The Lineage of David Ruth 4:13-17; Matt 1:1-6 SS Lesson for 12/06/2009

Transcription

1 The Lineage of David Ruth 4:13-17; Matt 1:1-6 SS Lesson for 12/06/2009 Devotional Scripture: 2 Sam 7:8-17 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator MAJOR THEME ANALYSIS LINEAGE THROUGH REDEMPTION AND PROVISION (RUTH 4:13-17) What happened before chapters 4 Redeemed from servant to family (13-14) Through receiving the Spirit of sonship (Rom 8:14-17) Through faith (Gal 3:26) Through receiving and believing in Jesus (John 1:11-13) Through God's predestination (Eph 1:5) Through the work of Jesus (Heb 2:11) Through the great love of God (1 John 3:1-2) Through overcoming (Rev 21:7) Redeemed from despised to loved (15) Redeemed to being loved because Jesus became the curse for me (Gal 3:13-14) Redeemed to being loved because Jesus died for me (Rom 5:8) Redeemed to being loved because of God's mercy (1 Peter 2:10) Redeemed to being loved so that God could show His grace (Eph 2:6-9) Redeemed to being loved so that God could show is unlimited patience (1 Tim 1:16) Redeemed to being loved through being made alive with Jesus (Eph 2:4-5) Provision of needs (15) Provision of needs through the glorious riches of Jesus (Phil 4:19) Provision of needs through the Word of God (Deut 8:3) Provision of needs so that I will abound in every good work (2 Cor 9:8) Provision of needs through the fear of God (Ps 34:9) Provision of needs through being made rich in every way (2 Cor 9:10-11) Provision of protection (16-17) Protection through God being my refuge (Ps 9:9) Protection through God being my rock, fortress and deliverer (Ps 18:2) Protection through God being an ever-present help in trouble (Ps 46:1) Protection through God's faithfulness (2 Thess 3:3) Protection through God's knowledge of how to rescue godly men (2 Peter 2:9) Protection because I love God (Ps 91:14) Protection through wisdom (Prov 4:6) DETAILS OF JESUS' LINEAGE (MATT 1:1-6) Key Ancestors (1) The Christ (Matt 16:15-16) Son of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Luke 3:31-38) Other Ancestors (2-5) Son of Perez and Zerah (1 Chron 2:3-4) Tamar The wife of Er and then Onan, sons of Judah. When both died, Judah asked Tamar to live as a widow until the next oldest son grew up. Later Tamar tricked Judah into an incestuous relationship (Genesis 38:6 19) The Lineage of David Page 1 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

2 A daughter of David and a sister of Absalom who was raped by Amnon, son of David by another wife, Ahinoam. Amnon then spurned her and turned her out of his house. Tamar then was taken to live with Absalom, who later avenged her (2 Samuel 14:27) Son of Rahab (Matt 1:5) Son of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:13,17) CONCLUSION AND OTHER THOUGHTS CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE NIV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR PRACTICAL POINTS FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR THE HEART OF THE LESSON FROM THE BIBLE EXPOSITOR AND ILLUMINATOR Ruth conceived and gave birth to a son (Ruth 4:13-17) Matthew wrote and recorded a genealogy of God's royal Messiah (Matt. 1:1-6) The Lineage of David Page 2 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

3 Introduction Overview and Approach to Lesson The major outline of the lesson came from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary. This week's lesson reviews the Lineage of David and Jesus. The study's aim is to teach us that the Holy Spirit guided the writers of the Old and New Testament books in unified genealogies (2 Peter 1:21). The study's application is for believers to trust the Divine source of the revealed and inspired Scriptures. Lesson Introduction and Background From the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary Genealogy Detectives Have you done any investigation into your genealogy? Interest in discovering facts about one s family background seems to be rising steadily. Some people hope to find a forgotten jewel in the past centuries. Maybe they are actually descended from royalty! Others are interested because of medical reasons. Genealogical research may help them understand certain genetic conditions they may have inherited. Interest is also greater because of the enormous amount of genealogical resources that are increasingly accessible. Some Internet sites allow such research for a nominal fee. This can be fascinating work. We may discover a branch of family nearby that we didn t even know about. In the ancient world, genealogies were remembered with great care. It was important to know who your ancestors were. For example, the great families of Rome were judged on whether or not they could trace their ancestry to the city s beginnings. Julius Caesar was from the great patrician family Julia, which claimed to be descended from the founder of Rome. Wealth and accomplishment in Rome did not trump family background. For believers in Christ, all this takes on added significance. Some genealogical inquiries are worthless, even counterproductive (see 1 Timothy 1:4; Titus 3:9). But just the opposite is true with regard to Jesus Christ. One of the important aspects of our belief in Jesus as the Messiah is the way the New Testament presents him as a fulfillment of prophecy. Some prophecies are tied to ancestors of Jesus who played major roles in the history of Israel. Lesson Background The book of Ruth is counted in Jewish tradition as one of the five Festal Scrolls, shorter books from the Hebrew Bible that were traditionally read on festival days. Ruth was read on Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks. Shavuot is better known to Christians as Pentecost. It had originally marked the period from the Passover exodus from Egypt until the giving of the law at Sinai, but it developed into a harvest festival celebrating the spring crops. This seems to be its connection with Ruth, a little book whose story is bound up in the farming customs of the ancient Near East. The book of Ruth, a story taking place about 1100 BC, is set in the time of the judges of Israel. The book tells of an Israelite man named Elimelech (meaning my God is king ) who moved his family to the neighboring land of Moab because of famine. His family consisted of his wife (Naomi) and two sons. Over a period of a decade, they apparently made a permanent home in Moab. The sons even married Moabite women. Tragically, Elimelech and the sons died. This left Naomi without husband or sons to support her. She also had two widowed daughters-in-law. On hearing of the availability of food in her ancestral homeland, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, which was located in the tribal province of Judah. This was a risky move, since she had been gone for a decade and did not know how she would be welcomed. One daughter-in-law, Ruth, decided to go with Naomi. In the process, Ruth pledged loyalty to Naomi and to her God (Ruth 1:16, 17). When the two arrived in Bethlehem, they were received, but the male-dominated nature of their culture presented a challenge. Naomi understood that they needed to be connected with one of the men in order to ensure survival. The likely candidate was Boaz, a wealthy farmer and a kinsman of her dead husband. This resulted in Ruth attracting the attention of Boaz. She eventually married him according to the intricate customs of the time. Ruth was a beloved book among the Jews of Jesus day because of its story of these two strong and resilient women. This is not why the book was written, however, or why it is included in the Old Testament. The book of Ruth is important because it tells a significant story about the ancestors of King David. The amazing detail is that one of the key ancestors of David, namely his great grandmother, was not an Israelite. This detail The Lineage of David Page 3 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

4 becomes even more important for Matthew. He includes several foreign women in his genealogy of Jesus to support the point that Jesus, the promised Messiah, was to serve all nations, not just Israel. From the Bible Expositor and Illuminator One of the many things a certain religion is noted for is its collection of genealogical records. It has the world's largest genealogical library, which apparently is used by thousands of people every day who are looking for information. Genealogies serve to validate who people really are. A classic example can be found in Exodus 6. Moses and Aaron had obediently asked Pharaoh to allow the people of Israel to travel outside the country to worship their God. After Pharaoh's refusal and the resulting increased hardship upon the Israelites, God reiterated His promises for their deliverance (vs. 1-8). Beginning in Exodus 6:14 we find a detailed genealogy indicating exactly who Moses and Aaron were. Verse 20 says, "And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses." After more names, this statement is made: "These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies" (vs. 26). This week's genealogy is much more important. It leads to the birth of Jesus. As we move into the Christmas season, it is interesting to see how the Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah centuries before it occurred. Micah 5:2 says that He originated in eternity, would become Ruler of Israel, and would be born in Bethlehem in the region of Ephratah. The setting of the book of Ruth moves from Bethlehem to Moab and back again. Ruth, a Moabite converted to faith in God, became a progenitor of the Christ, who would come centuries later. As we look at the texts for this lesson, you will note that the five verses in Ruth are narrative (4:13-17), while the six verses in Matthew are genealogical (1:1-6). Although Ruth 4:18-22 is not in our printed text, it too is genealogical. So we would do well to compare it with what we find in Matthew 1:1-6, for it illustrates biblical unity. Major Theme Analysis (Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV) Lineage through Redemption and Provision (Ruth 4:13-17) 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." 16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. What happened before chapters 4 Much transpired between the two sections of Scripture that make up our printed text. Ruth s gleaning continued through barley harvest and into wheat harvest, which occurred during our months of May and June (2:23). Naomi then re-entered the drama as a matchmaker. She intended to find a husband for Ruth (3:1). She gave instructions to Ruth on how she should propose to Boaz, whom she described as a near relative (3:2). Behind this plan for marriage was a command of God in the law of Moses that the brother of a man who had died childless was to marry the deceased man s widow and raise up children for him (Deuteronomy 25:5 10; Mark 12:19 23). In the case of Ruth, since there was no brother of the deceased for her to marry, it was the kinsman s duty to take over this responsibility. Ruth did propose to Boaz, and Boaz responded in an appropriate way. He was aware that there was a kinsman or kinsman-redeemer who was more closely related than he (3:12), and that that person should be given first choice concerning Ruth. (Thus Boaz is to be commended and admired for his tact and consideration in this sensitive matter.) The closer relative, however, chose not to marry Ruth (4:5, 6). Boaz was then free to purchase all that The Lineage of David Page 4 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

5 belonged to Elimelech (Naomi s late husband), which included his land and the responsibility to marry Ruth, the widow of one of Elimelech s sons (from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary). Redeemed from servant to family (13-14) Through receiving the Spirit of sonship (Rom 8:14-17) 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Through faith (Gal 3:26) 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, Through receiving and believing in Jesus (John 1:11-13) 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. Through God's predestination (Eph 1:5) 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- Through the work of Jesus (Heb 2:11) 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. Through the great love of God (1 John 3:1-2) 1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Through overcoming (Rev 21:7) 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. Redeemed from despised to loved (15) Redeemed to being loved because Jesus became the curse for me (Gal 3:13-14) 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Redeemed to being loved because Jesus died for me (Rom 5:8) 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Redeemed to being loved because of God's mercy (1 Peter 2:10) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. The Lineage of David Page 5 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

6 Redeemed to being loved so that God could show His grace (Eph 2:6-9) 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Redeemed to being loved so that God could show is unlimited patience (1 Tim 1:16) 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Redeemed to being loved through being made alive with Jesus (Eph 2:4-5) 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. Provision of needs (15) Provision of needs through the glorious riches of Jesus (Phil 4:19) 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Provision of needs through the Word of God (Deut 8:3) 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Provision of needs so that I will abound in every good work (2 Cor 9:8) 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Provision of needs through the fear of God (Ps 34:9) 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. Provision of needs through being made rich in every way (2 Cor 9:10-11) 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. Provision of protection (16-17) Protection through God being my refuge (Ps 9:9) 9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Protection through God being my rock, fortress and deliverer (Ps 18:2) 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Protection through God being an ever-present help in trouble (Ps 46:1) 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. The Lineage of David Page 6 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

7 Protection through God's faithfulness (2 Thess 3:3) 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. Protection through God's knowledge of how to rescue godly men (2 Peter 2:9) 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. Protection because I love God (Ps 91:14) 14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. Protection through wisdom (Prov 4:6) 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Details of Jesus' Lineage (Matt 1:1-6) 1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Key Ancestors (1) The Christ (Matt 16:15-16) 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Son of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Luke 3:31-38) 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. Other Ancestors (2-5) Son of Perez and Zerah (1 Chron 2:3-4) 3 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death. 4 Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all. The Lineage of David Page 7 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

8 Tamar The wife of Er and then Onan, sons of Judah. When both died, Judah asked Tamar to live as a widow until the next oldest son grew up. Later Tamar tricked Judah into an incestuous relationship (Genesis 38:6 19) 6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight; so the Lord put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother." 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord's sight; so he put him to death also. 11 Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Live as a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up." For he thought, "He may die too, just like his brothers." So Tamar went to live in her father's house. 12 After a long time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him. 13 When Tamar was told, "Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep," 14 she took off her widow's clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, "Come now, let me sleep with you." "And what will you give me to sleep with you?" she asked. 17 "I'll send you a young goat from my flock," he said. "Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?" she asked. 18 He said, "What pledge should I give you?" "Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand," she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. 19 After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow's clothes again. A daughter of David and a sister of Absalom who was raped by Amnon, son of David by another wife, Ahinoam. Amnon then spurned her and turned her out of his house. Tamar then was taken to live with Absalom, who later avenged her (2 Samuel 14:27) 27 To Absalom were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar. She was a woman of beautiful appearance. Son of Rahab (Matt 1:5) 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, Son of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 4:13,17) 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "There is a son born to Naomi." And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. Conclusion and Other Thoughts Concluding Thoughts from the NIV Standard Lesson Commentary Jesus had frequent controversies with the Pharisees, who were Jews strongly committed to keeping the Law of Moses as they interpreted it. These men often asked Jesus questions in order to catch him in an inconsistency or offensive remark. In the case at Matthew 22:42, however, Jesus was the one who initiated the conversation by asking, What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? The Pharisees respond by saying, The son of David. Jesus then proceeded to show that even the legendary King David acknowledged that the Messiah was his Lord. Such a view stood the Jewish expectation for Messiah on its head. Trying to come to grips with the prophetic connections of the Bible can be both fascinating and The Lineage of David Page 8 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

9 frustrating. When we don t quite understand, we still must trust that God is in control of history. His purposes cannot be thwarted by the worst of human behavior. God s plan to provide humanity with a redeeming king took many odd turns over the centuries. Tamar? A shameless trickster. Rahab? A prostitute. Ruth? Not even an Israelite. David? Committed murder and adultery. Despite these all-too-human characters, God s divine drama of salvation triumphs in the person of Jesus. He is the fulfillment of all our hopes and needs. Concluding Thoughts from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator The Scriptures reveal that the specific genealogical route the Messiah would utilize would be through Judah, Jesse, and David (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Isa. 11:1-10; Mic. 5:2; Luke 1:32). It is important that this specific route be verified in Scripture. If Jesus did not come into the world through this line, He could not be the true Messiah. In Ruth 4:18-22 we read that from Pharez, a descendant of Judah, descended Salmon, who begat Boaz, who begat Obed, who begat Jesse, who begat David, from whose line came Jesus of Nazareth. This genealogy establishes that Jesus has the proper ancestral bloodline. Some foolishly claim that historical and chronological details of the Bible, such as are found in Ruth 4:18-22, are not important and not always accurate. But note how important it is that this genealogy be accurate, for it clearly establishes the bloodline of Jesus and authenticates Him as the Messiah. As Paul said, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable" (2 Tim. 3:16). Besides revealing valuable genealogical data, the text also reflects a rare way of giving a child a name. Usually the parents give a child his name. However, Ruth 4:17 says that female neighbors gave Ruth's son the name "Obed." Boaz and Ruth accepted this name for their child. That these women so boldly expressed their desire for the child to be named "Obed" probably shows how impressed they were with the loving kindness and providential care of God, which had been displayed in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. The name "Obed," which means "one who serves," most likely describes the feelings of the women. They longed for the child to grow up to serve God. When we compare Ruth 4:17, which comes at the end of the book of Ruth, with the first chapter of Ruth, we observe a great contrast. In chapter 1, we see overwhelming grief and bitterness of soul after Naomi's husband and her two sons died prematurely. It seems logical that this calamity occurred because Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, had left Israel in a time of famine. There is no indication that the Lord directed them to relocate at this time. It was a natural response to an uncomfortable situation, but it was not a spiritual response. Jewish tradition says that because they failed to stay in the place where God wanted them, they experienced severe chastening. In Ruth 4, however, we observe a drastically different scene. Naomi's bitterness has been replaced with indescribable joy. She rejoiced in Boaz, God's unexpected provider for her old age and the husband of Ruth, her daughter-in-law. Naomi also delighted in the son that God gave Boaz and Ruth. During the time of her marriage to Mahlon, Ruth had been unable to conceive. However, the grandchild who had been denied in Moab was quickly given in the land of Israel. Jewish tradition says that Ruth conceived on her wedding night (Ruth 4:13). These contrasting scenes of misery and bliss remind us of the fall of Adam and redemption in Christ (Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:8-9). Practical Points from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator 1. Marriage is the permanent, faithful union of a man and a woman to produce godly children (Ruth 4:13) 2. Childbearing is a blessing and a joy, bringing honor and celebration to the community (vs. 14) 3. Motherhood offers comfort in old age and hope to future generations (vs ) 4. Each child is another instrument for God to accomplish His purpose for creation (vs. 17) 5. Christ's genealogy is universal no race or station is excluded from His grace (Matt. 1:1-6) 6. God used a diverse mixture of human sinners to bring forth His perfect Saviour (Matt. 1:1-6) The Heart of the Lesson from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator As individuals in today's culture desire to develop a connection with their past, interest in and the publishing of family histories seem to be at an all-time high (Wiltenburg, "Genealogy Goes Beyond All Those 'Begats,'" This current interest in genealogy is not unique. In the past perhaps no other nation on earth The Lineage of David Page 9 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09

10 gave a deeper importance to family history, or genealogy, than did the nation of Israel. As we contemplate the fulfillment of the promised birth of Israel's Messiah, the question of lineage is of utmost importance. Ruth conceived and gave birth to a son (Ruth 4:13-17) God's redemptive promise to His people, and to the world, was ultimately to be fulfilled through a Jewish King who would reign eternally. And this promised royal Messiah would be of the lineage of King David. The genesis of this royal lineage involved two individuals, Boaz and Ruth, who were brought together by the providence of God. The birth of Ruth's son, Obed, was cause for celebration and blessing. Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, received the congratulations of her female neighbors and was instrumental in the child's care and development. In terms of lineage, Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. When one contemplates the narrative of the book of Ruth, one has to stand in awe at the commitment of God to His redemptive promise. God, through His sovereign superintendence over historical events and people's lives, initiated a royal family line through which His Messiah would come. For the believer living in today's selfish and secular culture, a Spirit-guided reminder of God's sovereign superintendence should give cause for awe and wonder. In a time of cataclysmic events and godless indifference to all things holy, God remains the sovereign Lord who is faithfully fulfilling His eternal promises to His people. Matthew wrote and recorded a genealogy of God's royal Messiah (Matt. 1:1-6) In the very first section of his Gospel, Matthew was guided by the Holy Spirit to record the genealogy "of Jesus Christ, the son of David" (vs. 1). This verse identifies Jesus Christ as the promised royal Messiah from the lineage of King David who would ultimately bring God's blessings on all nations. The importance of the phrase "the son of David" (Matt. 1:1) cannot be exaggerated. In Psalm 89:29, God promised that one of David's descendants would reign over God's kingdom. In 2 Samuel 7:12-16, God revealed through Nathan the prophet that King David's throne and kingdom would endure forever. When Ruth gave birth to a son, God continued the process that led to His promise to King David. This quarter's first lesson spurs a couple thoughts. First, we are overwhelmed by the sanctity of human life. Every child conceived in the womb should have the opportunity to be used by God to fulfill His will. Also, we gain a greater respect for believers who have a keen interesting connecting with their family histories. In so doing, they give glory and honor to God and His marvelous providence. The Lineage of David Page 10 of 10 SS Lesson for 12/06/09