The Small Branch

  Ruth 3 and 4 I have pages and pages of notes on these chapters, but most of them are from THIS SERMON SERIES from Alistair Begg.  I will let you listen to that rather than include all my notes from this, but I highly recommend that you DO listen to this series, especially for these chapters.  You can also read many good insights from John MacArthur in his study Joshua, Judges, & Ruth: Finally in the Land which you can get HERE . Read Ruth 3 and 4 Who? Boaz and the other redeemer, elders of the city, Ruth, and Naomi  What? Ruth approaches Boaz to propose marriage and he does everything needed to be able to marry her Where? At Boaz’s threshing floor, the gate to the city, and in Bethlehem When? This is just a few days time after Ruth has worked in the fields for a few months Why? Boaz redeems Ruth because he loves her, but mostly because he is doing the right thing, the God honoring thing, no matter the cost to him How? Ruth goes to Boaz in secret to request that he

  We are going to push “pause” on the book of Joshua so that those who are traveling for Christmas do not miss anything.   For this week and the next, we will look at the book of Ruth.   Honestly, two weeks does not give us nearly enough time with this book so we will see this as an introduction and hope that you will study further on your own.   Alistair Begg has a sermon series on Ruth that is very helpful and can be found HERE .   Also, John MacArthur has a sermon on Ruth that contains a lot of helpful background on the Moabites HERE . Let’s start with some background.  The book is written anonymously, so we can’t be sure, but Ruth was probably written by Samuel during the reign of King David.  There are a few scholars who believe that Solomon could have written it.  The story itself takes place during the time of the judges, possibly during Jair’s judgeship (Judges 10:3-5).  Ruth is a historical narrative written to give hope amidst stories of a dark time.  It also gives ins

  Read Joshua 20 and 21. Who? Joshua, all Israel, the tribe of Levi What? The cities of refuge and all the other Levite cities are designated Where? Throughout all of Israel, including both east and west of the Jordan (SEE MAP) When? After all the land is allotted to the twelve tribes Why? The cities of refuge are to maintain grace with justice, the cities of the Levites are to give them a place to live and also to scatter those who teach the Law of God throughout Israel How? Joshua and Eleazar designate the cities of refuge west of the Jordan, Moses designated the cities of refuge east of the Jordan The cities of refuge are designated in order that, while justice is served, it is also tempered with grace.  The Old Testament differentiates between intentional and unintentional sin (see Leviticus 4; 5:15-18; Numbers 15:22-29; 35:22; Deuteronomy 4:41-42; 19:4; Ezekiel 45:20; and Hebrews 9:7).  Intentional sin is usually punished by banishment or death.  Unintentional sin has co

 Here's a question:  if you have a toddler and he is trying to climb into the fireplace while there is a fire burning in it, is it more loving to let him climb into the fire because he wants to and you want him to be happy OR is it more loving to snatch him away from it and paddle his behind so that he knows not to do that again?   Why do we think God should respond to us "climbing into the flames" of our sin any differently?   And why do we respond to others' sin by excusing it, claiming that we are being loving?  Be loving.  Speak truth.

  Read Joshua 18 and 19 Who? The tribes of Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, (with three men pulled from each tribe to survey the land) and Joshua What? Final allotments of the land — notice how specific and detailed God is with the boundaries Where? Throughout the land, most of which has not been conquered yet When? After Judah and the sons of Joseph are given their allotments Why? God promised them the whole land and so wanted them to allot the whole land, clinging to His promise How? By lots with Eleazar the priest and Joshua after men from each tribe have surveyed the remaining land and split it into seven pieces We begin these chapters with the Israelites first setting up the tabernacle at Shiloh.  The Israelites are unified in their worship of God at this time, even if not whole hearted.  Shiloh is in Ephraim’s allotment.  Remember that, beginning in Egypt, Joseph takes the role of patriarch.  This means that his heir, Ephraim (and later the tri