The Bitter Made Sweet

P. 121-122P. 123

P. 124-127

Introduction

• A Bitter Life• A Well of Refreshing• A Kinsmen-Redeemer

A Bitter Life

• Gideon – “If God is with us, why?”• Naomi (“my pleasant one”)

• Circumstances – famine in Bethlehem • “the Lord’s hand is turned against me”• Call me “Mara” • “the Almighty made my life bitter”• “I was full, now I’m empty”

A Well of Refreshing

• Ruth - daughter she never had– “Where you go I will go, and where

you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried”

A Well of Refreshing

• Becomes the “provider”– Bring home grains

Kinsman/Redeemer

• A male to redeem an impoverished family member or to regain land to be sold– “right of refusal”– All land belonged to God within the

tribal assignment– Bought the rights

The Kinsman/Redeemer

• Boaz – close kin to Elimelek• “I bought the property and

acquired Ruth as my wife”– Takes Ruth into his provision– Provides protection– Gives access to sustenance

God’s, Theirs and Ours

• God’s Story– Plan of redemption– Runs from Adam to Jesus– Enter Boaz – who has a son, Obed

God’s, Theirs and Ours

• Their Story– Naomi – moved from bitter to sweet– Her grandson is the grandfather of

David– Her village is the birthplace of the

Christ

God’s, Theirs and Ours

• Our Story– Rights/Wrongs start with seed– Something done or taken away– Forgiveness removes wrongs