Chronological Bible Blog

Join us in reading the Bible in a year!

recent posts

About

    April 7th Chronological Bible Readings

    Ruth 1:1-4:12
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture on ESV Online.org ~

    function googleTranslateElementInit() {
    new google.translate.TranslateElement({
    pageLanguage: ‘en’
    }, ‘google_translate_element’);
    }
    http://translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit

    Today we are starting up – and tomorrow finishing – the wonderful book of Ruth and then moving into First Samuel. The book of Ruth is a wonderful look at faithful love in human relationships, and in a family in particular. I like how the NIV Study Bible describes this book – “The book of Ruth is a Hebrew short story, told with consummate skill. Among historical narratives in Scripture it is unexcelled in its compactness, vividness, warmth, beauty, and dramatic effectiveness – an exquisitely wrought jewel of Hebrew narrative art.” I hope you are ready for this jewel!


    Ruth
    Author: Unknown
    Date: During the time of the Judges
    Content: The book of Ruth portrays another side to the chaotic time of the judges. In it there is a welcome relief from the bloodshed and mayhem that seemed to engulf the land because of Israel’s sin. It is the story of Ruth, who decided to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, after tragedy struck that unfortunate woman. God returned good to Ruth in the form of a husband (Boaz) and a child, and also to Naomi in the form of grandchildren. From this family, eventually, came David the king.
    Theme: The central point of this book is that even in times of crisis and despair, life may be lived according to the precepts of God and that God abundantly blesses those who do so live. The fundamental values of love, faith, trust, and goodness are greater than the hatred and violence of men, and continue from generation to generation as a light to guide those who look for the true meaning of life. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 4-5)


    More commentary on Ruth is at these 3 links –
    http://bible.org/page.php?page_id=888
    http://bible.org/page.php?page_id=952
    http://bible.org/page.php?page_id=1292



    Today in Ruth chapter 1 verses 16 & 17 we will read these beautiful words of Ruth to her mother-in-law Naomi, whose husband & two sons had died – “Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” How’s that for love & commitment! Can you imagine saying these words to someone in your life today? I pray that each of us have this type of love & commitment for our families – or that we will have this in the future with our families. It seems like nowadays families are getting more and more distanced from one another – separated sometimes by geography and I think oftentimes by individualism or other selfish reasons. Perhaps each of us can learn something from Ruth and her dedication to her mother-in-law Naomi about what family love & commitment could and should really look like?

    Ruth_1_16_whither_thou_goest_i_will_go


    In today’s readings in Ruth we are introduced to the incredible man, Boaz, who is really a “type” of Christ figure. Also in chapter 4 verse 16 the name of David is first mentioned in the Bible! It is awesome to read today how David descended from Ruth, and of course ultimately Jesus descended from Ruth! Today in Ruth chapter 2 verse 10 we read – “Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “Why are you being so kind to me?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.””

    Ruth_2_10_then_she_fell_on_her_face


    And in chapter 3 verse 15 today we read – “Boaz also said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured out six scoops of barley into the cloak and helped her put it on her back. Then Boaz returned to the town.”


    Ruth_3_15_he_measured_6_measures_of_barl

    Worship God: Today’s readings in Ruth reminded me of the song “I will Follow” by Chris Tomlin:



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx_04LdPV_Q

    Are you following God? Click here and follow Him!


    Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”  Ruth 1:16 NIV


    Prayer Point: Pray that you have or will have the same time of strong family connection and love that Ruth had for Naomi. Pray that you will stick with your family even during hard times. Pray that your family belongs or will belong to God.


    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    Posted in

    2 responses to “April 7th Chronological Bible Readings”

    1. Ramona Avatar
      Ramona

      Ruth
      Naomi’s bitterness blinded her to the blessing God placed right in her household. Like many women today who have faithfully and dutifully followed there husband into a place where they should have never been, Naomi followed but became bitter. She was dutiful but angry and hurt because her husband took her from the House of Bread, during the time of famine, into a land and a people they should have shunned.
      Looking at the names of the men pre-return from Moab, we probably get a hint of there character, and it wasn’t pretty.
      Elimelech (Naomi’s Husband)= “my God is king” Now, here was a man that definitely didn’t live up to his name because he left the God who was his king and went to a land where Chemosh was the god of the land.
      Mahlon (One of the husbands to Ruth or Orpah) = “sick” I picture a man who was always whining and miserable.
      Chilion = “pining”
      What did Ruth see in the God that Naomi served in spite of her mother-in-laws bitterness? Whatever it was, she recognized that she had everything to gain and nothing to loose if she failed to go back to her father’s house.
      In Ruth’s behavior I see what it truly means to accept Jesus Christ: giving up everything you grew up with, everything you know and attaching yourself to the one true God. Ruth is an Old Testament example of a New Testament work, a changed mind (Romans 12:2) She forsook family, traditions, religion, everything that was familiar to her to follow after Israel’s God. Wow! She did what the Rich Young ruler would not. Have I given up ALL to follow Jesus, or am I hanging out with “Sick, Pining, and My God is king who had forgotten who the King really is?
      Ruth 2:1-4:22
      Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. [Ps. 55:22.] (1 Peter 5:6-7 AMP)
      Everything in today’s reading screams “humility.” The entire book is about love, the love not of the flesh or “love” that stems from lust, but love that is described in the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians,
      Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up. It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NET.)
      Too often today, and probably yesteryear too, woman compete with each other, mother-daughter, mother-in-law-daughter-in-law, best friends and not so good friends. But here we are privy to a relationship that is not based on envy or self-serving, but true genuine love. Naomi didn’t ask Ruth to go into the fields, Ruth desired to go so that she could be a benefit to her mother-in-law. While she was out in the fields, Naomi was concerned for Ruth’s safety and health not her belly. While in the fields Ruth didn’t have an attitude problem looking for what “I deserve,” or “my rights,” she worked hard and long. She was respectful thus she became respected. Even before she went into the field, her love for her mother-in-law was well known and she was honored for that.
      What I always marvel at when I read the Book of Ruth is God’s mercy and grace. His people, though they were not His people, like Ruth, can be anyone. Anyone that is who gives up, “And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29 NET.)
      May all who come to this site become a “whosoever,” one who leaves all to follow the King.
      Grace and peace,
      Ramona

      Like

      Reply
    2. Tabitha Avatar
      Tabitha

      I am grateful for the example of Ruth and how she is loyal to her family. Who knows if her family rejected her when she married a Hebrew, but she was loyal and loved the family that she married into. So many people today fail to realize that when you marry someone that you indeed marry their entire family as well. Even death did not separate her from her family of choice.

      Like

      Reply

    Leave a reply to Ramona Cancel reply