Tag: Ruth

2 Samuel 15

Who, in your life, speaks lies to your face in order to build you up to break you down? If you cannot think of one, and your are a Christian, might I suggest the father of lies, Satan? Be careful for he is out to devour you (1 Peter 5.8).

2 Samuel 15

Absalom’s rebellion begins here and continues until his death in 2 Samuel 19 (see the study to come). This chapter divides itself into the treason shown by Absalom (1-12) and avid fleeing from Jerusalem (13-37).

Reading these first twelve verses lead us to believe that Absalom was quite bitter with his father. He spent five years away from him, and four years plotting his overthrow in the city of Jerusalem. He slowly but steadily led people away from David and into his own favor by telling them what they want to hear (see our study of 2 Samuel 14 and the woman of Tekoa). Remember back to 2 Samuel 11 where Ahithophel was introduced (see our study), he is brought back to the story here. He was Bathsheba’s grandfather who was also David’s counselor. What he did in this chapter was a payback for what David did to his granddaughter and her husband, Uriah. He advises Absalom to do to David what David did to Uriah, take another man’s wife. If Absalom could sleep with David’s concubines, mistresses, or wives, he could lay claim to the throne. Ahithophel will present himself again in 2 Samuel 17 (see our study to come). By the end of this first division, Absalom has many followers and this act of treason growing the act of rebellion begins in the next division.

In the next division, as David is fleeing, the author presents those who are faithful to God’s king. There is Abiathar (see our studies in 1 Samuel 21-24, 1 Samuel 30, and 2 Samuel 8), groups of people from various nations, and Ittai the Gittite displays his loyalty to David much like Ruth did to Naomi (see our studies in Ruth). David refuses to use the Ark as a symbol of protection. I believe he learned his lesson from Saul’s misuse of the Ark in 1 Samuel (see our study of 1 Samuel 5-7).

In order to have inside information, David sends his trusted advisor, Hushai, to give advice against Ahithophel. This leads to Ahithophel’s ultimate suicide (see our study to come in 2 Samuel 17).

The path David to on his escape from Jerusalem, David traveled the same route Jesus would take on the night of His betrayal along the Kidron Valley through the Mount of Olives.

Who, in your life, speaks lies to your face in order to build you up to break you down? If you cannot think of one, and your are a Christian, might I suggest the father of lies, Satan? Be careful for he is out to devour you (1 Peter 5.8).

1 Samuel 21-24

For the next few chapters, until the conclusion of the book, David is fleeing from Saul. We begin with David seeking sanctuary in a sanctuary. Good place to go, but not for bread and weapons. However, he found both there. Edomites are descended from Esau and are judged by God in Obadiah.

For the next few chapters, until the conclusion of the book, David is fleeing from Saul. We begin with David seeking sanctuary in a sanctuary. Good place to go, but not for bread and weapons. However, he found both there. Edomites are descended from Esau and are judged by God in Obadiah. We see their beginnings in Genesis 26.34-35 and Genesis 36. Esau rebels against his parents and pursues Canaanite women for wives. From this, an enemy of the Israelites springs. Saul has an Edomite as one of his leading shepherds. His name was Doeg. He tells Saul that David was protected and fed by the priests in Nob. In chapter 22 Saul orders the execution of the priest Ahimelech’s family because he helped David. The only person willing to carry out the order was Doeg. We will see David’s response to this later in 1 Samuel and in Psalm 52.

David goes to Gath with a sword of Goliath who was from . . . that’s right, Gath. When David goes to the city, the people recognize him as the soon-to-be-king. He fakes insanity and is let go.

In chapter 22 David is running from Saul toward the desolate cave of Adullum where the outcasts of Israel join his army. He takes care of his family by sending them to the Moabites. Refer to Ruth for background on the Moabites. This chapter shows the insane paranoia of Saul when he slaughters the descendants of Ahimelech for giving David bread (1 Samuel 21). Ahimelech gives Saul the background of David’s commitment to Saul. Saul still rejects David and kills Ahimelech’s family by the hand of Doeg. One, as always, escapes. His name is Abiathar. He proved faithful to David until David died. He was his high priest (Abiathar was the fourth generation from Eli).

Chapter 23 provides accounts of the relentless pursuit of Saul to kill David and David’s elude him. David stays in the wilderness of En-gedi during these days (cf. En-gedi and another En-gedi). As a bit of relief, David is introduced to Abiathar and Jonathan pledges his loyalty to David. It is strange that Saul could not find David but Jonathan could. When David wants to be found, he is; when he doesn’t want to be found, he isn’t. Does this sound like God?

Saul’s relentless pursuit continues in chapter 24. This time David could have killed Saul. Instead, David shows his loyalty to Saul because of his loyalty to God. Saul was relieving himself. The Hebrew states: “he covered his feet.” In other words, he was “dumping a load.” Saul relents from his relentless pursuit for a while. He will continue it in chapter 26.  Here, however, Saul acknowledges that David will be king.

There are times we need to hide from those who pursue us, there are times we need to confront those who pursue us, and the time is always that we remain loyal to God’s Word and call in our life. Despite the circumstances, we need to remain true to His calling and purpose for us. How are you doing?

Ruth 2-4

There is so much in the little book that it overwhelms my thinking more than the book of Judges. I fear not doing a satisfactory job and thus belittling the book. To that end, I will finish the book today and pick up the material at a later date yet to be determined.

There is so much in the little book that it overwhelms my thinking more than the book of Judges. I fear not doing a satisfactory job and thus belittling the book. To that end, I will finish the book today and pick up the material at a later date yet to be determined.

Ruth shows her work ethic and, after being noticed by Boaz for her determination (and/or beauty), is recognized for her diligence. He then blesses her with privilege in the field giving her permission to go beyond the laws of gleaning, which state the owner of a field is not to pick up pieces that have fallen nor to reap all the field but to leave them for the poor to gather and care for their families. Why don’t we have this law today? I do realize that it would be difficult in this age of technology to have someone pick up our leftover ideas, but it still is worth thinking through. We have the BofA ploy of taking the change and placing it in our savings, why not have those who desire to, whom own businesses, do the same for the poor.

Back to Ruth. Naomi recognizes that Boaz, the man who recognized Ruth’s work ethic, is attracted to Ruth and is a candidate to marry Ruth as a kinsman-redeemer. This is so rich a topic, Jesus is this for us, that I will have to pick up this thought later. Naomi tells Ruth what Boaz already said to her: Stay in his field! She does and God works through her obedience.

Chapter three is fascinating. The cultural aspects of courting are interesting. Basically, Boaz and Ruth plan to marry in this chapter.

Chapter four presents the legal ritual to allow Boaz to marry Ruth. The throwing in of the sandal is a signal of giving up one’s rights to a matter.

Because of God’s work in Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi, the lineage of David is presented. When time allows, I will do justice to this book.

Ruth 1

Ruth provides the era of the judges as the setting for the book. Some have mentioned that Ruth is provided to show that not all was bad during the time of the judges. However, some interesting undertones are found in the first chapter. The first question we need to ask is why the man from “the house of bread” was leaving Israel to live in Moab to find bread.

Ruth provides the era of the judges as the setting for the book. Some have mentioned that Ruth is provided to show that not all was bad during the time of the judges. However, some interesting undertones are found in the first chapter. The first question we need to ask is why the man from “the house of bread” was leaving Israel to live in Moab to find bread.

Moab was cursed by God (research for the source) and for an Israelite to dwell there was restricted. Elimelech takes his family there. This implies he was relying on what God had forbade to provide for him instead of relying on the God who calls Himself “Jehovah-Jireh” (I will provide). Hopelessly he turns to sin for the answer to his dilemma. How often do we lose hope in what God has called us to and search for His answer in our sin?

He leaves due to the famine in Israel. If this were his only reason, he would not have stayed as long as he did. From all appearances, he allows his son, named Sick and Sickly, to marry non-Israelites, another taboo. Interestingly, the three males die and the three women are left to fend for themselves. Because they are not in Israel, there is no one to care for them. She hears the land in Israel is again prosperous and heads back home. Her two daughters-in-law follow her. I wonder if they were ostracized from their people for marrying Israelites?

One of the women, Orpah, returns home and the other woman, Ruth, goes with Naomi.

There is much symbolism in this book that points to what Christ did for us. The rich history of Israel is also enveloped in this book. I am not doing either justice at this point. I will return to the book of Ruth to consider these points in more depth.