God Brings Joy to Joy

God Brings Joy to Joy Book of Ruth Portrait of a Bitter Woman • What’s in a name? Elimelech (God is my King), Naomi (Joy), Mahlon (Sickly), Chilion (Failing) • Hungry (1:1), estranged (1:2), widowed (1:3), bereaved (1:5) • Hopeless: “even if I should say I have hope” – She’s confident that any notion of hope is self-delusion • Self-Isolating: She attempts to drive people away from her • Bitter: Naomi’s 4-fold Accusation of God (1:20): • • • She breaks into poetry in a flourish of accusation and identity El Shaddai has (1) dealt bitterly; (2) done evil against me Yahweh has (1) emptied me; (2) accused me judicially Tracing God’s Redemption of Joy to Joy 1. God sends word of His visitation (see 1 Samuel 1:1920; 2:21) 2. God prepared the means of Naomi’s restoration: • • • • • God raised up a wealthy bachelor God brought them back right during barley harvest God preserved Naomi from land disputes God provided a welfare program for needy widows and sojourners God provided means of redemption in His law Tracing God’s Redemption of Joy to Joy 3. God surrounded Naomi with passionate followers of God: • • Ruth: Moabite convert from Chemosh; fiercely loyal to God and His people; conversant in God’s revelation (see 3:9; Deuteronomy 32:11) Boaz: almost always has the Lord on his lips (2:4; 2:12; 3:10; 3:13) 4. God redeemed Naomi’s financial status (4:4-6) 5. God restored Naomi’s family line (4:17) 6. God granted Naomi a place in the redeemer’s lineage (4:17-22) Noting God’s Reclamation • Note the unremarkable nature of God’s redemption – so much good brought from ordinary graces (a commitment to return; obedience to God’s welfare; an excellent work ethic; righteous business dealings) • Note God’s patience in restoring Joy to Joy – He doesn’t contradict her in a flourish of verbal counterpoint; He slowly changes her heart as God’s people submit to ordinary grace • Note the foreshadowing of Naomi’s restoration – she stops thinking solely about herself and starts thinking about the needs of another Reclaiming God’s Joy • Surround yourself with God’s people (Ruth 1 contains the word “return” 9x) • Wait on the Lord (see Psalm 130:5-6) • Accept God’s redemption (see Psalm 103:4; Ephesians 1:7)