SHALOM

Ruth 2:10-12; Lesson 8
~ Shalom~
Day 1: why have i found favor?
Thank your Father for His presence here and now:

Ruth 2:10
“So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “ Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” What emotions do you think prompted in Ruth’s question?

When, if ever, did you last feel like that?

Take a deep breath and, without censoring yourself, mention anything that comes to mind, for which you are grateful:

1 Chronicles 16:8
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!”
Is there a connection between giving Him thanks and and calling upon His name? What does that mean to you today?

Romans 1:21
“because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” How does this work?

How can you guard against it?

1 Samuel 7:12
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
Looking back over your life, what are your “Ebenezers” – your clear awareness of God’s help?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do this in your own words to Him:

Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

Day 2; Power to Promise
Praise Him in your own words:

This is what prompted Ruth’s prostrate praise:
Ruth 2:8-9
“Then Boaz said to Ruth, “You will listen, my daughter, will you not? Do not go to glean in another field, nor go from here, but stay close by my young women. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Have I not commanded the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” What do you long to hear Him to say to you:

What has He already promised you:

The first Passover, God spoke:
Exodus 12:25
“It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service.” To what degree has He already taken you to your Promised Land?

Ponder again yesterday’s Scripture:
1 Samuel 7:12. “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
Without glancing back, list how He has helped you:

How do you actively remember His faithfulness?

Why does it matter?

Think of Amalek as anything you wrestle against in this life: Exodus 17:14-15
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “ Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and called its name, The- Lord- Is- My- Banner.”
Based on what He has already done and what you know of His character, how much do you trust Him with your life:

Romans 4:20-22
“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Giving God glory and expressing your faith to Him and others strength your faith and theirs. Who might need to hear this from you today?

Philippians 1:3-6
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 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 3; Fruitful in Loss
Open your heart to Him:

Ruth 2:11
“And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother- in- law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before.” Which losses had Ruth suffered?

Which losses have you suffered?

How are you dealing with them? How are they affecting you?

Psalms 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Either thank Him for how He has done this or ask Him for deeper healing. You are precious to Him!

What did Ruth do with her losses?

To whom might your loss or pain, present or past, become a blessing?
Reading this slowly, prayerfully, underline and take notes, ad He speaks to you: 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.”
Conclude by dedicating your losses and your fruitfulness into His hands:

Day 4; His Reward
Pray this ancient monastic prayer till your soul and spirit rest in Him: Lord, have mercy
You I adore
Into Your hands

Ruth 2:12
“The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Tell Him your impromptu response to this verse:

Meditate on the meanings of the word repay: (שׁלמ salam;) – to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate— make amends, , finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace (- able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper (- ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore,
Yes! The same word is translated peace. All of these are facets of the incredibly rich word Shalom! Read the meanings again and underline those that most touch you right now. Express to Him what they stir in you:

These verse all use this exact word:
Proverbs 16:7
“When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Your prayer:

Proverbs 13:13
“He who despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.”
Your prayer:

Proverbs 19:17
“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
And He will pay back what he has given.”
Your prayer:

Isaiah 60:20
“Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.”
Your prayer:

Genesis 15:1
…“Do not be afraid,(. your name. ). I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Your response:

Day 5; Under His Wings
What’s on your heart:

Ruth 2:12
“The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Describe the greatest reward you can dream of:

Like yesterday’s repay, the word full is a variant of Shalom: ( שׁלמ salem) “perfect, whole, full, just, peaceable, complete, safe, peaceful, perfect, whole, full, at peace”. Can you imagine a (human) reward without these qualities?

Why do you think He repeats both Shalom and the Lord?

Exodus 19:4
“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles ’ wings and brought you to Myself.” What do the Egyptians represent in your life?

Either thank Him for a time when He bore you on His wing or ask Him to make you aware of His wings right now:

He both carries us on His wings and hides us under them. We don’t ever have to choose or to come out from under them. Psalms 17:8
“Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,”
From what or whom do you long for Him to hide you?

Psalms 91:1-2, 4-5
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “ He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”…
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, Tell Him everything:

Insert your name on the blanks: Psalms 91:14-15
“Because _________ has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver _________; I will set ________ on high, because _________ has known My name.
___________ shall call upon Me, and I will answer ___________; I will be with ___________ in trouble;
I will deliver ___________ and honor ______________.