THE BLESSING

Ruth 4: 11-22; Week 14

Day 1
Invite the Lord’s blessing:

Ruth 4:11
“And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “ We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.” Who are witnesses to your life?

What are their hopes for you?

What are your hopes for you?

“Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel” were sisters married to the same husband, Jacob. Their lives were not easy, but they were fruitful. Do you relate?

Israel =”God prevails””the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob the name of the nation.” Have you ever wrestled with God?

What happened?

“may you prosper in Ephrathah” (Ruth 4:11)
The word for prosper, (חיל haiyl) is the same word used for Boaz’ wealth (Ruth 2:1) and Ruth’s virtue (Ruth 3:11). It means “strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army strength ability, efficiency wealth force, army” How do you pray to prosper?

Ephratah =”place of fruitfulness”
Where is your place of fruitfulness?

“and be famous in Bethlehem.” (Ruth 4:11)
Bethlehem = “House of Bread”, in Ruth symbolic of God’s Kingdom. For what would you like to be famous in God’s Kingdom, God’s eyes?

Meditate on this till you believe it: Isaiah 45:2-3
“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel.”
Day 2
Invite Jesus to speak to you:

Ruth 4:12
“May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.” Rephrase this prayer from your heart for your life: may my house be like…

Like Ruth, Tamar was widowed, and like Ruth, her approach to securing survival was highly unorthodox. Her fascinating story is found in Genesis 38. Why do you think these ‘color-outside-the-lines’ women are praised in the Bible?

Does it affect your view of God/ your perception of His view of you?

Psalms 139:13-15
“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret…” What part of your personality do you wrestle most with?

What do you think He is whispering to you about that?

Ruth 4:12
“…because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.”
Offspring means “seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing- time, posterity, child, fruitful” Ask the Lord for the kind of fruit you would like to bear:

The same word is used in Genesis 15:5-6
“Then He brought him outside and said, “ Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “ So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Tell Him how you believe in Him:

Galatians 3:29
“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” What God promised Abraham, He promised you. In your own words, describe what that means:

1 Peter 1:22-23
“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,” Whom/ how is He showing you to love fervently with a pure heart?

Day 3
Invite Him to be with you:

Ruth 4:13
“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.”
“Ruth, childless for (almost) 10 years (Ruth 1:4), is now married to Boaz (a much older man), and conceives a child (almost immediately). The child becomes Boaz’s legal son also (since he has no other children?), and thus the heir of both inheritances (Mahlon/Kilion’s and Boaz’s). Thus two people who had no children (cp Abraham and Sarah) are enabled by God to conceive, and now have a special child — a link in the royal line of Judah that leads (ultimately) to the Lord Jesus Christ.” Is there something you have longed for and perhaps given up hope for?

Can you think of any reason why God might wait?

Hosea 12:6
“So you, by the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually.” What does the underlined portion mean to you?

Isaiah 40:31
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
Ruth 4:14
“Then the women said to Naomi, “ Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!” Apply this to your life: Blessed be the Lord, who has not…..

Under each Scripture, write how this is true for you.
Psalms 16:7
“I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.”

Psalms 29:11
“The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.”

Psalms 103:2-4
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,”

Day 4
Thank Him for anything you can think of:

Ruth 4:15-16
“And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter- in- law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him.” What do these verses stir in you?

The word for restorer is the same as those underlined here:
Psalms 6:4
“Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies ’ sake!” How do you or a loved one need his mercy or deliverance?

Psalms 9:3
“When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence.” What enemy in your life shall fall at His Presence?

Psalms 19:7
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;”
What is He showing you?

The word for nourisher (Ruth 4:15) is the same as underlined here: Genesis 50:21
“Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” How does this speak to you?

Psalms 55:22
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Cast your burden on Him;

Line by line, thank Him for how this is or will be true for you: Isaiah 63:9
“In all their affliction He was afflicted,
And the Angel of His Presence saved them;
In His love and in His pity He redeemed them;
And He bore them and carried them
All the days of old.”

Day 5
Last day of our Ruth study together…
Tell Him what it has meant to you:

Ruth 4:17-22
“Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Now this is the genealogy of Perez:Perez begot Hezron; Hezron begot Ram, and Ram begot Amminadab; Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon; Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.” Why do you think this genealogy is mentioned?

If you are a Christian, what is your spiritual genealogy? Who begot you, and who will follow in your footsteps?

What do you want them to know about the Lord?

What legacy would you like to see them leave?

Matthew 12:50
“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” As Ruth, the Moabitess, became family to Christ Himself, so can you.
As we review some of the names from the Book of Ruth, make each a prayer/ dedication to your Father in heaven.
Ephraim = “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (Genesis 41:52)

Bethlehem = “House of Bread”

Judah = “praised”

Ruth =”friendship”

Boaz = “by strength”

Obed = “serving”

David = ” beloved”

Your name =

Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Your response: