RUTH’S CHOICE
Suggested Reading: Ruth 1-2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Ruth's home country of Moab was located east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, and south of the Arnon (Numbers 21:10-15). Today, Moab is within the Kingdom of Jordan. It was in the Plains of Moab, opposite Jericho (Numbers 22:1, 26:63, Joshua 13:32), that the Israelites made their last encampment before they entered the Promised Land.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Ruth 1:16
But Ruth said:
“Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.”
In the midst of the time of the Judges comes this beautiful love story. The book of Ruth is an account of one of the most moving acts of loyalty, and of the way that God honoured that love and loyalty. Even while evil and corruption seem so prominent in Israel, there were many honourable people who loved and served God. That number included a Moabite woman who had married an Israelite and was now a widow. In a time when Israel was often in apostasy, she left her idolatrous religion to embrace the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and her mother-in-law Naomi. Ruth is a bright shining light pointing to the way of faith in the one true God. Over 1000 years later, Jesus, the Son of God, would be born in Ruth’s adopted hometown of Bethlehem. From the lineage of Ruth comes the Messiah, the Christ, our Saviour and Lord.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, Ruth and Boaz were your great, great, etc. grandparents. You are 100% human and also 100% God. As a human, You show me how to live as a man. You are my Mentor, my Example, and my Hero. Please give me grace to follow You more closely today than yesterday. In Your loving Name I pray. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I was thrilled to participate in the wedding of our second daughter, Ellen, to Nizar Shaheen, an Israeli Arab who is ordained in the Nazareth Baptist Church. As a part of the ceremony, Ellen quoted, in the Arabic language, the words of our key verse. What a powerful moment. Israeli television co-operated with TV networks in Canada and the USA to carry the wedding live across North America. In advance, we had distributed thousands of copies of a document called, “A Marriage Covenant.” I encouraged married couples everywhere to renew their vows as Ellen and Nizar said theirs at the Church in Nizar’s home village of Cana of Galilee. Jesus, His mother, and several of the disciples were guests there at another wedding 2000 years before, and Jesus did His first miracle of turning the water into wine (read John 2:1-11). The people of Cana still call the wedding of Nizar and Ellen “the other wedding.” If I can find the video of Ellen saying Ruth’s words, I’ll attach it here…if not in time, I’ll try to attach the video in the next couple of days. Today, Nizar and Ellen are all over the Arabic speaking world on TV and on the internet, winning thousands of precious people to Jesus.
Yours for love and loyalty,
David
Madaba, Jordan, just near mount Nebo where Moses looked out over the Promised Land, has a church named The Church of the Map. The church is also known as Church of Saint George. The mosaic floor map (pictured below) has the oldest known map of Jerusalem and its surrounding Biblical regions.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Our faith is so rich in historical events, archaeology is proving this to be the case. I think it’s really interesting to view the sights where these events happened; although we don’t worship the sights themselves, we worship God alone through Jesus Christ. Thank you for bringing these fantastic pictures to us daily Reynold, they really are a joy to behold, they also help us to see how real these events were! Continuing to enjoy your daily blog David, God bless you and may the Holy Spirit continue to comfort and sustain you and increase your health. Have a great day blog buddies, God Bless!
You are welcome Scott. It has been a joy to work closely with my father in presenting these images.
🙂
A beautiful story of love and commitment in today’s reading, especially the vows that Ellen and Nizer professed to each other. It struck me how self controlled Ruth was in Ruth 2:14(b) … “she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back” later for Naomi, her mother-in-law to eat. Spirit filled and poetic chapters of care, love and gratitude! Have a great day, everyone!
I agree with everyrhing you said Scott and it is a beautiful story David
the pictures Renold. Scott have you been watching the series ” The Bible”
it is great.
Lianne Hogg
Hi Lianne, Unfortunately I haven’t seen “The Bible” series due to not having the History channel; it does look fascinating though! Thanks for your kind encouragement. God Bless.
Good morning fellow bloggers! What a joy to read the story in Ruth today and to hear of Ellen and Nizar’s wedding. A true love story we all need to learn from. How faithful Ruth was and how much more FAITHFUL our LORD is each and every day. God bless you with rest today David and may you and Norma-Jean continue to bless all of us with your faithfulness to the gospel. Great pictures Reynold and as Scott said makes our reading come alive.
Vivienne and I were blessed to be with you in Cana this past November. Ron did a great job of describing “the other wedding” to us all at that time!
We are enjoying The Bible series on the History channel and pray for your health.
Shalom,
Graham & Vivienne.
The 2012 yellow bus.
The story of Ruth is such a beautiful picture of redemption and the grace of God.
We see love, faith, and loyalty lived out throughout the pages of this small book. Looking forward to reading it with all my fellow bloggers.
Wishing you all a blessed day.
Really enjoyed reading the first two chapters of Ruth, this morning. Such a poised woman–very reassuring! Look forward to seeing the video clip of your daughter reciting Ruth 1:16, at her wedding, David. Thanks for such a great message, this morning. The Lord has worked through you and your family, across the globe, in unfathomable ways. You are all such an inspiration! Thank you! The photos are incredible, Reynold–makes me want to be there!
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. Psalm 16:8-9 (KJV)
Wishing fellow saints an excellent day!
Hi David, We hope you have a good day today and pray the Lord strengthens you and restores your health and vitality. l had to laugh as l was reading todays scripture story of Ruth. She was such a terrific girl, after she had eaten the food Boaz invited her to share, she took home a doggy-bag for Naomi! We are still doing that today! l love this story; hard work is rewarded and people who do a good job are noticed and enquired about, then comes promotion!
Really love this story as well. I can identify with Ruth caring for her mother-in-law as I cared for my mother for fourteen and a half years in her home after my father died. My mother was a saint and she deserved one of her many children to care for her. I remember seeing Nizar and Ellen’s wedding on 100 Huntley Street and it was awesome with Nizar riding in on a white horse and Ellen reciting that beautiful verse from Ruth. It’s amazing that after 1000 years when Christ was born, God rewarded Ruth’s act of obedience. He never forgets as in Deut. 7:9 it says, “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations.” Be encouraged and renewed today, David and fellow bloggers. Great photos again, Reynold.
Thank you !!!!!!!!!
I was away & out of computer access since Friday…’we’ finished 2 Corinthians and have now started Ruth…lots of catching up to do re this blog. 🙂 Thanks for such faithfulness David & Reynold for both photo’s and lessons….and fellow bloggers for your comments. It was a comfort to know I would return and find you all waiting! 🙂
Thank you David and Reynold for making the word of God and the pictures of the holy land come alive! I am truly enjoying this. Looking forward to your visit tomorrow morning at 100 Huntley street.
God bless you and my dear fellow bloggers.