Accepted In The CommunityIn our troubled times, many of the foundations that have been laid from the very beginning by God are continuously being attacked and under mined by the enemies of God. This is why people in this fallen world system are working hard to re-define what a “family” is, while the Bible makes it clear what God has designed from the very start.
This lesson from the book of Ruth, teaches us how important marriage really is, and also the value of redemption, and how God bought back His people through the covenant of marriage, in order to bring us into His perfect family.
Listen in as Pastor Landis Fisher delivers a Sunday School lesson at the Dickerson Memorial Community Church called: “Accepted In The Community”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Ruth 2:1 – 12 (KJV)
Ruth 2:1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
Ruth 2:3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
Ruth 2:4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.
Ruth 2:5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?
Ruth 2:6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:
Ruth 2:7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.
Ruth 2:8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
Ruth 2:9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
Ruth 2:10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
Ruth 2:11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:25 – 33 (KJV)
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) God’s Providence is even greater in many ways than miracles, because it reveals His working in the minute details of many lives in order to produce His desired goal to bless believers through the faith which He has given them to seek His glory.
2) The fickle tend to give up when the times get tough, but the diligent hold out, even against bad circumstances, with the attitude that I shall not let God go till He blesses me!
3)The picture of redemption of the Church is revealed via the concept of the near kinsman redeemer, and God’s grace toward evil sinners who repent can be learned by believers, just as Boaz was taught by His mother, Rahab who also was “redeemed” through the godly institution of marriage.
