EMBRACING HIS VOICE; INTRO TO RUTH
Ruth, Introduction Week
Embracing His Voice
Before we actually turn to the pages of the Book of Ruth, let’s set the stage and prepare our understanding. The words have different meaning when we know who is speaking. I listen differently to someone I might suspect to be a con artist than to my dearest friend. I can’t separate the words from the person speaking them.
Day 1
So who wrote this book? Actually, scholars consider the author unknown, but suggest that it might have been Samuel, the prophet. It is dated ca. 1046-1035 B.C. Pray for His insight, before you answer this question: why should we read an ancient document like this?
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. In your own words, how does this answer the question:
What is your relationship with the Bible?
__ It is foreign to me, and I don’t know where to start
__ I am somewhat familiar with it, but I don’t know how to apply it to my life. __ I read it regularly and long to grow deeper in understanding. __ It is my lifeline, and to the best of my ability, I seek to follow it.
No matter your answer, the fact that you are even considering this Bible study is an act of drawing closer to Him, and He will reward you. It is an act of faith. Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Tell Him what you long for from Him:
Now read these verses several times, each time allowing them to touch your soul like healing water. James 4:8a
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Thank Him for :
Day 2
Pray to hear His voice speaking directly to your soul and your life today.
Hear His invitation again:
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Every time you spend time in His Word, you spend time with Him. Difficult as it may be for us to understand, He is the Word. John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Does that change how you view Bible reading? If so, how:
Are you in any way afraid of change? In you life, in your relationships, in yourself? Tell Him about it:
He never changes, even when circumstances come and go.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Measure whatever you fret about against His unchanging nature that loves you beyond anything you can imagine. Nothing you have done or has been done to you changes that.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Tell Him what these words mean to you:
Does it settle some things in your heart?
Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
If you struggle to receive this, tell Him why. Otherwise, thank Him and tell Him what it means to you;
Romans 8:37-39
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Day 3
Are you aware of the romance you are part of? In this dialogue between God’s Word and your heartfelt response, love is blooming. It is inevitable – it is the nature of His Word. Just in case you wonder if He really cares about your thoughts, listen to this plea: Song of Songs 2:14
“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
In the secret places of the cliff,
Let me see your face,
Let me hear your voice;
For your voice is sweet,
And your face is lovely.”
YES! The Author of the Bible where every Word is God-breathed, is whispering this to you today. Respond to Him:
Most days, we will read bite-sized portion of the Bible to help us digest all that it has to offer. Today will be different. Read the whole chapter Isaiah 55, underlining what He says about His Word and His promises as you go. Invitation to the Thirsty
55 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”
Glance back over it again. What most grabbed you? Why?
Tell Him what His Word means to you:
Conclude with a prayer for His Word to bear the fruit of His choice in your life:
Day 4
Write the portion that most touched you yesterday:
Review what you know and believe about God’s Word:
Under each Scripture, let your response become a prayer to Him. Let Him hear your voice “for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.” (Song of Solomon 2:14)
In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. John 1: 1 Lord, I pray
Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119: 11 Lord, help me stand again the sin of
Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30: 5 Lord, today I seek refuge from
Please, shield me from
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119: 105 Lord, I need Your light to see
So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55: 11
Lord, I dedicate today to You. Let Your Word accomplish what Your please and purpose. May me fruitful
Day 5
Our last day, before we turn to the holy pages of Ruth. I pray you are more aware than ever of His presence in His Word and of His intense longing for you to meet Him there. It is His love letter to us. May these lyrics from Phil Wickham’s Heaven Song play in your souls today: You wrote a letter and You signed Your name
I read ever word of it page by page
You said that You’d be coming
Coming for me soon
Oh my God I’ll be ready for You
I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can’t wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song
I hear Your voice and I catch my breath
Well done my child enter in, in rest
As tears of joy roll down my cheek
It’s beautiful beyond my wildest dreams
The point of it all is that one day soon, we will enter into a beauty beyond our wildest dreams with the greatest Lover our soul has ever known. All of this – Bible reading, fellowship, worship – it is like wedding preparations, transforming our lives from plain and painful living to the majestic adventure we were made for. It is transforming us from creatures of corruption to bearers of Life. Don’t take me works for it: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. In what ways has He brought you liberty:
When you seek Him in His Word, in worship, in edifying conversations, you are “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” In what ways have you been transformed into His image:
If you are His, this then is a glimpse of your assignment in life: Isaiah 61:1-4
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
And they shall repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
What is your response to this:
Please, don’t let it stress you or scare you !! It is not something you can do; it is something He will be doing in you, because it is Who He is. Just let Him be all this to you. Read it again, this time highlighting what means the most to you. Jesus is speaking this over you. Just receive.
Ruth, Introduction Week
Embracing His Voice
Before we actually turn to the pages of the Book of Ruth, let’s set the stage and prepare our understanding. The words have different meaning when we know who is speaking. I listen differently to someone I might suspect to be a con artist than to my dearest friend. I can’t separate the words from the person speaking them.
Day 1
So who wrote this book? Actually, scholars consider the author unknown, but suggest that it might have been Samuel, the prophet. It is dated ca. 1046-1035 B.C. Pray for His insight, before you answer this question: why should we read an ancient document like this?
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. In your own words, how does this answer the question:
What is your relationship with the Bible?
__ It is foreign to me, and I don’t know where to start
__ I am somewhat familiar with it, but I don’t know how to apply it to my life. __ I read it regularly and long to grow deeper in understanding. __ It is my lifeline, and to the best of my ability, I seek to follow it.
No matter your answer, the fact that you are even considering this Bible study is an act of drawing closer to Him, and He will reward you. It is an act of faith. Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Tell Him what you long for from Him:
Now read these verses several times, each time allowing them to touch your soul like healing water. James 4:8a
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Thank Him for :
Day 2
Pray to hear His voice speaking directly to your soul and your life today.
Hear His invitation again:
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Every time you spend time in His Word, you spend time with Him. Difficult as it may be for us to understand, He is the Word. John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Does that change how you view Bible reading? If so, how:
Are you in any way afraid of change? In you life, in your relationships, in yourself? Tell Him about it:
He never changes, even when circumstances come and go.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Measure whatever you fret about against His unchanging nature that loves you beyond anything you can imagine. Nothing you have done or has been done to you changes that.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Tell Him what these words mean to you:
Does it settle some things in your heart?
Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
If you struggle to receive this, tell Him why. Otherwise, thank Him and tell Him what it means to you;
Romans 8:37-39
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Day 3
Are you aware of the romance you are part of? In this dialogue between God’s Word and your heartfelt response, love is blooming. It is inevitable – it is the nature of His Word. Just in case you wonder if He really cares about your thoughts, listen to this plea: Song of Songs 2:14
“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
In the secret places of the cliff,
Let me see your face,
Let me hear your voice;
For your voice is sweet,
And your face is lovely.”
YES! The Author of the Bible where every Word is God-breathed, is whispering this to you today. Respond to Him:
Most days, we will read bite-sized portion of the Bible to help us digest all that it has to offer. Today will be different. Read the whole chapter Isaiah 55, underlining what He says about His Word and His promises as you go. Invitation to the Thirsty
55 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”
Glance back over it again. What most grabbed you? Why?
Tell Him what His Word means to you:
Conclude with a prayer for His Word to bear the fruit of His choice in your life:
Day 4
Write the portion that most touched you yesterday:
Review what you know and believe about God’s Word:
Under each Scripture, let your response become a prayer to Him. Let Him hear your voice “for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.” (Song of Solomon 2:14)
In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. John 1: 1 Lord, I pray
Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119: 11 Lord, help me stand again the sin of
Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30: 5 Lord, today I seek refuge from
Please, shield me from
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119: 105 Lord, I need Your light to see
So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55: 11
Lord, I dedicate today to You. Let Your Word accomplish what Your please and purpose. May me fruitful
Day 5
Our last day, before we turn to the holy pages of Ruth. I pray you are more aware than ever of His presence in His Word and of His intense longing for you to meet Him there. It is His love letter to us. May these lyrics from Phil Wickham’s Heaven Song play in your souls today: You wrote a letter and You signed Your name
I read ever word of it page by page
You said that You’d be coming
Coming for me soon
Oh my God I’ll be ready for You
I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can’t wait to join the angels and sing my heaven song
I hear Your voice and I catch my breath
Well done my child enter in, in rest
As tears of joy roll down my cheek
It’s beautiful beyond my wildest dreams
The point of it all is that one day soon, we will enter into a beauty beyond our wildest dreams with the greatest Lover our soul has ever known. All of this – Bible reading, fellowship, worship – it is like wedding preparations, transforming our lives from plain and painful living to the majestic adventure we were made for. It is transforming us from creatures of corruption to bearers of Life. Don’t take me works for it: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. In what ways has He brought you liberty:
When you seek Him in His Word, in worship, in edifying conversations, you are “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” In what ways have you been transformed into His image:
If you are His, this then is a glimpse of your assignment in life: Isaiah 61:1-4
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
And they shall rebuild the old ruins,
They shall raise up the former desolations,
And they shall repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations.
What is your response to this:
Please, don’t let it stress you or scare you !! It is not something you can do; it is something He will be doing in you, because it is Who He is. Just let Him be all this to you. Read it again, this time highlighting what means the most to you. Jesus is speaking this over you. Just receive.
