BLESSED IN THE ONE WHO TOOK NOTICE OF YOU

Ruth 2:19-23; Week 10
Day 1:
Open your heart to your Father:

Ruth 2:19
“And her mother- in- law said to her, “ Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you.”
So she told her mother- in- law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” Underline what most speaks to you and tell Him about it:

Whom did Naomi pronounce blessed?

Genesis 12:3
“I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
What does this tell you about God’s heart towards you?

What do both verses indicate about how we should treat His people?

Matthew 5:23-24
“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Is there anyone you need to forgive or seek reconciliation with?

Hebrews 12:14-15
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” How may a root of bitterness defile many

John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” What is He showing you?

Galatians 5:13-14
“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this:“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Specifically, whom do you feel impressed to serve how?

Genesis 22:18
“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Day 2; He Has not Forsaken His Kindness
Tell Him what His kindness means to you:

Ruth 2:20
“Then Naomi said to her daughter- in- law, “ Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives.” Do you know of anyone, living or dead, who prayed for you?

In what ways is He answering their prayers?

Where do you see the Lord’s kindness in your life?

Exodus 15:13
“You in Your mercy have led forth the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength to Your holy habitation”. Draw a timeline beginning when you first can trace His leading you to now:

|_______________________________________________________________now

Dream what you would like on your timeline going forward:

Now___________________________________________________________Heaven

As God guided Ruth specifically to Boaz’ field, so He guided Abraham’s servant specifically to the right family in another story. And his servant used a similar phrase in Genesis 24:27
“And he said, “ Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” Do you need His specific guidance? Tell Him:

Isaiah 42:16
“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known.
I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them.
Since He knows your every thought from afar, is there anywhere you fear He might forsake you?

Deuteronomy 31:8
“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” Praise Him for His faithfulness in the past, present, and future:

2 Timothy 4:18
“And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!”

Day 3:
Seek shelter under His wings:

Ruth 2:21
“Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest. ’” Why do you think her past identity is mentioned again?

When are you aware of your past identity?

When the Israelites camped in Moab just before crossing the Jordan River, the women of Moab enticed the Israelites into a form of idolatry that involved ritual sexual immorality. This resulted in God’s judgment against Israel (Num. 25:1-9). Growing up in Moab, how do you imagine Ruth’s view of men may have been?

Growing up, what was your own view of men?

How is it now?

Ruth 2:21
“Ruth the Moabitess said, “He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest. ’” Why should she stay close by his young men until all the harvest was finished?

Proverbs 20:29
“The glory of young men is their strength,
And the splendor of old men is their gray head.”
How is this true?

It is the same word translated here as might:
Judges 6:14
Then the Lord turned to him and said, “ Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” Where is He sending you in this might of yours?

If you fear that your own strength might be insufficient for the task, you are right:”‘ Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, ’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6b) How do you go in the strength that you have, and yet it’s by His Spirit?

Psalms 28:7
“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.”
In your own Words to Him:

Nehemiah 8:10b “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Day 4
Tell Him why you love Him:

Ruth 2:22
“And Naomi said to Ruth her daughter- in- law, “ It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, and that people do not meet you in any other field.” What two things does Naomi say are good:
1:
2:

How does this translate to your life?
1:
2:

Acts 2:42
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles ’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Do you have this kind of fellowship?

If not, would you like it or are you avoiding it?

Why do you think Naomi encouraged Ruth to go with the women?

1. Timothy 5:1-2
“Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.” What attitude do you sense in these guidelines?

Ruth 2:22b
“…, and that people do not meet you in any other field.”
Joshua 24:14-15
“ Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Where might you face this choice today?

Deuteronomy 30:19-20
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Your response:

Philippians 1:6
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Day 5
Invite your Friend to speak to you:

Ruth 2:23
“So she stayed close by the young women of Boaz, to glean until the end of barley harvest and wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother- in- law.” Whom do you stay close by?

In the privacy of your time with Him, allow Him to be direct.
Proverbs 13:20 “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Who are the wise women in your life?

1 Corinthians 15:33 “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Is He warning you against corrupting influences?

Proverbs 12:26 “One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” Who comes to mind?

Are you a guide to them, or are they leading you astray?

Romans 12:9-11
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” What is He showing you?

As you slowly read these lyrics by Kendall Payne, pray for your friends and your own soul, and write between the lines whatever comes to mind: “May your heart break enough that compassion enters in
May your strength all be spent upon the weak
All the castles and crowns you build and place upon your head May they all fall, come crashing down around your feet
May you find every step to be harder than the last
So your character grows greater every stride
May your company be of humble insignificance
May your weakness be your only source of pride
What you do unto others may it all be done to you
May you meet the One who made us
And see Him smile when life is through
May your blessings be many but not what you hoped they’d be
And when you look upon the broken
May mercy show you what you could not see
May you never be sure of any plans you desire
But you’d learn to trust the plan He has for you
May your passions be tried and tested in the holy fire
May you fight with all your life for what is true.”