ss - gracious woman pdf

7/29/2019 SS - Gracious Woman PDF

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Gracious Woman A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. ~ Proverbs 11:16

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Let us take a few moments to define some of these words:

! Gracious: _________________________________

Retaineth: ________________________________Honour: _________________________________

Read the book of Ruth.

! Matthew Henry said of this passage: “A pious and discreet woman will keep esteem and respect.” A gracious woman is well-liked. She receives praise,honor, and love. In a good way she reaps what she sows. She is kind toeveryone, consistent in her attitudes and in her actions. She tries to bestow the

same grace that has been shown her by God. She is always looking for ways tobe a blessing to people which results in self-sacrifice on her part! Being graciousis a characteristic of the Virtuous Woman, but God felt it important enough topoint her out in a special way. Ruth lived this out on a day to day basis. As westudy the life of Ruth, let us remember that she was a gracious woman.! Ruth is one of my favorite bible stories. It could be that my middle name isRuth or it could be that I’m a hopeless romantic. Elimelech lived in Bethlehemwith his wife, Naomi and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Because of the draughtElimelech thought it is best to move his family to Moab. In Moab Mahlon andChilion get wives, Orpah and Ruth. History tells us that there was a possibilitythat Ruth was a temple prostitute or at the very least worked in the temples.While they are there Elimelech passes away and his two sons, Mahlon - whichmeans sickly, and Chilion - which means pining, also pass away.! This leaves Naomi as a widow with her two widowed daugther-in-laws.Naomi decides to go back to Bethlehem but encourages her daughter-in-laws tostay in Moab. Orpah takes her up on the offer but Ruth begs Naomi to let herfollow. Ruth goes to Bethlehem with Naomi and soon takes up the job of takingcare of her mother-in-law. She goes to the fields and gathers the harvest thateither falls to the ground or from the edges that are reserved for those who arepoor. Boaz sees her working in his field and is immediately smitten. He tells theworkers to drop handfuls of purpose. When Ruth goes home with all of her foodNaomi realizes it is much more than she should have had. She asks Ruth whereshe went gathering that day and Ruth tells her in Boaz’s field. Naomi begins toput the pieces of the puzzle together and realizes that Boaz has a thing for Ruthand encourages Ruth to go back.! After a little while of this, Naomi encourages Ruth to propose marriage toBoaz by lying down at his feet. Boaz tells Ruth that he wants to marry her butthat there is a nearer kinsman redeemer that has the first right to marry Ruth. InBible times the custom was that if a man dies than the next of kin was to marry


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the woman and raise up a child to continue the first husband’s name. Ruth had akinsman redeemer that was closer to her than Boaz. This first kinsman redeemeris a picture of The Law.

! Boaz goes the next day to talk to the nearer kinsman redeemer. When toldthat he has to marry Ruth to get the land, the nearer kinsman redeemer turnsdown the offer, leaving Boaz free to marry Ruth. They exchange shoes as a signof their agreement and there is a wedding! Boaz is a picture of Jesus Christ. Wehad a debt we could not pay and we needed a kinsman redeemer to redeem us.The Law can’t, it merely condemns us just as it did Ruth. Only the sacrifice ofJesus was acceptable to pay the price for our sin. But we must by faith accepthis gift of love on the cross. Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Saviorfrom your sins? If not, there is not better day than today. Simply talk to God andask Him to forgive you of your sin. Tell Him you accept his free gift of salvation.

I. Ruth’s Actions • What is one of the first things you think of when someone says, “That lady is

very gracious?”

• Every time we see Ruth speaking, she is only opening her mouth withwisdom and in her tongue we see the law of kindness.

• Proverbs 10:32 says, “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.” In your owns words, whatdoes this verse mean?

• Knowing that Samuel was probably the writer of Ruth, we know that he didnot go on and on as a female might have, i.e. my husband is fond of saying,“A man can take 5 minutes to tell you about a 30 minute conversation, but a woman will take 30 minutes to tell you about a 5 minute conversation.” Read Ruth 1:8-17. Samuel as a man, wrote about what was probably a 30minute conversation and gives us a 5 minute recap. If you will allow mesome poetic license, let us consider the following conversation:! Ruth: !Naomi, Intreat me not to leave you or to return from following after

! ! you because I desire to become a proselyte.! Naomi: We are commanded to keep the Sabbath and other holy days, and ! ! on it we are not to travel more than 2,000 cubits.! Ruth: ! Whither thou goest I will go.! Naomi: We are commanded not to lodge with Gentiles.! Ruth: Where thou lodgest, I will lodge.! Naomi: We are commanded to observe the 113 precepts.


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! Ruth: Thy people shall be my people, I will become like you and your ! ! people. The things your people observe I will observe.! Naomi: We are commanded not to worship with any strange worship or

! ! strange gods.! Ruth: Any thy God my God.! Naomi: It is our custom, if at all possible, to be buried in our own country.! Ruth: Where thou diest I will die.! Naomi: We have a family place for burial.! Ruth: And there will I be buried.

• We know that Ruth was beautiful because of all the maidens working inBoaz’s field she alone caught his attention. But her beauty went beyond skindeep. Ruth knew what it meant in Proverbs 11:22 that as a jewel in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. In our day andage it seems to be more natural and even acceptable to be a fair woman

without discretion - one might use one word to describe this: sexy. What aresome pitfalls we must avoid to not be this kind of woman?

• Gracious women are often scorned in our world. Women are expected torise to the top, to domineer over everyone, especially men. What are some

of the false ways our world tries to convince us to act to get to the top?

• Which is a better way to live, graciously or ruthlessly? Why?

II. Ruth’s Character A. Ruth was Wise! ! 1. Ruth was wise in her choice of God.

• Ruth 1:16b thy God my God. There is nothing wiser thanhaving God be your God. What are some areas that you knowyou allow God to have full reign in your life?


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• What are some ways you need to surrender to God?

• Proverbs 3:21, 22 says, My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. In your own wordsexplain this verse:

• Proverbs 4:7-9 Wisdom is the principal thing: therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her,and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour,when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thing head an ornament of grace. What are some ways to get wisdom?

! ! 2. Ruth was wise in her obedience.

• Ruth first obeyed God and that made obeying those over hereasy. Read Ruth 2:8, 21-23. How did she obey?

• Read Ruth 3:1-10. Ruth obeyed Naomi in a small area and asa result she was given a bigger responsibility. Naomi tells Ruthto do something that may have seemed strange: She was togo and propose marriage to a man. And not the regular way ofgetting down on one knee and asking him to marry her, but bylaying down at his feet! Look at Ruth’s response: She doesn’tquestion or argue. She trusts God and obeys completely,sweetly, and quickly.

• Read Ruth 3:11-14. Ruth is confronted with a problem beyondher control: There is another man, a closer kinsman redeemer!When presented with circumstances beyond our control, whatare some actions you have observed in women around you?


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• What was Ruth’s reaction found in Ruth 3:14, 18?

! B. Ruth is Humble.

• Read Ruth 2:1-3. Life has suddenly present Ruth with poverty. Weare unsure of her background, but some commentators speculatedthat she was possibly a temple attendant. She becomes married butsoon after her wedding her husband falls ill and dies. She is a widowwith nothing but a mother-in-law to take care of. As you haveobserved women around you, what are some reactions you havewitnessed when life takes an unpleasant, unexpected turn?

• Proverbs 3:33, 34 says, The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but giveth grace unto the lowly. How can this verse helpus in times of less?

! C. Ruth is pure in heart.

• In Ruth chapter 2, the love story starts to develop. Boaz is walkingalong, taking care of his business and as the classic story goes, he’sstopped in his tracks by a pretty face. After checking her out andasking around about her, he works up the courage to go talk to her.At first it is purely business (Read Ruth 2:9). Then Ruth responds tohis kindness with pureness of heart (Read Ruth 2:10), rather thanwith pride. What are some negative or proud reactions Ruth couldhave had, as observed in women around you?

• What are some things Ruth, as a young woman with a family back

home, friends, future, talent, dreams, etc. possibly gave up to followNaomi?

• Read Ruth 2:11-13. Boaz recognizes the things Ruth has given upand everything she has done for her mother-in-law. He blesses herfor these actions. Ruth again responds with pureness of heart by first


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telling Boaz how he has comforted her and recognizing who she was,a Moabitess. I think this is commendable. Part of having a pure heartis to recognize yourself as the sinner you are, but praise God He

doesn’t leave you there. Boaz commends Ruth for all the good shewas doing. Ruth didn’t try to fool Boaz, she doesn’t put on airs, shewas who God was making her to be. Even though she recognizedshe was not as Boaz’s other handmaidens, she did know who shewas, because of what God had done and was doing her life! Whatare some things God has done in your life to bring you to where youare now?

• Explain Proverbs 22:11, He that loveth purness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the king shall be his friend.

! D. Ruth was virtuous.

• Read Ruth 2:17. Ruth worked hard, as did the lady in Proverbs 31.

• Read Ruth 3:11. Boaz is talking to Ruth and telling her that Ruth was

a hard worker. Her character, NOT her nationality and background,was known throughout the city. What are some things the localgossip may have been saying about this Moabitess woman?

III. Ruth’s Rewards ! A. Honor

• Read our text: Proverbs 11:16.

• Read Ruth 3:10. Ruth was “blessed of the Lord.”

• Boaz was a very eligible bachelor. With all of his wealth, character,etc. look who gets him: RUTH!!! Read Ruth 4:9, 10.

• Read Ruth 4:15. We find that Ruth loved her mother-in-law and thatshe was better than seven sons! Why do you think the women of thecity said that? What importance and honor does this phrase hold?


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! B. Friends

• Ruth did not just get the boy, she also got friends! Read Ruth 4:11,12.

• Read Ruth 4:13. As if all this wasn’t enough, Ruth is also blessedwith a child and not just any child, King David’s grandpa and Jesus‘great . . . . grandpa!

! In conclusion, Read Ruth 4:14-16. Because of Ruth and hergraciousness, she marries Boaz. Because of this Naomi is blessed (vs. 14).Boaz’s name becomes famous in Israel (vs. 14). Their baby, Obed, becomes arestorer of life and nourisher of their old age (vs. 15). Imagine had Ruth turnedback. Imagine if Ruth had not graciously offered to go gather grain for Naomi.Imagine had Ruth been hot, sweaty, and tired and as a result reacted withunkindness to Boaz instead of with graciousness. Some of the smallest decisions

Ruth graciously made determined the entire direction of her life and ultimately anation, through her great grand child King David and eventually the entire world,with the birth of Jesus Christ!

Reflect on what we have learned through the life of Ruth and how it appliesto you:

• Praise God for his continued work in your life, making and molding you in thelady He wants you to be!

• Confess areas to God where you have been ungracious.

• Offer thanks to God for his specific working in your life and how He spoke to

you specifically through the life of Ruth.• Ask God to help you be gracious and to use your graciousness to have a better

influence on your family and to the lost around you!


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