Honor your Mother, Lessons from the Book of Ruth

Lessons from the Book of Ruth
To watch this message on video Click Here.

Deuteronomy 5:16
"Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

A relationship between a mother-in-law and a daughter in law.
The relationship is birthed in joy but solidified in difficulty and sorrow.

1. Stepping Stones or Stumbling Blocks
We know that difficulties in our lives will either make or break us as individuals. The difficulty that faced Naomi, losing her husband and then her 2 sons in Ruth Chapter 1 has caused Ruth to cling to Naomi.

2. The Defining Moment in Ruth’s Life
Ruth 1:16-18
16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.


When you honor and cling to someone your destinies become entwined. Their future will very much help determine your future. Be wise in who you cling to because it will have a very powerful impact on you.
You see a similar discourse between Elijah and Elisha before Elijah is taken up in the whirlwind.

3. Bitterness
In Verse 20 of Chapter 1
Naomi, Ruth’s mother in law is having a change in identity. Her name Naomi means pleasant but her new name, she wants everyone to call her is Mara meaning bitterness. She’s had some very real challenges and it’s taken a toll on her personality.

The only way I know to overcome bitterness is through genuine heart forgiveness.
The only way I know how to genuinely forgive is to realize by revelation that I’ve been genuinely forgiven according to the parable of the unmerciful servant.

4. Ruth’s youth get’s Boaz’s Attention her character keeps it.
5 Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, "Whose young woman is that?"
6 The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. 7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.“

This is a lesson on gifts and character. Your gift(s) will open doors for you but your character will allow you to stay.

The foreman noticed she was a determined and steady worker. He noticed her and it get’s communicated on to the land owner.


Leviticus 23:22
" 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' "
Ruth’s honorable actions are the subject of Discussion and earn her favor.
Ruth 2:11,12
11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.“

5. Ruth’s Heart is Truly Humble
Ruth 2:13
13 "May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord," she said. "You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls.“


Luke 18:14b
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

6. The Kinsman Redeemer
Leviticus 25:25
25 " 'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and sells some of his property, his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his countryman has sold.
Deuteronomy 25:5
5 If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her.

7. Another Defining Moment
Ruth Chapter 3
5 "I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

Chapter 3
9 "Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she said. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer." 10 "The LORD bless you, my daughter," he replied. "This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.

11 And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning."

We know that Naomi's words are true when she says, “the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”
Boaz calls together the elders and has a legal meeting in the presence of the kinsman who is nearer in kinship and offers the land of Elimelech to redeem.
The kinsman seems excited about the deal until he realizes there is a widow involved also and then he backs out opening the door for Boaz to redeem the land and the widow, Ruth.

Romans 8:2,3
What an awesome picture of this verse.
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law (the first Kinsman is a type of the Law) was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son (Boaz at type of redeeming Christ)
Boaz and Ruth get married and Naomi is blessed.
Ruth 4
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth."

Obed the father of Jesse is born from this family. The grandfather of David. Of the lineage of Christ the Messiah.

Jubilee Family Church