Participants 88
Discussion Questions
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In what ways do we see God’s Spirit at work in the books of Judges and Ruth?
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20 Replies
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We see God’s Spirit at work in the books of Judges and Ruth when He demonstrates His mercy and His judgment. In Judges, God disciplines Israel whenever they disobey and turn from His ways, but He also is always ready to receive them back, and show them kindness and mercy.
In Ruth, we see that even when life circumstances bring pain and sorrow, God will turn things around for good when we trust and obey Him. It may take a while, but God is faithful to give us peace and victory when we follow His plan and purpose.
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ruling over His people, then they ask for a king like the other nations in truth utterly rejecting God to rule over them, God chooses Saul, however, he will be succeeded by David because he was the lineage through which Christ would come.
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God’s Spirit worked in Judges as He disciplined Israel, in love though they were disobedience. In Ruth the Spirit of God showed how He can restore and provide for those who trust in Him. He allowed Ruth to turn from her God to the true and living God. Then allowed her to be the care-giver for Naomi. Naomi who thought God dealt bitterly with her so she wnated to be called ,”Marrah.” God showed up for the them in a mighty way causing their lineage to be the one that will produce Kings. God works in mysterious ways to fulfill His plan for mankind.
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In the book of Judges, despite the idolatry, immorality and the unfaithfulness of the Israelites to God’s covenant, God’s Spirit was at work to raise judges at different places at different points of time to deliver His people when they called out to Him. He also raised these judges to turn them from idols back to God, which they did so, at least temporarily. From this sporadic leadership, we see the need for Israel to have a good king.
In the book of Ruth, God’s Spirit was at work to convert Ruth, a Moabite woman, to worship the true God. Even the calamity that befell this family was used in God’s wisdom and sovereignty to bring Naomi and Moab back to Israel. Here, again under the hand of God, circumstances transpired such that Ruth would eventually wed a righteous man Boaz. Finally, we realize that God’s Spirit was not merely working out good things for a woman. God was working out good things for the nation. God was preparing the lineage of David, who we realize later will become a good king over Israel.
#Judges Ruth
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God is a forgiving God, full or mercy and faithfulness. He cares for His own not willing for any to perish but to come to repentance. Time and again in Judges we see this very thing. As the sheep that wanders away from the flock the Shepherd will find it and bring it back leaving the 99. Israel and Christians today are the same. We both need a redeemer and God in His faithfulness and love provides one.
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Just as the book of Ruth serves as a positive example, how have you observed an exception to the Deuteronomic Cycle?
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12 Replies
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The Deuteronomic Cycle was a cycle of sin, affliction, repentance, deliverance, and then sin again, spiralling down the same cycle. It showed how God’s people, though called to know God and to be a witness to the world who did not know God, instead followed the world to abandon the true God and follow idols. As a result, their lives were cursed.
Ruth was an antithesis because, although she belonged to a people who followed idols, she abandoned idols to follow the true God. As a result, her life was blessed.
I have seen a semblance of this in my sister-in-law. Although she comes from a family which is steeped in Buddhism (and most of the members still are), she came to faith in Christ at a late age. As gradually Christ comforted her about many of her grievances in life, I see a shift of personality and a joy in her, and her badly deformed spine is gradually straightening up. She is someone who has turned from idols to God, in spite of the counter-culture of her family, and now God has been blessing her.
#Judges Ruth
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Not all of God’s Chosen People were moving away from His Laws. There was Deborah and Barak, and some good brought about by other judges, but most just locally. The Book of Ruth gives an example of Naomi, who kept her faith in God and ended up converting one of her daughters in law to believe in God.
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Naomi remained faithful to God even when she lost her family. Ruth learned a lot from Naomi and decided to worship him instead of her pagan Gods. This led to God redeeming them and providing them with a home via Boaz. In my own life, I have seen God take care of my aging mother. My mother has always been faithful servant of God. She began losing her memory and someone used that to their advantage. Yet, with my own eyes I saw God restore what was lost and more. This shows as long as we trust God and live our lives serving Him, He will continue to provide and restore.
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Ruth, in her time, was such a great and positive example of following God and receiving blessings and provision. God, through his covenant, promised the Israelites so many blessings IF they would just follow Him and obey. An exception to the cycle that I have personally observed is the life of our Pastor. He has been faithful to his calling and has taken a position overseas to lead a small church, and God has blessed our church family tremendously through his leading. He has provided for our body’s needs and has brought our church family to a healthy place.
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The book of Judges reminds me of our current world. Because our governmental authorities have turned away from the living God and many church leaders, people are rebelling and worshipping the god of self or false idols. Many seek to silence the voice of the true and living God.
As in the book of Ruth’s positive example, I have observed an exception to the Deuteronomic Cycle. I know individuals who have not turned away from God (myself included). They continue to worship and seek God for direction during this time.
