Ruth 2:19-3:5 - Naomi Sees God's Kindness

Ruth 2:19-3:5

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead." Again Naomi said to her, "The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives." 

Message: Naomi Sees God's Kindness

Time: According to Jewish tradition, Samuel wrote the book of Ruth. The events of Ruth occurred sometime between 1160 BC and 1100 BC. This book stands as a ray of light, showing the power of the love between God and His faithful people, even during difficult times that were present. It is written from Naomi's point of view. Ruth is the gift God placed in Naomi's life. 

What the Lord is Saying: Thus far, it is not clear what Boaz is feeling toward Ruth, based upon the comments. She referred her as a daughter (v. 8) so she is younger than he and also in verse 5 asked the reapers of the harvest, "Whose young woman is this?" At this point, they are in Bethlehem (Judah). Ruth has gone to the fields to glean with the reapers, leaving a portion for strangers or those in need. Boaz sees Ruth and wonders who she is and then proceeds to protect her and value her. Makes sure she is comfortable with the other women and places a great value on her. Gives her addition barley to take back to her mother-in-law. He knows about Ruth and how she came back with her mother-in-law. 

In verse 19, Naomi remarks that the person that took care of her should be blessed and found out it was Boaz. Naomi is enamored by his kindness and mentions that and also that he is a close relative (v.20). Tabletalk reading today teaches me of Deuteronomy 25:5-10. Verse 5 says that when a brother dies, the other brother will marry the widow. The first born shall assume the name of the dead brother. The brother who refuses is called "him whose sandal is removed." The wife is not to simply find a husband from the lot of strangers, but from a kinsman. So Ruth mentions this now. Perhaps Boaz can fulfill a need to be a husband to Ruth. Naomi confirms to Ruth that it is good for her to be with the other maidens and work near them. 

Naomi makes mention to Ruth that she should be doing her best to have Ruth be married. Ruth sets it up. In verse 2 she remarks, "he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight." In Palestine a wind rises from the sea at about four o’clock in the afternoon, and lasts till half an hour before sunset. The winnowing process is to throw up the grain, after being trodden down, against the wind with a shovel. Boaz, most likely was a wealthy man and it was common for the farmer to remain all night in harvest-time on the threshing floor. 

She tells Ruth to "Wash yourself...anoint yourself and put on your [best] clothes, and [go] down to the threshing floor." Then in verse 4, "When he lies down...go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do." Ruth is basically to do the courting and be the one that makes the move towards him. 

Ruth seems to arrange this, in order to possibly induce Boaz to take upon this responsibility as mentioned by the law. Boaz probably slept on a mat or skin and slept in the clothes he wore during the day, as Ruth did. Ruth would be lying down in sort of a cross to him, at the point of his feet. The uncovering of the feet is to awaken him. 

And at this point, hopefully it would be compelling to Boaz to enter into marriage with Ruth. Boaz will tell her if he is indeed the kinsman to fulfill that role and duty. 

Summary: Naomi plans a way for Boaz to hopefully see that he can fulfill the law to take Ruth for his wife. 

Promise: God has covenant loyalty in our lives and his kindness radiates through other people as well. 

Prayer: O God, it is your kindness that leads to repentance and I am amazed as well of the kindness that people show towards me. It is powerful in my life. Thank you for showing me that kindness in your word and in my life. I am very thankful for people and their kindness. Help me to be kind as well. 

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Mark 7:9-13 - Making Void the Word of God

Mark 7:9-13
9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; 11 but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

Message: Making Void the Word of God

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - At the beginning of Chapter 7, Mark pauses a moment in his gospel to bring attention to the Pharisees and their attack on Jesus for doing things that are contrary to the laws and traditions they have followed. Jesus permits his disciples to eat without clean hands. Here, Jesus is speaking of the importance of a heart change. I don't think he is diminishing the importance of keeping oneself clean, but he is emphasizing that we all need to make sure that we don't get caught up in rules and outward appearances and forget the real issue: the motive of one's own heart.

As he speaks to the Pharisees, trying to get them to think about the heart, He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition." Ouch. That hurts. But, this is the crux of what Jesus is communicating. The problem with these religious people is not just that they kept certain traditions, but they elevated them above the commandment of God. The commandment of God became almost secondary.

The rabbinic traditions are many, but they are not wild notions but rather further clarifications to situations that are not clearly expressed in the Bible, thus it is an attempt by man to further apply truth to all situations. I call this abiding by the oral law which is something very common in many religious groups. Purgatory is one of those oral laws, as well as exalting certain leaders of a faith as saints. These are ideas not mentioned in scripture and yet they are exalted to a level equal of scripture.

Here is an interesting example, taken from the pages of TableTalk on May 17, 2016:

Judaism’s system of kosher laws is a classic example. (Modern Judaism is based more on the traditions of the rabbis than on the Old Testament.) Exodus 23:19; 34:26; and Deuteronomy 14:21 all say, “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” Over time, the kosher law that milk and meat products should not be eaten together developed out of a desire to keep the commandments of these passages. After all, if one never puts meat and milk together, one will certainly never boil a young animal in its mother’s milk, even accidentally.

What the Jews did and just the Jews but many religions is develop a code of conduct based upon the law, providing more detailed requirements for keeping that law. There is a commandment in scripture that says, "Do not be unequally yoked." What I see from that is parents then defining that their children can never be around non-Christians as they are growing up. Or even the command to "train up a child in the way he should go" means that children need to be educated only in the home and not by the public school systems.

Now, the idea to only have your children date Christians or only be around those that are the opposite sex is not a problem in itself and yet we are also commanded to go into the world and preach the gospel, which means being around non-Christians is necessary. Thus, if one command leads to breaking another command, then there is a problem. 

And so, what Jesus does is more clearly offer an example of that which he is speaking, namely, the exalting of tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

The Corban rule was a practice of deferred giving. One could often simply say the word Corban and it inferred that something had been pledged to the temple or church. It allowed individuals to deed property or other gifts, then after they die, they become the property of the church. This is not a bad thing and speaks to the idea that when we die, we should be transferring our possessions to be used by the next generation. But the concern that Jesus brings up is that some people were neglecting their responsibilities to elders, their own father or mother. It was commonly understood that just as parents take care of their children, children take care of their parents later in life. Perhaps these parents had a monetary need or a need of property, but rather than caring for the parents and providing them what they need, they believe that since they have previously identified a material possession as Corban then it was obligated already. It was holding on to one law at the expense of another obligation.

I think church people have a tendency to do this, perhaps in more simplistic ways, feeling like they must hold to one obligation, like attending church, when maybe there is a person in need that they could minister to, but they don't, because they feel they must get to church. And do we also hold onto our possessions, for a rainy day, saving riches that we have purchased and set aside, rather than helping someone out now that needs it. We get obsessed with our personal retirements and protecting ourselves in the future when there are people with real needs that we could help now. Thus, we elevate our own personal needs or personal obligations over real needs the Spirit could be drawing us towards. 

Summary - Jesus is confronting the Pharisees. While they are concerned Jesus is neglecting their traditions, Jesus is concerned with their heart and why they are doing what they are doing. Is it really motivated toward God and the things of faith or do we get sidetracked on doing things for God that we neglect the people God has placed in our lives? Do we get obsessed with ensuring that are right with God that we then neglect people?

Promise: We too can be obsessed with good but optional things (like giving extra gifts to the temple) in a a way makes us break God's law, shifting our priorities from only to God to remembering its about God and the people he has placed in our lives.

Prayer: O Lord, my Lord, my King, the Only One. I do want to honor You. Help me to not sacrifice people that you have placed in my life because I somehow think that it is more important to worship You because I am concerned that if I don't then you will reject me. I need to listen to Your Spirit in my life at all times, being sensitive to areas that you have called me, being sensitive to the people that you have placed in my life. Help me Lord. I need your help and strength and leading.