Source: http://www.aworkerapproved.com/2014/04/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 10:24:08+00:00

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In our Wednesday morning class, we studied Rahab and Ruth. Actually, I could not be there on 3/26, so the associate pastor taught on Rahab from my notes. We are now moving on to Samuel in our studies of Old testament characters.
Bible calls her a harlot, some suggest this word meant innkeeper, but the word in Hebrew, Greek is the word for harlot. May have had religious connotations as pagan religions had a strong sexual element in its worship.
See Josh. 2:1, 6:17, 25. She lived alone- Josh 2:18.
Rahab defied the King- hid spies, Josh. 2: 2-7, let them escape, 2:15-16.
What did she want? For her/family to escape death, 2: 12-13.
Why- She saw what God did, knew God was in Israel, 2:9-11- God gave Israel the land and the terror of the Lord had fallen on the Cannanites, God parted the Red Sea and defeated Israel’s enemies, God is in heaven above and on earth below, not a part of creation.
2:10- “swear to God…” she knew an oath to God had value.
the King.” Mt. 1:5-6. Rahab is in Christ’s royal linage.
Time period of the Judges.
One of two books named after a woman, the other, Esther .
Ruth, a gentile, married a Jew, Esther, a Jew, married a gentile.
Orpah- returns to her past, 1:15, back to her people, her gods.
Ruth 1: 16-17, cares for her mother-in-law, adopt God’s people, Naomi’s God. Knew Naomi’s God through Naomi, and through God’s blessing of His people- 1:6. (See 2:12). Both verses spoken in terms of past action, Ruth had already learned to trust God.
Glean, the poor have a right to glean after reapers.
v. 4- Boaz seen as godly man.
v. 11- Boaz honors her for her devotion to God as evidenced by her conduct, not for her beauty.
v. 14-16- beyond required care.
v.3- women usually not with men at night on threshing floor.
v. 4- sign of protection, asking for marriage.
v. 10- was he older, too shy to approach her? She could have gotten any man, but fulfilled obligation to her husband.
v.1- where business was done, 2 elders as witneses.
v. 5- see Dt. 25: 5-10.
6. if he would have son by her and he was only surviving male heir, his property would go to Elimelech, or, did he not want to marry a Moabite woman.
Book written to document David’s descent, not primarily a love story.
Naomi- 1:13, 20-21, 4: 13-17. Thought God had afflicted her because of divine displeasure.
A couple of weeks ago, I preached the sermon for the evening service. Because of a misunderstanding, it was thought I had been scheduled to do so. So it was announced at the morning service that I was to preach that night. Fortunately, I was prepared. In my car, I keep a folder of sermons ready to be preached in case I find I must deliver a sermon without advance notice. I used one of those. The title was "What Kind of Jesus are We Looking For." The setting was the anointing of Jesus at Bethany. I read from both Mk. 14: 1-11 and Jn. 12: 1-11. The point was that it was at that event that Judas decided he would betray Jesus because he realized the Jesus he thought he was following was not who Jesus really was. It was Mary who discerned who Jesus was and that he was worthy of being given our all.
Last night, 4/17, I preached at an African-American church on the subject of "Holiness That Can Be Seen." The verses preached upon were Ex. 20: 1-17, selected verses from Lev. 19, and Jn. 13: 1-17. I emphasized that holiness was not just the removing of ourselves from impurity, it is also opening ourselves up to all things that please God. Holiness is measured by our human relationships, specifically, by how we treat others. As this blog is merely a record of my activities, I don't go into great detail concerning subject matter.
On 4/13, at the evening service, I presided over the communion and foot washing service. The roots of communion in Passover were explained, then it was proclaimed from Jn 1:9 and 1Cor. 5:7 that Christ is our Passover who was sacrificed for us. After we celebrated communion, a brief explanation of foot washing from Jn. 13 was given. It was noted that Jesus even washed Judas' feet, thereby increasing the scope of love Christians are to exhibit. Not only are we to love those within the Church, we are to love and serve our enemies as well.

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