Devorah as Prophetess, Judge and Mother:

A Woman's Innate Ability to Inspire

Part 1 of 2

The story of Devorah appears in The Book of Judges (4:1 - 5:31). Devorah becomes Judge at a time when the Jewish nation is experiencing a spiritual and moral ebb. This state of affairs is summarized in the Artscroll Tanach introduction to the Book of Judges:

"With the death of Joshua, the Jewish nation entered a new era. No longer was there a single national leader, a virtual king of the nation, as Moses and Joshua had been. True, there were courts in every town and city, as commanded by the Torah, so that there would be a system of justice, but there was no formally constituted national leader... As the Book of Judges notes all too sadly, "...In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was proper in his own eyes" (17:6 & 21:25). There were episodes of extreme sinfulness that caused God to remove His protective providence from Israel, and foreign oppressors would exercise predatory control over parts of the country. Nevertheless, the masses of the people never lost their faith in God and their basic allegiance to Torah. 

G o d C a r e s

By Kenneth E. Hagin

Many people have a difficult time comprehending God as a Father Who loves and cares for them. They have the idea that God is like a judge who sits up in Heaven and looks for a chance to punish them the moment they make a mistake.

But no, God is a loving Heavenly Father! The Bible says that He is love (1 John 4:8, 16).

In the Gospels Jesus always portrayed God as a loving Father.

JOHN 3:16 (NKJV)
16 “GOD SO LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

My Powerful Judge

I had sinned. Despite my efforts to convince myself that I hadn't really failed God, guilt whispered quietly, and then more loudly when I ignored its protests. It didn't matter if anyone else was aware. I knew. That self-knowledge made it terrible to bear. 

During that period, I read every day from the Psalms. Although I didn't speak quite as dramatically as the poet, I understood his words on an emotional level: "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever-heat of summer" (Ps 32:3-4, NAS).

I had sinned. 

To make it worse, it wasn't what the Old Testament refers to as a sin of ignorance. I had deliberately gone astray. Before I sinned, I told myself that I was protecting my rights, standing up for myself and being faithful to my convictions. At other times, I've told myself that I had technically sinned, but I had really been overwhelmed by temptation (as though that made it a lesser offense).

My Lawyer

Jesus is our advocate, or lawyer, before God. For many, this image conjures up a negative view of God.

Many have little trouble grasping Jesus as the loving, committed attorney out to defend us before a just and angry God who wants to condemn us all to eternal damnation. Because of Jesus, the Judge doesn't - but he really wants to.

Why not think of God as a loving judge, one who wants to free humanity, but has to have a reason to do so?

The apostle Paul writes: "God presented him [Jesus Christ] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus" (Rom 3:25-26, NIV).

Three Relationships that Make Us Rich

Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"  And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:13-15).

This man came to Jesus to get him to "sort his brother out" over the inheritance, not realizing that his brother was the real treasure in his life - not the things he might inherit.

Here are three relationships that make us rich:

1.      Our relationship with God.  To know God makes you rich, no matter what material resources you may or may not have.

Some of those that the world would call rich are actually bankrupt when it comes to the most important treasure of all.

2.      Our relationship with others.  People, not things, are the real treasures in life.  I can honestly say that I am a rich man.  I have family and friends that I love and that love me. Things lose their meaning, and serve as a very poor substitute for relationships with people.

3.      Our relationship with our own heart.  Commune with your own heart… declares the psalmist in Psalm 4:4 (KJV).

That means hold some serious communication with your heart—get acquainted with your heart.  Don't let you and your own heart be strangers!

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God
 LightSource@crosswalkmail.com

Ruth Goes to Bethlehem

Scripture Passage : Ruth 1:1-22

INTRODUCTION: The story of Ruth shows us God’s grace even in the time of the judges when every man did that which was right in his own eyes. This chapter sets the scene for the glorious blessings God will bestow on Naomi and Ruth. A simple outline of the book would be as follows: Chapter 1 – Ruth Remaining; Chapter 2 – Ruth Reaping; Chapter 3 – Ruth Resting; Chapter 4 – Ruth Rewarded.

1. TRAGEDY IN MOAB (Ruth 1:1-5
   )
1. The Time (Ruth 1:1
   )
1. When the judges ruled
1. The Book of Judges ends on a negative note with every man doing that which is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25
   ). The last few chapters in the book add to the somber mood of defeat and decline.
2. But with the book of Ruth, God shows that He is still working to bring about His will. Even in the darkness of the time and the tragedies in the life of Naomi, God prepares the Messianic line for the birth of David.
2. During a time of famine
1. In the Bible, famines test men.
2. They most often fail the test.
3. Even Abraham went down to Egypt in the time of famine and lied to Pharaoh (Genesis 12:10-13
   ).
4. Interesting Point:  Bethlehem means house of bread . However, during the time of the judges, it became a place of famine.
2. The Move (Ruth 1:1-2
   )
1. From Bethlehem to Moab (Ruth 1:1
   )
1. The city of Bethlehem-judah plays an important part during the time of the judges.
1. It was the home of Ibzan, one of the judges (Judges 12:8
   ).
2. It was the original home of the Levite who eventually became priest of the false cult of Dan (Judges 17:7-9
   ).
3. It was the home of the concubine who was abused, killed, cut into pieces, and sent to the tribes of Israel (Judges 19:1-2
   ).
2. Now, it is the home of Elimelech and Naomi and will become the birthplace of David.
2. Elimelech, his wife and two sons (Ruth 1:1-2
   )
3. They continue in Moab (Ruth 1:2
   ).
3. The Tragedy (Ruth 1:3-5
   )
1. Naomi’s husband dies (Ruth 1:3
   ).
2. Her sons marry Moabite women (Ruth 1:4
   ).
1. Note
1. The Israelites were not to marry the people of the land (Exodus 34:11-16
   ;Deuteronomy 7:1-4
   ) – although the Moabites are not mentioned in these passages.
2. The Moabites were not received into the congregation of Israel for ten generations (Deuteronomy 23:3-4
   ).
1. Because they would not allow Israel to pass through the land
2. Because they hired Balaam to curse Israel
2. Orpah and Ruth
3. They continue about ten years.
3. Her sons both die (Ruth 1:5
   ).
2. NAOMI RETURNS TO JUDAH (Ruth 1:6-7
   )
1. She Determines to Leave Moab (Ruth 1:6
   ).
1. She hears that the famine is over.
2. Her daughters-in-law arise to go with her.
2. They Travel on the Way to Judah (Ruth 1:7
   ).
3. NAOMI SENDS HER DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW HOME (Ruth 1:8-13
   )
1. She Gives Them Leave to Return Home (Ruth 1:8-10
   ).
1. She tells them to go to their mother’s house (Ruth 1:8
   ).
2. She blesses them for their kindness (Ruth 1:8
   ).
3. She desires that they might find husbands – notice the word rest  (Ruth 1:9
   ; Ruth 3:1
   ).
4. She kisses them and they weep (Ruth 1:9
   ).
5. They both claim allegiance to her (Ruth 1:10
   ).
2. She Argues for Their Departure (Ruth 1:11-13
   ).
1. She has no sons for them to marry (Ruth 1:11
   ).
2. She is too old to have a husband (Ruth 1:12
   ).
3. Any sons would take too long to grow up (Ruth 1:13
   ).
4. The hand of the Lord is against her (Ruth 1:13
   ).
4. RUTH REFUSES TO LEAVE NAOMI (Ruth 1:14-18
   )
1. They Weep Again (Ruth 1:14
   ).
1. Orpah leaves.
2. Ruth cleaves.
2. Naomi Encourages Ruth to Leave Also (Ruth 1:15
   ).
3. Ruth Declares Her Faithfulness to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17
   ).
1. To go where she goes (Ruth 1:16
   )
2. To lodge where she lodges (Ruth 1:16
   )
3. To make her people her own (Ruth 1:16
   )
4. To trust in her God (Ruth 1:16
   ); it seems that Ruth has more faith in Naomi’s God than Naomi has (see Ezekiel 3:4-6
   ).
5. To die where she dies (Ruth 1:17
   )
4. Naomi Accepts the Presence of Ruth (Ruth 1:18
   ).
5. NAOMI AND RUTH RETURN TO BETHLEHEM (Ruth 1:19-22
   )
1. They Arrive in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:19
   ).
1. The city is moved.
2. The people hardly believe it is Naomi.
2. Naomi Expresses her Grief (Ruth 1:20-21
   ).
1. She wants to be called Mara [bitter – see Exodus 15:23
   ] (Ruth 1:20
   ).
1. She is no longer Naomi [pleasant].
2. God has dealt bitterly with her.
2. She testifies of her sorrow (Ruth 1:21
   ).
1. She left full and returns empty.
2. God Himself has testified against her.
3. They Settle in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:22
   ).
1. Naomi and Ruth come from Moab.
2. The time is the beginning of barley harvest. NOTE: This gives hope.  Naomi has suffered much and feels that the Lord Himself has turned against her. But the time of harvest is coming. Naomi will reap in joy.

CONCLUSION: When all goes wrong and we think God has turned against us, we are wrong. He may be just setting things up for a great time of blessing.

David Reagan and Andrew Ray

http://www.learnthebible.org/sunday-school-outlines/ruth-goes-to-bethlehem.html