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The Christmas story found in Ruth… We open by reading Ruth 2:1-23. – (Pg.1)

I am curious as to what thoughts, or gems of wisdom you find in this account?  

— This ‘romantic story’, actually reveals a lot about the character of God…

Please list here some of the qualities you see in God’s chosen couple of destiny:

Ruth	Boaz
(Vs.11)______________________________	(Vs.8-9)_____________________________
(Vs.2-3 & 7)__________________________	(Vs.11-12)____________________________
(Vs.10)_____________________________	(Vs.14)______________________________
(Vs.18)_____________________________	(Vs.15-16)____________________________
More?	More?

 

Q1. Does God desire these qualities to be found in His people?      ☐ Yes…      ☐ No…
Q2. And if they are lacking, what is God able to do so that we may gain these in ourselves?

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— We need to jump ahead in the Book of Ruth to Ruth 4:1-17, to see the product of this
SO ROMANTIC LOVE STORY!  –  **Would someone volunteer to read Ruth 4:1-22?

You may ask, “What has this story to do with Christmas?” (Christ’s Mass)

— “Christ’s Mass” was originally a celebration of the life of Jesus, from His birth to His sacrificial death, and His victorious resurrection, with the focus on what we know as ‘Communion’.

— Today we often remember the fact that Jesus was born to die on the cross, however, our focus usually is on celebrating His Birth. (This is appropriate, for we have the Easter season to remember the cruxificion.)

God had a plan for the salvation of man…
— How Ruth and Boaz came to be married had a large part to play in this plan.

In Jesus we have the fulfilling of God’s prophecy of promise given by the Prophet Nathan, to king David, found in 2nd Samuel 7:12-17… When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  (13)  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  (14)  I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,  (15)  but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.  (16)  And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”  (17)  In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

 

The Christmas story found in Ruth…  (Pg.2)

Next we look at how the lineage of Boaz and Ruth leads to king David?
— The celebration of Christmas marks the coming to pass of our hope and salvation, Jesus born in the flesh, …the arrival of the Messiah.
— The promised Messiah came by the Word of God given to David in 2nd Samuel 7:16  “And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”

Q3. How can David’s throne be established FOREVER?

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Matthew wrote of the lineage of the Messiah from Boaz to king David…

Matthew 1:1-6  The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.  (2)  Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,  (3)  and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,  (4)  and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,  (5)  and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,  (6)  and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah…

Q4. Why is it important that Jesus be descended from the family of king David?

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Q5. Is God sending a message by making a foreign born woman part of the maternal lineage of His promised Messiah?

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Q6. Did God send a similiar message when He sent the angels to announce the birth of the Messiah in Luke 2:8-11? (MKJV) And in the same country there were shepherds living in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) And lo, the angel of the Lord came on them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were grievously afraid. (10) And the angel said to them, Do not fear. For behold, I give to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (11) For to you is born today, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

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Next week, Lord willing,  we will investigate further how the maternal lineage of Jesus, continues God’s message that He is not a ‘respecter of persons.’ – There is no prejudice in God.

— If you want to dig a little deeper into this gracious message God sent in the choosing the lineage of Jesus… You should look at four of the women God chose to be part of the maternal lineage of the Messiah, (Jesus). – Tamar;  Rahab;  Ruth;  Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah).