Summary
The Book of Ruth is a story about Naomi, a woman who has wandered far from Yahweh and his people. The story begins with Naomi in desperate times that make her “empty” spiritually, physically, emotionally, and relationally.
As we read through the book of Ruth, we see how the Lord is always at work behind the scenes of his people’s lives and how he uses situations, relatives. and friends to not only complete our story but also to complete a much greater story of his Kingdom and of the coming snake crusher, King Jesus who will make all things right!
The passages remind Yahweh’s people that he loves us, is always pursuing us even when we have wandered far from him, is always at work in our lives, often in ways we cannot see, and is using every event in our lives to heal us, make us whole again, and bring us back to his Covenant family. The question is: Do we see our Kingsmen Redeemer at work?
Key Takeaways
If you feel like you are running on “empty”:
- Look where you are.
- See what God IS doing.
- Be loved and love.
- Be available.
- Surrender everything.
Discussing and Applying the Sermon
- As you look at the book of Ruth and Naomi’s story, do you just see individual pieces of a puzzle, or are you starting to see a whole picture being put together that points to the Lord and his plan to make you whole, “fill you up,” and bring you into his Kingdom?
- How have you seen God’s unpredictable perfect plan and what he is doing in your life?
- How have you seen God’s divine provision in your life so far?
- Spend a moment thanking Jesus. As our “true serpent crusher,” he took the serpent’s bite of sin and death so that we (who are called God’s children) do not have to face God’s wrath.
