March 28, 2014 - Friday

Start Time:  7:00 A.M.

End Time: 7:21 A.M.

Title: Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor

Scripture: Ruth 3:1 – 18

God’s Message / God’s Promise / God’s Commands:

→ One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home^[a] for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.  When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!  “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer^[b] of our family.”

NOTES:

Ø God looks out for our welfare!  He plans and wants to take care of us to the point of finding a suitable man/woman for us to spend our lives on earth!  Ruth, with her decision to serve God alone, became part of God’s family and God lookout for His family.  When we become part of God’s family, God, Himself, takes care of us! After the breakthrough in Naomi’s life, after realizing the goodness of God in their lives thru Ruth, Naomi diverted her depression into a mission of ensuring a home for Ruth.  Even in times when it slipped our minds, God always thought through of everything and every part of our lives, our marriage, family, career, livelihood, etc.  He planned for everything when it comes to our well being on earth!  Hallelujah!

Ø God replaces our depression with a mission!  Naomi after witnessing God’s unending goodness and grace, turned her depression into a mission.  God gave Naomi a mission to ensure that Ruth finds a suitable home with her people.  Many times, God works in ways that are unexpected.  One moment we are very depress or sad but then after God opens our eyes to the wonderful truth of His love, He gives us a purpose, which becomes the reason for us to live and have hope.  God did this to Naomi and He can do it to us as well.  Praise Jesus!

→ “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.  Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.”So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.” He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he^[c] went back to town. When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her  and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”

NOTES:

Ø God will not rest until our matters are settled!  Praise the Lord!  Our God is a good and mighty God!  His love for us is overwhelming and He does not rest until everything in our lives are set in accordance to His plan, which is set for our good!  Jesus takes matter into His own hands when it comes to us and He does not lay around in waiting…He is at work every second of the day for our welfare!  This is how marvelous and awesome our God is!  The Lord Almighty and Conquering Savior!  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, not resting for our sake!  Hallelujah!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Great and mighty One!  I am deeply moved to know that Your concern about me is unexplainable.  I am flattered and touched to know that I have a God who does not rest until all my matters are resolved.  Thank You because You have thought everything, for every detail of my life, from my childhood, teens, adulthood, marriage, career, livelihood, and in every aspect of my life.  Thank You because You look our for me and in times when we are down and feeling depressed because of the oppression we get from our enemy, You turn my depression into a mission!  Thank You Jesus because You give me reason to live and have hope again!  Thank You because You will not rest until all my issues/concerns about my life are taken care of.  Thank You Jesus!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!