For the last three weeks I have been preaching through the Book of Ruth and it is really a blessing. What an amazing little book with so much God in it without even mentioning His name. I take the approach that the characters are much like us, doing the best they can under difficult circumstances, holding on the their integrity. Comments?

Be Blessed pastor al paris

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2004

Answers

Parson Paris -

The most quoted verse in Ruth (1:16) mentions God's name. I am always intrigued with the kinsman ritual used by Boaz to finalize the marriage ceremony to Ruth. QED

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2004

Ilove the book of Ruth. The providence of God is throughout the book. And yes...Boaz as the kinsman....depicts none other but Jesus, our kinsman redeemer. Imagine God going out of the normal realm to find a Moabite for a bride.

And look at us for who in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Praise God for our kinsman Redeemer.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2004

Brother Bill, I agree; the brother Boaz is skilled in getting things to work out to his benefit. But he was a rich man. Without looking at the Hebrew or Greek as applicable; if I were punctuating the book of Ruth, I would write, "Your god will be my god. . . ." Note the lower case "g". Now, if she had said, "The Lord" or "the God" or even "God"; I would take it that she was being specific, speaking of the god of Abraham. . .etc. Am I being picky?

Be blessed pastor paris

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2004

Rev Paris, This is something. Our Bible Study group last night discussed the charateristics of Ruth and Naomi and how they shape up to Proverbs 31, teh virtous woman. We also related the older mentoring the younger. I am always inspired that every time I study the Bible, God reveals something new to me. Be blessed

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2004

The most interesting thing to me about Ruth is that she is an obvious exception to the rule. Ruth is one of only two women who have an entire Book of the Bible named for her. Yet, unlike Esther, Ruth was not member of the “chose” Jews. The Book of Esther, of course never once mentions the name of God, capitalized or uncapitalized. Esther was also the Assyrian name of a Jewish woman named Hadassah, the cousin of Mordecia. Esther also was "passing" in order to become the wife of the king, who banished, his women’s libber wife, Vashti, when she rejected him before his ministers and friends.

Ruth was a gentile by definition and birth. In today’s language she was not a Bible toting, card-carrying member of the Church. But, God chose and used her in His plan for Redemption and Salvation of all mankind.

Matthew, in his Gospel, dispenses with the established tradition and protocol when he records the genealogy of Jesus, our Lord. Unlike, tradition biblical records, Matthew list five women in Jesus’ direct bloodline. This also is a lesson for us when we tend to point a finger and determine who is or is not righteous in the sight of God.

The most obvious of the five women mentioned is the Virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord. Another is Rehab, the harlot, who is King David’s great-grandmother—headmistress of the women of the night who lived on the wall of Jericho. The third is Tamar, who also played the harlot and conceived two sons by her own father-in-law. The fourth is Bathsheba, the wife of King David, whom Matthew does not mention by name. He simply describes her as being another man’s wife.

Then fifth woman is Ruth, not a Jew, but a Moabite. However, Ruth is a woman of impeccable character and grace. So virtuous is this woman that English lexicographers coined a word for her. This word is the adjective, ruthless, meaning one who is devoid of all the virtues, grace and impeccable qualities of Ruth—thus she was a gentile chosen by God to be one of the ancestral mothers of our Lord. `

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2004

Bro Robert: I'm sure you know that as a Moabite Ruth traces her lineage back to the incesteous relationship with Lot [Nephew/Brother of Abraham] and his daughters. She shares DNA with the Children of Israel. The message that God is no respector of persons is clear when looking at the natural bloodline of Christ. It is ironic that we can make such a big deal of race/color/creed/etc when God clearly does not.

Be Blessed al paris

-- Anonymous, August 21, 2004

Pastor Paris and all I recently began studying Ruth as well. It is absolutely wonderful. One of the themes therein is about what happens when love gets a hold of leftovers. There is an unforgettable scene of Ruth stooping down in the field to pick up the leftovers. Because of her status she was among the last to glean. She picked up what others left behind. She picked up what paupers had rejected. But Ruth was herself a leftover. Left a widow, left a stranger in a strange land and left to wonder about a strange God. While she was picking up what others had left behind, God was picking her up with a love too awesome to be described. There she was a nobody of nobodies receiving the special notice and favor of love. And when love got through picking her up and blessing her, she had so much that she had blessings leftover--enough to share and share some more. And so to the Pastor out there who has taken with thanksgiving a charge that others have rejected, God sees you. To the layman out there who has gone deep into your own small resources to keep the lights burning in a place left behind by "use to belongs", God sees you. To the young person who has been left out from peer approval because you still believe that morals and character--things that paupers have left behind--are still valuable, God sees you and takes your cause personally. And in due season you will have what David described as a "cup running over". You will receive blessings "pressed down, shaken together, and running over!" God is just that good!

-- Anonymous, August 27, 2004

AMEN & Amen Brother!

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2004

Leave it to Parson Byrd for seizing a preaching opportunity. We start out talking about Ruth and end up having revival! Thank God for the leftovers. QED

-- Anonymous, August 28, 2004