Ruth: Loyalty, Loss, and the God Who Restores Week 4

Welcome to Week Four of the Embrace the Word (ETW) study, Ruth: Loyalty, Loss, and a God Who Restores.

In Week Three, we explored the threshing floor. We watched Ruth move from the labor of the fields to the feet of her Redeemer, trading her striving for His covering.

This week, we’ve moved from midnight at the threshing floor to the morning at the Gate.

This is like moving from the secret place of prayer and request to the public place of praise and celebration. We will discover that our God doesn’t just settle the matter in our hearts; He establishes our standing before the world. He takes the “foreigner” and makes her a part of the royal line of Christ, all for His glory!

Keep this in mind as you study this week:

• The City Gate is a place of Authority: In ancient Israel, the gate was like the “Supreme Court.” It was where business matters were settled. It reminds us that our Redeemer has the legal right and the sovereign power to settle our case (see Ruth 4:1–2).
• The City Gate is a place of Public Witness: Restoration isn’t meant to stay hidden. When Boaz redeemed Ruth, he called the elders to be witnesses. God loves to take what was done in secret and display His glory publicly (see Ruth 4:9–11).
• The City Gate is a place of Legacy: It is at the gate where Ruth is compared to Rachel and Leah, the mothers of Israel. God isn’t just solving Ruth’s poverty; He is building a lineage that leads directly to King David and our Savior, Jesus (see Ruth 4:11–12, 18–22).
• The City Gate is a place of the “Great Exchange”: It’s where the “sandal” is removed and the price is paid. It points us to the Cross, where our Greater Boaz paid the ultimate price to move us from “liability” to “legacy” (see Ephesians 1:14).

This Week’s Memory Verse:

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!” Ruth 4:14

As you study Ruth 4, note the role of community in the story. The elders and the townswomen are an essential part of the celebration!

This week, we finish the Book of Ruth. Keep looking to see our true Kinsman Redeemer and expect the “God Who Restores” to finalize the work He has started in you.

Let’s keep embracing the Word and celebrating our Redeemer together.

Grace and Peace,

>>>> Download Week One ​HERE​! <<<<

>>>> Download Week Two​ HERE​! <<<<

>>>> Download Week Three ​HERE​! <<<<

>>>> Download Week Four ​HERE​! <<<<

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. —Romans 15:13

Your friend in the journey, 

Remember: The Word W.O.R.K.S. We are walking in Wholeness, Obedience, Righteousness, and Kingdom Success through the Word of God.