.
• Again, I believe the second view to be more accurate. Knowing where this story leads and what role Roth and Boaz play in the lineage of Christ I can argue that no relationship that is based on lust would have any logical purpose for a parable of a blessed relationship that leads to the birth of Christ. In my experience God can and does turn bad situations in to good so an argument could also be made that a lustful relation has been turned into a good thing for the purpose of God but this argument would falsify itself in that this type of situation would not condemn wicked ways but would almost excuse them stating that whatever motive one has makes no difference, God will use it for good. It's much to complicated for this to be a situation out of lust vs respect. God is a God of love and I believe that he would always use love as a tool for teaching.

The above is as much of a summary that I could do with all the thoughts that I had on this passage. It's great to read and thing and learn how important certain words are and how they can really change the meaning of a passage as well as a story line.
I once came upon a quote that read, " All words must be there for a purpose" -Youssef El-Mansy
One of my favorite quotes as it challenges me everyday to work on my communication skills and try not to be lazy with my communication.

To close on my observation I find that to me, Boaz is a man of high standing and is respected for his good nature, compassion, caring, fairness, and love. I believe that his kindness to Ruth is pure and God sent.

A: The way I would lie to apply this to my life is to continue to pursue being more of a man of God and of Gods own heart. To continue to grow in my caring and respect of all people no matter what their walk in life. I am also reminded that every little aspect of the way I choose to live my life is a ministry to God in itself as my life, weather it's an open book or not, is still observed by many and each person I encounter can take a little something away from that encounter with me and as I grow closer with God I want those little bits of experience that folks take from me to all be pointing to love. God is love. So I want my life to point more and more towards God.

P: Kind father... Thank you for your patience with me. I appreciate how quickly you have worked in my life over this last year but I also thank you for how you have worked in my life without me know all the years before. I ask that you continue to make me into the man that is reflective of your heart and your spirit. Help me to deal with the desires of the flesh as I work on my relationship with you. Help me to trust that you will provide me with what I need to deal with these desires in this life and help me to know the difference between what you provide and what is mearly temptation that will pull me farther from you. I often wonder Lord why I am so different from so many people around me and I ask God that you keep delusions of grandeur from clouding my purpose in you. I take a humble stance and I ask that you strengthen my in my humbleness even more. I also ask that you help me with my communication in that I improve on that... that I take the time to communicate well... with all people. I thank you so much for being a God who I can come to when I need you as well as just for fun and love. Amen.

Tami's SOAP - Ruth 4: 13-22

Ruth 4: 13-22 - Boaz married Ruth. She became his wife. Boaz slept with her. By God's gracious gift she conceived and had a son.

14-15 The town women said to Naomi, "Blessed be God! He didn't leave you without family to carry on your life. May this baby grow up to be famous in Israel! He'll make you young again! He'll take care of you in old age. And this daughter-in-law who has brought him into the world and loves you so much, why, she's worth more to you than seven sons!"

16 Naomi took the baby and held him in her arms, cuddling him, cooing over him, waiting on him hand and foot.

17 The neighborhood women started calling him "Naomi's baby boy!" But his real name was Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

18-22 This is the family tree of Perez: Perez had Hezron,
Hezron had Ram,
Ram had Amminadab,
Amminadab had Nahshon,
Nahshon had Salmon,
Salmon had Boaz,
Boaz had Obed,
Obed had Jesse,
and Jesse had David.

S: verse 17 - The neighborhood women started calling him "Naomi's baby boy!" But his real name was Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

O: Out of Naomi's heartbreak & Ruth's marginalization comes this incredible gift - being grafted into the lineage of Christ! This is the good news of Jesus - that it doesn't matter how painful our life or how abandoned we are or how alone we feel or how much we feel cheated or how much we have been pushed aside or impoverished... Jesus will still come into the midst of our story with His unending, never-stopping, unbreakable love & buy us back. He will redeem us. He will turn our ashes into beauty. He'll make all things new again & adopt us into His family through His gift of grace.

A: This is what makes this story so poetic & so meaningful to me - I am His, rescued, redeemed, beloved - no matter what. There is such security & such gratitude in this knowledge. In it I live & rest.

P: Father God, thank you for being my kinsman-redeemer. Thank you for loving me & giving yourself for me. I don't deserve it, but I will spend my life saying thank you. The incredible gift of Jesus is what keeps my soul anchored down, & what gives me purpose. I am Yours forever. Amen

Tami's SOAP - Ruth 4:1-12

Ruth 4

1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. When the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along, Boaz said, "Come over here, my friend, and sit down." So he went over and sat down.

2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, "Sit here," and they did so. 3 Then he said to the kinsman-redeemer, "Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line."
"I will redeem it," he said.

5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property."

6 At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, "Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it."

7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)

8 So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself." And he removed his sandal.

9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!"

11 Then the elders and all those at the gate said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah."

S: verse 8 - So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, "Buy it yourself." And he removed his sandal.

O: Boaz went through the required legal steps to redeem Ruth- steps that caused him to incur risk, which the closer relative wasn't willing to take on. But in his great love for Ruth, there was no sacrifice or cost that would be too great for him to pay. Just like with us - Jesus goes through the required steps to redeem us - at the greatest possible cost & sacrifice - but because of His great love for us, He pays the price. It's a tender picture of the Father's heart for His lost children - He will go to any lengths to rescue & redeem us, to lavish His love upon us, to bring us back into His arms.

A: I just want to remember this every day of my life - the incredible love that the Father has for me and also for every other one of His beloved children. Help me to live like a beloved child, & to see everyone else as a beloved child too - worthy of pursuit, rescuing, dignity, love & compassion.

P: Guess I just did that, huh?! ;-) Amen.

Tami's SOAP - Ruth 3:10-18

10-13 He said, "God bless you, my dear daughter! What a splendid expression of love! And when you could have had your pick of any of the young men around. And now, my dear daughter, don't you worry about a thing; I'll do all you could want or ask. Everybody in town knows what a courageous woman you are— a real prize! You're right, I am a close relative to you, but there is one even closer than I am. So stay the rest of the night. In the morning, if he wants to exercise his customary rights and responsibilities as the closest covenant redeemer, he'll have his chance; but if he isn't interested, as God lives, I'll do it. Now go back to sleep until morning."

14 Ruth slept at his feet until dawn, but she got up while it was still dark and wouldn't be recognized. Then Boaz said to himself, "No one must know that Ruth came to the threshing floor."

15 So Boaz said, "Bring the shawl you're wearing and spread it out."

She spread it out and he poured it full of barley, six measures, and put it on her shoulders. Then she went back to town.

16-17 When she came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, "And how did things go, my dear daughter?"

Ruth told her everything that the man had done for her, adding, "And he gave me all this barley besides—six quarts! He told me, 'You can't go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law!'"

18 Naomi said, "Sit back and relax, my dear daughter, until we find out how things turn out; that man isn't going to fool around. Mark my words, he's going to get everything wrapped up today."

S: verse 10: He said, "God bless you, my dear daughter! What a splendid expression of love! And when you could have had your pick of any of the young men around. And now, my dear daughter, don't you worry about a thing; I'll do all you could want or ask.

O: Boaz recognizes what a pure, sweet, trusting act of love Ruth has performed, and responds fully & warmly. To me, it is a picture of the way Christ responds to our trust & the steps of action we take based on that trust - He says "I will do all you could want or ask." What an incredible promise, & what a wonderful picture of the fullness of God's love for us - when we walk in love & trust, He will do more than we could ever ask or imagine!

A: I want to be a woman who walks in pure, sweet trust. I want to abandon myself to Christ. I want to walk that trust out every day, so that my actions match my heart and my words. I want to experience the fullness of all the promises of Christ coming true for me - and when I say that, I'm NOT thinking of being fat & blessed & comfortable - I know there will be suffering & sacrifice & cost - but I also KNOW that is the only way to true fulfillment.

P: Father, help me to trust You more and live it out more, & experience the fullness of Your love more and more. I love You. I trust You. I'm Yours forever. Do what You want with me. Lead me & I will follow. I want to give myself away for You and serve "the least of these" and see You in their faces. In the sweet & loving & powerful & wonderful name of Jesus, Amen.

Tami's SOAP - Ruth 3:1-9

Ruth 3:1-9 (The Message)

1-2One day her mother-in-law Naomi said to Ruth, "My dear daughter, isn't it about time I arranged a good home for you so you can have a happy life? And isn't Boaz our close relative, the one with whose young women you've been working? Maybe it's time to make our move. Tonight is the night of Boaz's barley harvest at the threshing floor.

3-4 "Take a bath. Put on some perfume. Get all dressed up and go to the threshing floor. But don't let him know you're there until the party is well under way and he's had plenty of food and drink. When you see him slipping off to sleep, watch where he lies down and then go there. Lie at his feet to let him know that you are available to him for marriage. Then wait and see what he says. He'll tell you what to do."

5 Ruth said, "If you say so, I'll do it, just as you've told me."

6 She went down to the threshing floor and put her mother-in-law's plan into action.

7 Boaz had a good time, eating and drinking his fill—he felt great. Then he went off to get some sleep, lying down at the end of a stack of barley. Ruth quietly followed; she lay down to signal her availability for marriage.

8 In the middle of the night the man was suddenly startled and sat up. Surprise! This woman asleep at his feet!

9 He said, "And who are you?"

She said, "I am Ruth, your maiden; take me under your protecting wing. You're my close relative, you know, in the circle of covenant redeemers—you do have the right to marry me."

S: verse5 - Ruth said, "If you say so, I'll do it, just as you've told me."

O: I see in Ruth such a sweet, innocent, content, peaceful surrender & trust. She trusts God, & she trusts God speaking through Naomi. Her ready response is "I'll do it, just as you say." This is a heart that God can & will bless. It is a character He will honor. It is a life He will use.

A: I can see many times where I do NOT have that kind of sweet surrender - where I question & doubt & argue - in my mind at least, if not outwardly. I know it's something God wants to work more deeply into my life - and it truly is my heart's desire to be a woman of contentment & trust: a heart He will bless; a character He will honor; a life He will use.

P: Lord, I give you permission to continue removing from my life the things that are not of You. I know when I say that, that You won't simply wave a magic wand & PRESTO-CHANGO I'll be transformed into earthly perfection ;-) No, You'll put me into tough situations where I have to CHOOSE to develop the character You want and CHOOSE to die to the parts of me that need to die. I know it won't be easy but it will be worth it. And You'll be right there, helping me every step of the way. For Your praise & glory, and in Your name I pray, Amen.

CHA- Ruth 1: 15-22

S: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%201:%2015-22%20;&version=31;

O: When reading the first part of this passage I wonder to myself what type of wonderful person Naomi must have been to gain such favor with Ruth. I also picture this young woman (Ruth) who, aside from her kind spirit, is in need of mentorship and direction and has really opened up her life to Naomi... even before the tragedy's they are currently dealing with. I picture a young girl with many things yet to learn (esp about how God works) but willing to do whatever it takes to be obedient to do the right thing. The reason I say she has much to learn about how God works is because she makes a decision to follow her own plan of what SHE thinks is right even if it counters Gods plan. Ruth even makes a statement that she will oppose God if his plan does not agree with her own plan of what she thinks is correct. What I love about this is that we all have been young. No matter if we where good, bad, etc... we all needed to mature... and still need to mature. We all still don't fully understand Gods ways but we all have the opportunity to continue to try and try again to trust and be obedient to the ways of the Lord. Finishing off the first part of this passage there is a statement that reads "...Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her." This statement, for me, is like a foreshadowing of Naomi's hardship in dealing with her tragedy situation... almost like she NEEDS someone in her life to be there, walk with her, lean on... and I think she is grateful to have Ruth as her daughter-in-law.
The feel that the second part of this passage is a wonderful example of how we, as humans, can feel so lost, we can feel so much pain and hurting that it can bring out an almost selfish hatred and anger as we cope with the hardship and brokenness of life. Naomi self proclaims that she is bitter and like the Sadducee's who gave to the poor in public, Naomi also publicly thrashes out her pain and misery in Gods direction, almost as a way to try and comfort herself with the attention of those listening. This is a great example for me of how even a person of great leadership and mentoring can fall.. and need grace, mercy, and love.
I like how this passage ends with the statement that states the harvest season is at the beginning as Naomi and Ruth enter Bethlehem. I love double, triple meanings in words and phrases when they are placed in the correct spot at the correct time and I felt that this is one of those times. This statement foreshadows the great things that are abut to take place with these two ladies as well as a metaphor or.. a sort of parallel to Jesus' words about the harvest being ready for the plucking. This sentence can almost by itself, paint a picture of Bethlehem at this time.

A: This talks into my life here, growing in my life in Oregon. In my job, with my friends. It shows me that I have done well with the challenges I have faced with dealing with broken people in there extreme reactions to life's pain. It shows me that even my mentors in life are broken... and even though I had knowledge of this already... this passage brings this awareness to me in a more peaceful loving way that helps me to care for the people in my life who I have looked up to, and then been hurt by. This also reinforces to me that I have always had an awareness of God in my life as well as a respect for God, and a caring and understanding of God in a simple sense. Now, I have my personal relationship to work on with God, which I must say is going well.
What I think I can take away from this is that I can continue to let go and put my life in Gods hands, to continue to trust, listen, and obey.

P: God, I pray for help in letting go of the sin in my life and to be more and more like Jesus, trusting that you will provide what I need, and that is all I need. I pray for all the people that have touched my life...good and bad. I pray that they can find peace in their life... that they can find you dear God. I ask that if they look to me that they see you... they see you covering me, sheltering me, loving me.... running thru my veins. Thank you for your pursuit and your love dear God. Amen

Tami: Ruth 2:14-23

Ruth 2: 14-23
14 At the lunch break, Boaz said to her, "Come over here; eat some bread. Dip it in the wine."

So she joined the harvesters. Boaz passed the roasted grain to her. She ate her fill and even had some left over.

15-16 When she got up to go back to work, Boaz ordered his servants: "Let her glean where there's still plenty of grain on the ground—make it easy for her. Better yet, pull some of the good stuff out and leave it for her to glean. Give her special treatment."

17-18 Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. When she threshed out what she had gathered, she ended up with nearly a full sack of barley! She gathered up her gleanings, went back to town, and showed her mother-in-law the results of her day's work; she also gave her the leftovers from her lunch.

19 Naomi asked her, "So where did you glean today? Whose field? God bless whoever it was who took such good care of you!"

Ruth told her mother-in-law, "The man with whom I worked today? His name is Boaz."

20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Why, God bless that man! God hasn't quite walked out on us after all! He still loves us, in bad times as well as good!"

Naomi went on, "That man, Ruth, is one of our circle of covenant redeemers, a close relative of ours!"

21 Ruth the Moabitess said, "Well, listen to this: He also told me, 'Stick with my workers until my harvesting is finished.'"

22 Naomi said to Ruth, "That's wonderful, dear daughter! Do that! You'll be safe in the company of his young women; no danger now of being raped in some stranger's field."

23 So Ruth did it—she stuck close to Boaz's young women, gleaning in the fields daily until both the barley and wheat harvesting were finished. And she continued living with her mother-in-law.

S: 20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Why, God bless that man! God hasn't quite walked out on us after all! He still loves us, in bad times as well as good!"

O: Here is a bit of research on the term Kinsman Redeemer ;

"The "kinsman redeemer" is a Goel. The word means to redeem, receive or buy back. Provision was made in the Law of Moses for the poor person who was forced to sell part of his property or himself into slavery. His nearest of kin could step in and "buy back" what his relative was forced to sell (Leviticus 25:48f). The kinsman redeemer was a rich benefactor, or person who frees the debtor by paying the ransom price. "If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold." (Leviticus 25:25; cf. Ruth 4:4, 6).

The nearest of kin had the responsibility of redeeming his kinsman's lost opportunities. If a person was forced into slavery, his redeemer purchased his freedom. When debt threatened to overwhelm him, the kinsman stepped in to redeem his homestead and let the family live. If a family member died without an heir the kinsman gave his name by marrying the widow and rearing a son to hand down his name (Deuteronomy 25:5; Genesis 38:8; Ruth 3-4)."

There were 3 requirements to be a kinsman redeemer:
* A close relative
* able to redeem
* willing to redeem

Boaz was all those, & a picture of Christ. Not only able to redeem, but longing to redeem. Boaz sought Ruth out, cared for her, protected her, ate with her, gave her special treatment. His is a picture of compassionate, redemptive, 2nd chance love in the midst of brokenness, heartache, poverty & despair.

A: I just want to be all the more aware & thankful for what Jesus has done for me - to never take it for granted or get used to it. And I want to have a passion for helping other people to see & be overwhelmed by this incredible gift of love & redemption.

P: Thank you, Jesus, for finding me when I was lost, for pursuing me & buying me back, for loving me & giving me a second chance. Help me to extend this same opportunity to others, for Your praise & glory & honor. Amen.

CHA SOAP - Ruth 1:1-14

S: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ruth%201:1-14&version=31

O: My first thoughts or pondering on this set of verse is wondering what life was like for a woman during this time and place on the earth. In someways I wonder to myself if Ruth was full of adventure, a strong, energy filled, independent natured individual or if there was something truly different about her. One thing that seems clear to me at this passage is that Ruth cared for Naomi enough to give up whatever life had to offer so that she could stay with her. I also love how Naomi's heart was there for both her daughter-in-laws. I love how she unselfishly asked them to go back to their homeland, seek shelter and find another husband... another life. To me, this means that Naomi was willing to sever her life with these two women for their own well being. This had to be difficult for her in this day and age where her age meant that she may not have anyone... at least anyone good... take care of her for the rest of her life. Truly a reflection of Gods love for us.

A: My application on this verse would be to refine what I have already been doing in my life.
(a) Caring for someone enough to give up whatever life could offer... knowing that there is many more riches in caring for someone vs. seeking your own wealth, riches, and comfort. (b) Loving someone enough to let them go to a better life. Letting go of someone when you know that there is something better for them not necessarily of this world, but in Gods plan.
-In refining "a" I will continue to work on the things in my life that bring in selfishness and greed. Things that consume my time with no outcome... or even negative outcome. I need to rid myself of the desire to use, play, experience the newest, latest technological gadget or see the newest movie. I will continue to focus my attention to the hearts and souls of Gods children.
- In refining "b" I will spend more time in the word... to fill my soul with God. I too often focus most or all of my time and energy here on my family, friends, loved ones... whoever. I know that my focus on thee people is more than a desire to help them but also a desire to be filled myself. This has been a reoccurring train wreck in my relationships with women. I find someone I relate to, someone I like and enjoy being around. Someone with a big heart... I tend to ignore the big things that are in conflict between me and the other individual and ignore the whisperings of God telling me "this is not the one, let go, turn to me child, I will be your comfort, your peace, your love." I truly believe that God is working in this area of my life. Giving up pornography and sexual sin was easy for the most part... but becoming the man of God that I need to be... becoming the husband that God wants me to be... is the difficult part. So with that said... onto the prayer...

P: Dear God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for continuing to love me even when I don't come to you, spend time with you, or talk with you. There is a difference, I have found, between having you in my heart always, and actually spending time with you. I know it's not easy since I can't mingle with you in this world that way I can mingle with others, but I do know that when I am truly with you... it's enough.. and I am at peace. Thank you God. My prayer is that I am given the focus to see what my role is in your plan and that I gain that desire and energy to quickly let go and remove anything in my life that stands in the way of reaching that goal so that I can better love you, and I can better love your children. I ask for continued help in healing from my brokenness in relationships in this life. I ask for wisdom in seeing how I ended up becoming this way so that I can take steps to heal from it. You God, have gifted me with passion... a high intensity passion that burns fast and furious... please help me to understand this gifting and see where I can use it to better serve you. As your nature is revealed to me in your word... I see bits and pieces of my own puzzle... and I ask for a blessing on my fellow traveler for taking the time to travel your road with me. Thank you for giving me a safe relationship in my life that I can turn to. I pray this in the name of your son, Jesus, amen.

Tami - Ruth 2:1-13 (I'm enjoying this!)

Ruth 2:1-13 (The Message)

1It so happened that Naomi had a relative by marriage, a man prominent and rich, connected with Elimelech's family. His name was Boaz.

2 One day Ruth, the Moabite foreigner, said to Naomi, "I'm going to work; I'm going out to glean among the sheaves, following after some harvester who will treat me kindly." Naomi said, "Go ahead, dear daughter."

3-4 And so she set out. She went and started gleaning in a field, following in the wake of the harvesters. Eventually she ended up in the part of the field owned by Boaz, her father-in-law Elimelech's relative. A little later Boaz came out from Bethlehem, greeting his harvesters, "God be with you!" They replied, "And God bless you!"

5 Boaz asked his young servant who was foreman over the farm hands, "Who is this young woman? Where did she come from?"

6-7 The foreman said, "Why, that's the Moabite girl, the one who came with Naomi from the country of Moab. She asked permission. 'Let me glean,' she said, 'and gather among the sheaves following after your harvesters.' She's been at it steady ever since, from early morning until now, without so much as a break."

8-9 Then Boaz spoke to Ruth: "Listen, my daughter. From now on don't go to any other field to glean—stay right here in this one. And stay close to my young women. Watch where they are harvesting and follow them. And don't worry about a thing; I've given orders to my servants not to harass you. When you get thirsty, feel free to go and drink from the water buckets that the servants have filled."

10 She dropped to her knees, then bowed her face to the ground. "How does this happen that you should pick me out and treat me so kindly—me, a foreigner?"

11-12 Boaz answered her, "I've heard all about you—heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. God reward you well for what you've done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you've come seeking protection under his wings."

13 She said, "Oh sir, such grace, such kindness—I don't deserve it. You've touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don't even belong here!"

S: verse 13: She said, "Oh sir, such grace, such kindness—I don't deserve it. You've touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don't even belong here!"

O: Even though I picked v13, I'm so enthralled with this entire section! There is so much here - from the simple faith & purity & obedience of Ruth, to the blessing that will always result from that kind of life, to the amazing grace of God given freely to the poor, the outcast, the alien, the hurting. Boaz represents God's extravant love & care for us - how he goes & seeks her out, how he offers his protection, how he notices her quiet dignity & faithful life in the midst of her pain, how he rewards it, how he will soon (we see foreshadowing of it here) adopt her into his own family & redeem her from the life of a widow & alien. She is an outsider, but soon she will belong. Her family has been shattered, but soon she will be a part of God's family.

A: The grace of God to redeem the garbage heaps of our lives never ceases to amaze me - & makes me want to praise Him, commit myself more fully to Him, & be more like Him - extending that same hope & grace & redemption to others.

P: May it be so, Father God, Amen

Tami - Ruth 1: 15-22

Ruth 1: 15-22

15 Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back home to live with her own people and gods; go with her."

16-17 But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!"

18-19 When Naomi saw that Ruth had her heart set on going with her, she gave in. And so the two of them traveled on together to Bethlehem.

When they arrived in Bethlehem the whole town was soon buzzing: "Is this really our Naomi? And after all this time!"

20-21 But she said, "Don't call me Naomi; call me Bitter. The Strong One has dealt me a bitter blow. I left here full of life, and God has brought me back with nothing but the clothes on my back. Why would you call me Naomi? God certainly doesn't. The Strong One ruined me."

22 And so Naomi was back, and Ruth the foreigner with her, back from the country of Moab. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

S: verses 16-17 -
16-17 But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!"

O: Verses 20-21 show the really normal but really wrong response of the human heart... Naomi is hurting & bitter & blaming God. She forgets that God brings good out of everything - just as we in our weakness are prone to forget. Already in verses 16-17 she has experienced a rich & beautiful thing as a result of her trial: the love of Ruth - both for Naomi & for Naomi's God. The sweetness of this gift is kind of lost on Naomi at the time, it seems, but again - lest we judge her too harshly - I would guess many of us would miss it just like she did. How much we need our hearts & minds transformed so we can see the gifts of God in the midst of our pain.

A: I personally was living for awhile in the midst of some tough circumstances with plenty of loss - and I was hurting & bitter & blaming God - not seeing the sweetness of the gifts God was giving me right in the middle of it all. How much I need MY heart & mind transformed so I can see the gifts of God in the midst of my pain.

P: Lord, forgive me for my hurt & lack of trust. Help me to see Your hand in all things, & to look for the GOOD, not the lack. Amen.

Tami's SOAP - Ruth 1:1-14

Ruth 1:1-14 (The Message)

1-2Once upon a time—it was back in the days when judges led Israel— there was a famine in the land. A man from Bethlehem in Judah left home to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The man's name was Elimelech; his wife's name was Naomi; his sons were named Mahlon and Kilion—all Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They all went to the country of Moab and settled there.

3-5 Elimelech died and Naomi was left, she and her two sons. The sons took Moabite wives; the name of the first was Orpah, the second Ruth. They lived there in Moab for the next ten years. But then the two brothers, Mahlon and Kilion, died. Now the woman was left without either her young men or her husband.

6-7 One day she got herself together, she and her two daughters-in-law, to leave the country of Moab and set out for home; she had heard that God had been pleased to visit his people and give them food. And so she started out from the place she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law with her, on the road back to the land of Judah.

8-9 After a short while on the road, Naomi told her two daughters-in-law, "Go back. Go home and live with your mothers. And may God treat you as graciously as you treated your deceased husbands and me. May God give each of you a new home and a new husband!" She kissed them and they cried openly.

10 They said, "No, we're going on with you to your people."

11-13 But Naomi was firm: "Go back, my dear daughters. Why would you come with me? Do you suppose I still have sons in my womb who can become your future husbands? Go back, dear daughters—on your way, please! I'm too old to get a husband. Why, even if I said, 'There's still hope!' and this very night got a man and had sons, can you imagine being satisfied to wait until they were grown? Would you wait that long to get married again? No, dear daughters; this is a bitter pill for me to swallow—more bitter for me than for you. God has dealt me a hard blow."

14 Again they cried openly. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye; but Ruth embraced her and held on.

S: verses 1 & 5:
Once upon a time—it was back in the days when judges led Israel— there was a famine in the land.

Now the woman was left without either her young men or her husband.

O: What I love about the opening of this book is how totally real it is. Here is a story of a woman that is a follower of God but who faces some really tough & tragic stuff in her life. First a famine that probably decimates her community, forcing her to leave her home & travel to live in a strange & godless country. Then the death of her husband & 2 sons. This is pain - as raw & searing as it gets. She is probably wrestling with all the same things we would: Why, God? Why me? How can you be a loving God & let stuff like this happen? How do I put the pieces of my life back together? Am I strong enough to get through this? I want to become bitter & disillusioned - will I be able to move past them to acceptance & hope? Will I ever have joy again?

What I also love is the invisible thread of God's love & compassion. We can't see it visibly yet, but He has not forgotten Naomi, & He IS in control, & He WILL bring healing & restoration & joy. In the midst of our pain, He is there.

A: This passage reminds me that dark days are a part of every life - I've experienced my share of them & will experience more in the future. When I am where Naomi is in the opening verses of this story, she is lost in the darkness - she can't see the good that God will bring. But she puts one foot in front of the other & continues to move ahead. I need to do the same. I need to trust that the darkness is not the end of the story. That God will redeem the pain. That love & life & hope & joy lie ahead. That He hasn't forgotten me.

P: Papa God, thanks for your never-ending, relentless, redeeming, unstoppable love that is bigger than every tough thing I face. It's even bigger than my own weakness & fear & failure. Help me to see You in the dark. Help me to whisper Your name & wait for the light. Help me to trust You & keep taking steps of obedience & righteousness even when it's hard. I love You. Amen

Book of Ruth SOAP schedule

Summary: The book of Ruth is a tender & beautiful picture of how Christ comes into our pain & redeems it, just as Boaz redeemed Ruth. It's also the story of an oasis of faithfulness during the turbulent time of the judges.

1. Overview: Read the entire book
2. Ruth 1: 1-14
3. Ruth 1: 15-22
4: Ruth 2: 1-13
5. Ruth 2: 14-23
6. Ruth 3: 1-9
7. Ruth 3: 10-18
8: Ruth 4: 1-12
9: Ruth 4: 13-22