Sept. 26
Jonah chapter 1: God in our Rebellion
Oct.03
Jonah chapter 2: God in our Predicaments
Oct.10
Jonah chapter 3: God in our 2nd Chances
Oct. 17
Jonah chapter 4: God in our Pouting Places
Oct. 24
Ruth chapter 1: God in our Suffering
Oct. 31
Ruth chapter 2: God in our Harvest Blessings
Nov. 07
Ruth chapter 3: God in our Risks
Jonah Chapter 1
The Story:
1. Running from the call (verses 1-3)
2. No place to hide (verses 3,5,7)
3. Rebellion comes with 'collateral damage' (verses 5,13)
4. The storm is stirred, the storm is stilled (verses 4,11,13,15) - points to some New Teastament stories?
The Story in my life:
1. What is my Nineveh?
2. What is my Tarshish?
3. Am I running from God? from his call? from his mission?
4. How am I tempted to rationalize my rebellion?
God Sightings:
1. God calls his servants
2. God is concerned for all people
3. God pursues us even in our rebellion
4. Easter glimpses
Jonah chapter 2
1. The Predicament 1:17 "the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah ..."
2. The Prayer chapter 2 .... verse 1 " from inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God"
* why is this a Psalm of thanksgiving & not a petition?
* why is the text using verbs in the past tense?
Note: the signs of assured deliverance in spite of appearances (verses 4,6,7,9)
Note: the desperate emotional condition of Jonah
3. Liberated to Proclaim 2:10 "and the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomitted Jonah onto dry land."
4. God Sightings
* from protest to piety
* the power of praise
* sensitive to plight of others
* sacrifices & vows
5. Going Deeper
i) 2:8 could be the most evangelistic verse in the OT: “those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
ii) “bi-polar spirituality/piety is real (dual personality, ambivalence) The Jonah of chap2 is different from the one of chap 1 & 4 (Bible has heroes that are less than perfect)
iii) Jonah lives in “the land of in-between” just like us: he is rescued from drowning but not yet on solid ground … we are redeemed & forgiven but not yet perfected in heaven
Iv) God meets us in messed up places
v) 15 different Psalms are alluded to in this prayer of Jonah 2 – when in the predicament, Jonah prayed the familiar!
vi) the vow came when Jonah was feeling pretty bad; don’t wait till it feels good before you commit to the Lord
So Just Where is God?
Part 3 God in our Second Chances [Jonah 3]
1. Eventually Jonah ‘gets with the program’.
3:1 “Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.”
3:2 “Proclaim the message I gave you.”
3:3 “Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went”
2. The response in Nineveh
3:4 “40 day warning”
3:8 Nineveh’s King ‘gets with the program’ … “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.”
3:10 “When God saw how they turned, he had compassion.”
Supporting Scripture: 2 Peter 3:8-14
• The day of the Lord will come
• The Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance
• Therefore live holy and godly lives
God Sightings:
1. Never beyond hope: Even Israel’s worst enemies, the most unlikely people, believe, repent and receive God’s compassion and forgiveness.
2. Grace abounds: Jonah is given a 2nd chance.
3. Turn, turn, turn: 3:4 = ‘overturned’ in judgment; 3:5-10 = the people turn from sin towards God, and give up evil; 3:9,10 = God turns with compassion
Jonah chapter 4 "God in our Pouting Places"
INTRODUCTION
* do you have a regular 'pouting place'?
* do you have a predictable 'pouting posture'?
INSTRUCTION
4:1 = Jonah was greatly displeased and angry ... WHY?
4:3, 10 = Jonah wants to die ... WHY? ... note the similarities with 1 Kings 19:1-18 (Elijah)
4:4-11 HOW DOES GOD DEAL WITH THIS POUTING PROPHET? ... what do make of God's challenge to Jonah in 4:4 & 4:9 "Have you any right to be angry?"
INSPIRATION: GOD SIGHTINGS
* 1:17, 2:10,4:6,7,8 ... God appointed, provided, prepared = divine initiative & sovereignty
* God's compassion & grace is a common Biblical description of His character - Psalm 103, 145:8,9 (Jonah knew this! 4:2)
IMPLICATIONS
* have you ever tried to 'limit' God's mercy and grace in the lives of others?
* to whom is God wanting you to show love and mercy? What stands in the way? (apathy, anger, jealousy, disdain, nothing)
* how would things be different if the motto of your life & your church was: "willing to go anywhere, anytime, to anyone with a message from the Lord"?
Ruth Chapter 1 “God in our Suffering”
The story begins in two parts:
#1. Going Away verses 1-7
#2 Coming Home verses 8-22
Naomi’s personal disasters:
• Famine
• Widowed
• Two sons die
• The grief of parting
•
Attitudes toward, and history with, the Moabites (Genesis 19:30-38; Numbers 25:1-3; Deuteronomy 23:2-4)
God Sightings:
• The Lord provides (1:6)
• God is at work (Ruth: 1:16,17; Naomi: 1:20,21)
• Learning to embrace God’s people as your own all your life (1:16)
• A loyal, faithful friend in times of emptiness & desolation (1:17) – “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” Proverbs 18:24; “I will not leave you as orphans … I will send the counselor/comforter to you … do not be afraid” John 14:18, 27, 16:7
• The Lord Almighty (1:21)
• Just at the right time (1:22.. “the barley harvest was beginning”) ….. “in the time of my favour…” Isaiah 49:8; “you have come to such a position for such a time as this” Esther 4:14; “at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” Romans 5:6
So Just Where is God?
Part #6 God in our Harvest Blessings (Ruth 2)
Much can happen in just one day!
Hope can be restored & life can take a new direction.
Relative Boaz plays a pivotal and theologically significant role in this story: “Kinsmen Redeemer” 2:1,3, 20
God’s people had a responsibility to care for the poor & helpless; Leviticus 19:9-10
There is an economic expression of walking with God. See James 1:27 & Acts 6:1-6
Naomi has moved from spiritual depression 1:20,21 to hope 2:20
God Sightings:
• Meeting Boaz = behind the apparent chances of day-to-day encounters, God is expressing his providential rule & care. Note 2:3 “as it turned out” also 2:20
• OT importance of family
• “the wings of refuge” 2:12
• Concerns for the poor Deuteronomy 10:17-19
• “favour”, “took notice of you” = a glimpse of divine grace 2:2,10,13,19
• Be careful how you pray: you may end up being part of the answer! 2:12
So Just Where is God?
Part #7 God in our Risks (Ruth 3)
Essential Background Information:
It is impossible to understand the Book of Ruth, and particularly this chapter, without knowledge of the ancient Near Eastern “Kinsman-Redeemer” practices. Old Testament explanations are in Ruth 3, Genesis 38, & Deuteronomy 25.
The “Levir”:
This Latin word translates the Hebrew for ‘brother-in-law’, and refers to the family duties & marriage customs when the man of the house has died. If a man dies without children, the name of the dead man is perpetuated through the widow’s marriage with another man in the family, and subsequently having children for the dead man.
The “Goel”:
This is the nearest kinsman who redeems persons or property. As a verb it means to ‘buy back’ or ‘protect’.
Notes:
As the drama of this midnight-meeting unfolds, note the following:
• Boaz, Ruth & Naomi take risks. Trust & commitment is visible in all three.
• It is the responsibility of the Goel to take the initiative. However, in this case Ruth does. There exists a nearer kinsman. So, if Boaz is willing, it demonstrates his true love & grace by going beyond the requirements of the law.
• Observe the numerous ways in which Boaz acts as protector of Ruth.
• Observe the character traits of integrity, loyalty, love. (Hebrew word ‘Hessed’)
Reflect:
1. How do the actions of Boaz remind us of Jesus Christ? (accept, assure)
2. What model does the action of Ruth provide for the Church? (listen, receive, wait)
So Just Where is God?
Part #8 God in our Redemption (Ruth 4)
Rev. D. Johns
Opening questions to get us ready for the story:
• Of which ancestors are you very proud?
• What would you like to be famous for?
Questions about the story:
• Why is the ‘Kinsman Redeemer’ who is first-in-line reluctant to exercise his option/responsibility?
• How much emphasis should be placed on ‘typology’? (Boaz = Jesus; Ruth = Church)
Notes about the story:
• Boaz had an ancestor born by ’Kinsman Redeemer’ practice (Genesis 38)
• Boaz did not seem to have a bias against foreign women (Matthew 1:5)
• Public declaration & prayer of blessing 4:9-12
Lessons from the story:
• Emphasis on prayer (1:8, 2:4,12,20, 3:10, 4:9-12)
• God’s direct activity is only mentioned twice: 1:6, 4:13 – but can you see God at work ‘behind the scenes’?
• Willingness to relate to Moabites: who is the untouchable Moabite in your life? In your community? (The ones you keep at ‘arm’s length’)? How would contact affect your status & reputation? How would it stretch you? There are two books of the bible bearing the title of women’s names: both have a cross-cultural marriage experience – any significance to this?
• The ‘Kinsman Redeemer’ must be related to the one in need + must be rich enough to offer help + must be willing to sacrifice … in love, not obligation!
• What counsel/encouragement do you have, based on the story of Ruth, for those who are “empty”? (see 1:21)
• God’s servants act with integrity, love, compassion
• God implements his sovereign, protective, covenantal care – what impact does this have on you and your situation right now? God’s faithfulness is for you!
