In the Gaps

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exulted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 Cease Striving – The traditional translation of this Hebrew word (raphah) in Psalm 46:10 is “Be still”. “Be still and know that I am God”. We are quite familiar with that…

Not Optional

Therefore, the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day Deuteronomy 5:15 Commanded – The play day. The celebration day. The Freedom Day. Every week God allows us to have one day just for remembering, enjoying and thanking Him. You would think that no one would reject such a gift. But we do,…

The Correct Order

So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions Luke 14:33 Not Give Up – This is certainly one of the “hard sayings” of Jesus. For that reason, it seems to be universally ignored. It goes against the human grain. Did Jesus really mean that…

Rest Rationale

Therefore, the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day Deuteronomy 5:15 Therefore – Have you ever thought about why God commanded the Sabbath rest? We know that it is a play and rest day. That’s its purpose. But why did God set up such a day? It’s not because we aren’t capable…

Separating the Sabbath

but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, Deuteronomy 5:14 Work – What does the Sabbath mean to you? Of course, if you’re Christian, you’ve moved from Saturday to Sunday. Actually, you moved from the Sabbath (the only day named by God) to…

God as Redeemer

You have by Your power redeemed Your people Psalm 77:15 Redeemed – Boaz is a kinsman-redeemer, a go’el. But he is not the most important kinsman-redeemer. That role is played by Jesus. Jesus, our kinsman, born as one of us, is the ultimate kinsman-redeemer. He buys us back from bondage. Isaiah 52:3 tells us that…

Redemption in Action

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today ” Ruth 4:14 Redeemer – You are the living canvas of the pictures of God’s character. Saint Francis of Assisi told us to “preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” He understood…

Random Accidents?

And she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz Ruth 2:3 Happened – This world believes in serendipity. That’s the “happy accidents” perspective. In general, we have forgotten what every believing Jew knows is at the core of existence. The truth is that God is in charge. Therefore, there are…

A Plot in the Names

Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz Ruth 2:1 Elimelech . . Boaz – Naomi takes the name Marah, a play on the Hebrew word for “bitter”. Then we find that she has a kinsman, a moda’, within her husband’s…