Outline of Ruth

Since I finished up my 45-week first year plan with a few weeks to spare, I have the opportunity to do some additional, unscheduled Bible study.

Here’s an outline of the book of Ruth:

1. Naomi’s Awful Time
   
   1. Her husband dies
      
   2. Her sons both die
      
2. Ruth’s Stubborn Streak
   
   1. Get out of here, Ruth
      
   2. No way, I’m with you forever, Naomi
      
   3. No, seriously, go back to your family and gods
      
   4. “Your people are my people, and your God is my God.”
      
3. Naomi and Ruth return to Naomi’s Hometown
   
   1. Ruth scavenges from a harvested field
      
   2. Boaz guarantees Ruth’s safety
      
   3. Boaz is generous to Ruth and Naomi
      
4. Boaz is a Kinsman-Redeemer
   
   1. Naomi directs Ruth to pursue Boaz
      
   2. Ruth agrees to this plan
      
      1. Ruth gets dressed up
         
      2. Ruth goes to the threshing floor
         
      3. Boaz drinks a lot and goes to bed
         
      4. Ruth turns up the cloak over Boaz’s feet
         
      5. Boaz wakes up and thanks Ruth for her request
         
5. Boaz negotiates with a closer kinsman-redeemer
   
   1. There is property of Elimelech, Naomi’s late husband, for sale
      
   2. I’ll buy it
      
   3. Then you also inherit Naomi’s widowed daughter-in-law. Her children will be credited to Elimelech’s son, not you.
      
   4. Then you buy the land, Boaz. This situation will put my own property at risk.
      
   5. Cool. Hand me your sandal in the sight of these ten witnesses.
      
   6. Deal!
      
6. Ruth Marries Boaz
   
   1. They have a son, Jesse
      
   2. Jesse has a son, King David
      
   3. David is in the line of Jesus
      

Achilles’ Heel

What is my Achilles’ Heel? The thing that I’m unable to give up, even if it costs me dearly?

For Daniel, it was his faith and obedience to God.

Amazing.

Belshazzar’s humble…

Belshazzar’s humble Thanksgiving key verse. He gave a command for Daniel to be rewarded. Am I thankful when someone shares difficult truth with me? listen

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Daniel chapter five…

Daniel chapter five key verse, keep your gifts or give them to someone else. Just to do the right thing not for the reward. listen

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Nebuchadnezzar Gives Props to Daniel

In chapter 4, Daniel interprets one of the king’s dreams accurately.

Even though the consequences were brutally negative, they were true.

Reasonable people appreciate truth, even if it’s difficult.

Speaking difficult truth is a large part of what makes Daniel an inspirational character.

An Impossible Demand

In chapter 2, King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his advisers tell him the details of his dream and then interpret it.

How would I react if someone asked me to tell me their dream and interpret it? How would you, dear Reader? Probably the same way that the advisers responded:

Your Majesty, you are demanding the impossible! No king, not even the most famous and powerful, has ever ordered his advisors, magicians, or wise men to do such a thing (2:10, CEV).

Then, under penalty of death, Daniel asked the king for time and prayed to God for insight.

When God gave him the answer the king required, Daniel saved his own life and the lives of all the other advisers. Just like in the previous chapter, Daniel responded to unimaginable pressure with calm and reason.

Daniel and Friends Put to the Test

In Daniel 1, we meet Daniel and his three friends, captured and recruited for the new political power in town.

It is amazing that Daniel is so wise and tactful without compromising his faith.

When faith collides with the workplace, appeal to data and evidence-based results.

If my faith gets in the way of my work then I’m misapplying my religious beliefs, I’m in the wrong line of work, or I’m employed by the wrong people.

When my faith improves my results, I need to allow it to be put to the test objectively.

Daniel: Character Study

“Daniel” appears 70 times in the NIV. Sixty-three of the 70 are in the book of Daniel. Only one, Matthew 24:15, is in the New Testament.

In the Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary Vol. 1 OT introduction to the book of Daniel, the authors write, “The principal theological emphasis in Daniel is the absolute sovereignty of the Lord, the God of Israel….A second theological emphasis is the power of persistent prayer.”

Daniel’s life is a case study in the power of God and the power of prayer.

Final Farewell to Mark

As a final farewell to my blog posts related to the book of Mark, I’d like to direct readers to a companion site, the 9-Year Bible wiki.

Blog posts encourage daily reflection, but are not ideal for creating a “big picture” view of a book of the Bible.

This new wiki may help me balance day-to-day thoughts with a longer-term approach to understanding what I’ve read.

Jesus’ Last Week

Palm Sunday: parade
Monday: Jesus cleanses the temple
Tuesday: Jesus annointed
Wednesday: strangely silent [what happened? why no public record?]
Maundy Thursday: the Last Supper
Good Friday: the cross
Saturday: despair
Easter Sunday: Resurrection Day