Month: November 2019

Ruth 4, Our Redeemer is JESUS

Rth 4:9-10, …”You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. Moreover, RUTH THE MOABITESS… I HAVE ACQUIRED AS MY WIFE, …

Boaz redeem the property that Naomi lost and the posterity of Elimelech, so his name would not be cut off from Israel! Also Boaz took Ruth as his wife!

Rth 4:14-15, Then the women said to Naomi, “BLESSED BE THE LORD, WHO HAS NOT LEFT YOU THIS DAY WITHOUT A CLOSE RELATIVE; AND MAY HIS NAME BE FAMOUS IN ISRAEL! And may he be to you A RESTORER OF LIFE and A NOURISHER OF YOUR OLD AGE; …

Rth 4:17, Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “THERE IS A SON BORN TO NAOMI.” AND THEY CALLED HIS NAME OBED. HE IS THE FATHER OF JESSE, THE FATHER OF DAVID. 

And from David came the Messiah, Jesus who is our Kinsman-Redeemer! Naomi thought she lost everything, but the LORD blessed her and Ruth abundantly! HE IS THE RESTORER OF LIFE

Isa 54:4-8 “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; … FOR YOUR MAKER IS YOUR HUSBAND, THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HIS NAME; AND YOUR REDEEMER IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL; HE IS CALLED THE GOD OF THE WHOLE EARTH. … “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. … BUT WITH EVERLASTING KINDNESS I WILL HAVE MERCY ON YOU,” SAYS THE LORD, YOUR REDEEMER.

Ruth 3, Protection for Ruth!

Rth 3:1, Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek SECURITY FOR YOU, that it may be well with you? 

Naomi, wanted rest and security for Ruth and she would find it with their Kinsman Redeemer! He was responsible to redeem a relative sold to slavery, to buy back their property (Lev 25:25) and to carry on the family name by marrying a childless widow (Deu 25:5-10)!

Lev 25:48, AFTER HE IS SOLD HE MAY BE REDEEMED AGAIN. ONE OF HIS BROTHERS MAY REDEEM HIM; 

WE WERE REDEEMED BY THE LORD, JESUS, FOR WE WERE SLAVES TO SIN!

Rth 3:9, And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. TAKE YOUR MAIDSERVANT UNDER YOUR WING, for you are a close relative.” 

Eze 16:8  “… SO I SPREAD MY WING OVER YOU AND COVERED YOUR NAKEDNESS. YES, I SWORE AN OATH TO YOU AND ENTERED INTO A COVENANT WITH YOU, AND YOU BECAME MINE,” SAYS THE LORD GOD.

Psa 91:4, He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

THE LORD IS OUR REDEEMER AND HE WANTS TO COVER US WITH HIS LOVE AND SECURITY, YET SOME WERE NOT WILLING (Mat 23:37).  THIS IS A PICTURE OF CHRIST OUR LORD HIS TRUTH IS OUR SHIELD, HIS TRUTH IS OUR STRENGTH!  BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Ruth 2, the providence of God!

Rth 2:2-3, So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “PLEASE LET ME GO TO THE FIELD, AND GLEAN HEADS OF GRAIN AFTER HIM IN WHOSE SIGHT I MAY FIND FAVOR…And SHE HAPPENED TO COME TO THE PART OF THE FIELD BELONGING TO BOAZ, WHO WAS OF THE FAMILY OF ELIMELECH

Ruth didn’t just wait she went to work for her and her mother-in-law! And she HAPPENED to come to that field?  In her mind that maybe the case but this is the PROVIDENCE OF GOD!

 Joh 5:17, But Jesus answered them, “MY FATHER HAS BEEN WORKING UNTIL NOW, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING.” 

Rth 2:7, … SO SHE CAME AND HAS CONTINUED FROM MORNING UNTIL NOW, THOUGH SHE RESTED A LITTLE IN THE HOUSE.” 

Rth 2:20, Then Naomi said …”Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” …”This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.” 

THIS IS WHAT I PRAY FOR THAT THE LORD OPENS A DOOR THAT I DON’T EVEN SEE IN FRONT OF ME! AS ISRAEL HAD AN ARMY BEHIND THEM AND THE SEA BEFORE THEM THE LORD OPENNED A PATH THROUGH THE SEA!  A PATH WHICH THEY NEVER EVEN THOUGHT OF! RUTH JUST HAPPENED TO FIND HER KINSMEN REDEEMER, HER GOEL! OUR GOEL IS THE LORD JESUS, THE CHRIST! KING OF kings AND LORD OF lords! WE MAY NOT SEE HIM, YET HE IS ALWAYS WORKING

Ruth 1, Returning to the LORD!

Rth 1:1, Now it came to pass, IN THE DAYS WHEN THE JUDGES RULED, that there was a FAMINE IN THE LAND. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 

The time of the Judges was dark for people did what was right in their own eyes! Elimelech, Naomi & their two sons left for Moab! After 10 years, her husband died and their two married sons also died leaving three childless widows!

Rth 1:16-17, But Ruth said: “…For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God… The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

Ruth saw Naomi’s faith even in times of trouble! She didn’t blame the LORD, but she blamed herself for leaving the promised land! Ruth clung to her and decided to leave her old life behind trusting in the GOD of Naomi!

Rth 1:21, I went out full, and the LORD has BROUGHT ME HOME AGAIN EMPTY. … the LORD HAS TESTIFIED AGAINST ME, AND THE ALMIGHTY HAS AFFLICTED ME?” 

SHE LOST EVERYTHING BUT HER FAITH IN GOD! AND SHE RETURNED TO HER GOD! OFTEN AFFLICTION EITHER BRINGS US CLOSER TO GOD OR DRIVES US AWAY!

Hos 14:1, O ISRAEL, RETURN TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, FOR YOU HAVE STUMBLED BECAUSE OF YOUR INIQUITY; 

Judges 21, the foolishness of man!

The tribe of Benjamin was guilty, but Israel dealt them an extreme judgement leaving only 600 men, also with an oath not to give them wives from their daughters! Jdg 21:1!

Jdg 21:3, and said, “O LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, WHY HAS THIS COME TO PASS IN ISRAEL, THAT TODAY THERE SHOULD BE ONE TRIBE MISSING IN ISRAEL?” 

Pro 19:3 NLT, PEOPLE RUIN THEIR LIVES BY THEIR OWN FOOLISHNESS AND THEN ARE ANGRY AT THE LORD.

The LORD gave them a path to blessing if they obeyed, and a path of cursing if they forsook the LORD. It was their own choice! They did what was right in their own eyes!

Jdg 21:15, … THE LORD HAD MADE A VOID IN THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. 

Jdg 21:25, In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. 

BLAMING THE LORD WAS EASIER THAN BLAMING THEMSELVES! BENJAMIN DID SURVIVE, BY SLAUGHTERING A CITY IN ISRAEL WHO DIDN’T JOIN THE FIGHT!

Jer 4:22, “For My people are foolish, They have not known Me. They are silly children, And they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, But to do good they have no knowledge.”

WITHOUT THE LORD FOOLISHNESS AND IGNORANCE IS KING TO PERVERTED MEN!

Judges 20, War with Benjamin!

As all of Israel gathered together they ask the children of Benjamin to hand over the guilty!

Jdg 20:13, … deliver up the men, the perverted men who are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and remove the evil from Israel!” BUT THE CHILDREN OF BENJAMIN WOULD NOT LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THEIR BRETHREN, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. 

Twice Israel came before the LORD and said “which of us shall go up first to battle” & again “Shall I again draw near for battle”!  ASKING OF THE LORD, YET WITHOUT REPENTANCE! ISRAEL. Israel fought and lost 22,000 men the first time and 18,000 men the second!  Yes, Benjamin was guilty but so were the rest of Israel! “FOR THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL!”

Gen 49:27, “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.” 

Jdg 20:26, Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 

GOD ALLOWED TWO DAYS OF DEFEAT TO HUMBLE HIS PEOPLE! THIS IS THE PROPER WAY OF GOING TO THE LORD!

Joe 1:14, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD. 

Judges 19, the depravity of man!

Jdg 19:1, And it came to pass in those days, WHEN THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote mountains of Ephraim. 

Jdg 19:20, And the old man said, “Peace be with you! However, let all your needs be my responsibility; ONLY DO NOT SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE OPEN SQUARE.” 

On the way back home to Ephraim they looked for shelter in Gibeah, a city of Benjamin!

Jdg 19:22, …SUDDENLY CERTAIN MEN OF THE CITY, PERVERTED MEN, SURROUNDED THE HOUSE AND BEAT ON THE DOOR. They spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “BRING OUT THE MAN WHO CAME TO YOUR HOUSE, THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM CARNALLY!” 

Jdg 19:24, Look, HERE IS MY VIRGIN DAUGHTER AND THE MAN’S CONCUBINE; LET ME BRING THEM OUT NOW. HUMBLE THEM, and do with them AS YOU PLEASE; but to this man do not do such a vile thing!” 

ISRAEL WAS NOW AS BAD AS SODOM AND GOMORRAH! BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THE LORD! ONE DAY THE RESTRAINER WILL BE REMOVED AND THE WORLD WILL RETURN TO IT’S SADISTIC WAYS!

2Th 2:7, For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

WITHOUT GOD RESTRAINING THE WORLD IS GOING TO FALL INTO CHAOS! IT’S NEAR AND THE SIGNS OF IT’S COMING ARE NOW VISIBLE! PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD!

Judges 18, the foolishness of men!

Jdg 18:1, IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL…

in the previous chapter (17:6) we find the same words, THERE WAS NO KING IN ISRAEL! Micah made his gods in chapter 17

Jdg 18:17, … they took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image. The priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men who were armed with weapons of war. 

600 men of the tribe of Dan took the Idols from Micah for themselves! then Micah gathers a group of men to get his gods back!

Jdg 18:24, So he said, “YOU HAVE TAKEN AWAY MY GODS WHICH I MADE…

A god that can be made & stolen isn’t much of a god! Yet, these foolish men came to rescue their god from other foolish men!

Hab 2:19, Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, YET IN IT THERE IS NO BREATH AT ALL.

Isa 46:9-10, Remember the former things of old, FOR I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER; I AM GOD, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME, DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, AND I WILL DO ALL MY PLEASURE,’

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD, EVERYTHING IS ELSE IS BUT FOOLISHNESS IN PART OF MAN! TRUST IN HIM AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATH!  JESUS IS LORD!

Judges 17, the work of man hands!

Jdg 17:4-5, …Then his mother took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to the silversmith, and HE MADE IT INTO A CARVED IMAGE AND A MOLDED IMAGE; and they were in the house of Micah. THE MAN MICAH HAD A SHRINE, AND MADE AN EPHOD AND HOUSEHOLD IDOLS; AND HE CONSECRATED ONE OF HIS SONS, WHO BECAME HIS PRIEST.

Psa 115:4-8, Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they DO NOT SPEAK; Eyes they have, but they DO NOT SEE; They have ears, but they DO NOT HEAR; Noses they have, but they DO NOT SMELL; They have hands, but they DO NOT HANDLE; Feet they have, but they DO NOT WALK; Nor do they mutter through their throat. THOSE WHO MAKE THEM ARE LIKE THEM; SO IS EVERYONE WHO TRUSTS IN THEM.

THOSE WHO MAKE AND TRUST IN THEM ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD, JESUS SAID, LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD! Luke 9:60

Jdg 17:12-13, So Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and lived in the house of Micah. Then Micah said, “NOW I KNOW THAT THE LORD WILL BE GOOD TO ME, SINCE I HAVE A LEVITE AS PRIEST!”

Pro 14:12, THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN, BUT ITS END IS THE WAY OF DEATH. 

Judges 16, the playing with fire!

Jdg 16:4, Afterward it happened THAT HE LOVED A WOMAN IN THE VALLEY OF SOREK, WHOSE NAME WAS DELILAH. 

Pro 4:23, Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 

Jdg 16:15-16, Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies.” And it came to pass, when she pestered him daily with her words and pressed him, so that his soul was vexed to death,

She made it clear to him “WITH WHAT YOU MAY BE BOUND TO AFFLICT YOU”! YET, Samson trusted in his strength rather than his GOD, and he told her the truth!

Jdg 16:28, Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, “O LORD GOD, REMEMBER ME, I PRAY! STRENGTHEN ME, I PRAY, JUST THIS ONCE, O GOD…

The strongest man alive is now a circus act to the Philistines because of the choices Samson made in his life! YET, HE CALLED OUT TO THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY; THE SOURCE OF HIS STRENGTH! GOD KNEW HIS END FROM THE BEGINNING AND ALLOWED HIM TO DO HIS

OWN WILL! JUDGES 14:4. CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD! STOP THE FOOLISHNESS!

Psa 116:4, THEN I CALLED UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD: “O LORD, I IMPLORE YOU, DELIVER MY SOUL!”