She Laughs. She Prays.

The lineage of Jesus on his earthly Father’s side is a bit messy, and Ruth is a part of it. Ruth’s father-in-law Elimelech brought his family out of Bethlehem to Moab during a famine. Elimelech may have considered this a reasonable move in God’s eyes, because the Moabites were kin to the Israelites. They were descendants of Lot. The Israelites and Moabites lived in peace because God warned the Israelites to do no harm to the Moabites (Deuteronomy 2:9).

When Ruth follows Naomi back to Bethlehem after Naomi’s husband and Ruth’s husband have both died, Ruth does so with a heart of obedience, kinship, and dedication. The story of Ruth supports Christians following her attitude and showing similar devotion to our God.

“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 even death separates you and me (Ruth 1:16-17).”

When Naomi’s relative Boaz meets Ruth, he finds her pleasing in many ways. He admires her heart towards God, her dedication to Naomi, her hard work, and her kindness. Naomi tells Ruth to approach him to be her “kinsman,” or as the NLT Chronological Bible states “family” redeemer. To redeem means to pay. A kinsman redeemer pays for family land and property as part of the Levitical law related to saving a family inheritance in Leviticus 25:48.

Boaz’s kindness towards Ruth is a likeness of Jesus, our kinsman redeemer. Titus 2:14 says, “Who [Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

To fulfill Levitical law, Boaz bought Naomi’s family land and included his marriage to Ruth as part of it, so the name of her deceased husband’s lines could keep the land in the family name.

In Ruth 4:12, it’s noted how beautifully, messy the family line of Jesus becomes, and how God seeks to show his love for us all. The marriage of Ruth and Boaz means that a gentile was now inserted into the lineage of Jesus. When Jesus tells the disciples, “Go into all the world (Mark16:15),” Jesus’ lineage including a Gentile helps the disciples make sense of this declaration.

But prior to Ruth in Jesus’ lineage is a young woman named Tamar. Genesis 38 tells us the story of Tamar and Judah. Judah was Tamar’s father-in-law. When Tamar’s husband (Judah’s son) died, Tamar married another of Tamar’s son as the Levitical law provided for. When this son died, Judah decided not to offer his third son to Tamar in fear of his death. So Tamar devised a plan to become pregnant by her father in law. This caused a great scandal and Judah confessed his sin. Tamar gave birth to twin boys. The first born was Perez. Perez and Tamar are in the lineage of Jesus.

Another unlikely woman in Jesus’ lineage is the prostitute Rahab. She gave protection to the two Israelite spies who came into Jericho to spy out the land. Eventually, when Rahab made a total conversion to Judaism, Salmon favored Rahab and married her. She then became mentioned in Jesus’ lineage (Matthew 1:5). Rahab was the mother of Boaz. Boaz saw his mother’s own devotion to God, and admired it in his new wife as well.

He knew that his mother’s life as a prostitute and his wife’s life as a Moabite were not generally accepted in the strict laws of the Jews. But he knew God accepted their heart’s of devotion. Ruth’s family inheritance of land was assured when Boaz took her as his wife.

We are all equally, beautifully messy and Jesus paid our bride price on the cross, so we can gain our inheritance through Christ. (Hebrews 9:15) We are assured of our heavenly inheritance and life with Christ.

Our One Year Bibles finally arrived at Bristol Bay Church, Dillingham, AK. We have decided to start on March 17, 2024, which means it will take until next March 17, 2025, to finish reading all the way through. If you asked for a soft cover copy or would like one, please see me on anytime this week or on Sunday. I have about 10 of these. You can also purchase the electronic copy on Christianbook.com The One Year Chronological Bible NLT - eBook: 9781414361628 - Christianbook.com I will have a few journals and notebooks as well in case you want one to keep your answers in to the questions below in a notebook. And/or send them to me and we can stay in contact: pastorval@bristolbay.church

For those who want to read along in your own Bible, I will publish the passages for the week in a special column to check off. I look forward to reading with you. Each week I will also send some study questions to go with your reading if you choose to use them. Reply with questions and answers. I look forward to reading God's Word with you daily.

April 7

Ruth 1:1-4:12

April 8

Ruth 4:13-22

I Chronicles 2:9-55;

I Chronicles 4:1-23

I Samuel 1:1-8

April 9

I Samuel 1:9-4:11

April 10

I Samuel 4:12-8:22

April 11

I Samuel 9:1-12:25

April 12

I Chronicles 9:35--39

I Samuel 13:1-14:52

April 13

I Samuel 15:1-17:31

April 7

1) Read Ruth 1:1-4:12 in one sitting like a short story to get the complete story line.

2) Ruth and Naomi journeyed 50 miles on foot from Moab around the top of the Dead Sea to Bethlehem through a rugged and mountainous terrain. This 7-10 day journey would have been tiring. How did Naomi feel when she arrived in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:20-21) versus how everyone else felt about her arrival (Ruth 1:19)?

3) Read Leviticus 19:9-10. How does this passage relate to the book of Ruth?

4) Read Leviticus 25:25 and Ruth 3: 9. How do these passages explain a main cultural and legal point in the book of Ruth?

April 8

1) In Ruth 4:17, who was the son of Ruth and Boaz? How does this fall into Jesus' lineage?

2) I Chronicles 2:13, it gives the names of the seven sons of Jesse. Who was the youngest son of Jesse?

3) I Chronicles 2:24-35, what is the interesting details written about Sheshan and who he gave one of his daughters to in marriage? This marriage is how Sheshan's lineage continued.

4) I Chronicles 4:9-10 is about a now famous prayer. Write the story of this prayer. Can you apply the prayer to your own life?

5) I Samuel 1:3 gives a name for God. Write it here.

April 9

1) In I Samuel 1:11, who did Hanna pray to and what was her vow? Read the same verse in another version of the Bible and compare the two.

2) Compare Eli's sons in I Samuel 2:12-26 to Samuel. What did you learn?

3) In I Samuel 3:1-14, describe what Samuel discovers about God for the first time. What is confirmed about Samuel in I Samuel 3:20?

4) How were God's words to Eli carried out (I Samuel 4:10-11)?

April 10

1) How did Eli die (I Samuel 4:18)?

2) In I Samuel 5: 1-12, what happened to the towns of Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron?

3) I Samuel 7:3-4 tells the people how to be rescued from the Philistines? How does this compare to our value in Christ now?

4) What is the significant request of the people in I Samuel 8:1-9?

April 11

1) Who was Saul's father and how is he described (1 Samuel 9:1)? Describe Saul in I Samuel 9:2.

2) How does Saul describe himself in I Samuel 9:22

April 12

1) What do we learn about Saul in I Samuel 13:1?

2) What happens in I Samuel 13:7-14 and what important foretelling message does Samuel give?

3) I Samuel 14:7 says, "Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.” Describe the job of an armor bearer and how important it is for the armor bearer to be one with Jonathon?

4) Fill in these blanks:

I Samuel 14:1. Jonathan _____________ out of camp without telling his father.

I Samuel 14:2. Saul and his army were _______________ outside of the Philistine headquarters.

I Samuel 14:3. No one realized that _____________ had left the Israelite camp.

I Samuel 14:4. To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two ___________ ______________.

I Samuel 14:6. The confidence of Jonathan. “Let’s go across to the outpost of those _________,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for ___________ can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

I Samuel 14:13. So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell __________________ Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came __________ them.

I Samuel 14:14. They killed some _________________ men in all.

i Samuel 14:15. Suddenly, _______________ broke out in the Philistine army. . . And just then an _____________________ struck, and everyone was terrified.

I Samuel 14:16 Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw a strange sight—the vast army of Philistines began to __________ ______________ in every direction.

I Samuel 14:17 “Call the roll and find out who’s missing,” _______ ordered.

I Samuel 14:20 Then Saul and all his men rushed out to the battle and found the Philistines killing ___________ ___________. There was terrible confusion everywhere.

I Samuel 14:23. So the __________________ saved Israel that day,

April 13

1) What is Saul accused of in I Samuel 15:23 and what does Samuel say about it?

2) In I Samuel 15:27-28, what symbolic event happens and what does it symbolize?

3) In I Samuel 16:5, what family does Samuel seek out?

4) What question does Samuel ask Jesse in I Samuel 16:11 and why? Where did they find David?

5) Describe the talents of David and how these talents are used to serve King Saul?

March 31

1) Judges 2:7 says that the Israelites served the Lord throughout the time of Joshua and the leaders who had outlived him. What reason do they give for the people doing so? "Who had seen all the great work the Lord had done for Israel (Judges 2:7).

2) What does Judges 2:10 tell us about the people of Israel? It says that another generation came up who did not "know" the Lord or the work he had done. Look at the chart above. Where are we on the chart? Heading into the "Israel does Evil in the sight of the Lord."

3) What does the Bible tell us about the needs of the people of Israel in Judges 2:18? The people listened to the Judges that God raised up. And the judges he raised up saved Israel.

April 1

1) Who is the female judge mentioned in Judges 4:4? Deborah

2) What did Barak tell her and how did she answer? "Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9 And she said, “I will surely go with you."

3) Give some details about the battle that Deborah lead?

10,000 men went up at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.

The enemy had 900 iron chariots.

Barak pursued the army and won.

King Sisera ran from the army. He ran to a tented city and was welcomed into the tent of Jael to sleep. When he fell asleep, Jael put a tent peg through his forehead.

April 2

1) Gideon, like Deborah, lead the Israelites into battle. What does God tell Gideon about his army in Judges 7:2? It's too big. How many men did he take into battle? 300 warriors.

2) In Judges 7:13, how did God encourage Gideon? He told him to sneak in to listen to the words of his enemy in the night. He heard, When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.” He understood the enemy thought he would win."

3) Give some details about this battle that Gideon lead? Gideon's army got up early and camped near Midian. At camp, God said that Gideon had too many men. So Gideon sent home at God's command all who were afraid-22,000 men. God said there is still too many soldiers. Test them again. For this test, they went to a spring and were told to drink. God said only those who kneeled and cupped their hand to drink could go into battle. Gideon knew he was to attack in the morning. But he was afraid, so God told him to spy on the Midianites in the dark of night. Encouraged by what he heard, he listened to God and attacked.

April 3

1) Who is Abimelech, according to Judges 9:28? The son of Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, according to Judges 7:1.

2) Read Psalm 107:34 and compare this verse to Judges 9:45. What does this tell you about the city he destroyed and its people? Psalm 107:34-a fruitful land into a salty waste,

Judges 9:45, -And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt. Answer: Salt=a wasted land. Abimelech was creating a symbol of a wasted land by sowing it with salt.

April 4

1) Look at the biblical year listed on March 22 Deuteronomy 33:1-29, the statement about the time span on March 31, and the year on Judges 15:1-20. How many years between the Deuteronomy date and the Judges? 1405-1080 BC=325 years.

2) Create a timeline of events during this span of time if you would find that helpful or interesting. See The Judges – The Biblical Timeline.

3) How does Judges 11:26 effect your timeline? This is the only place "time" as in years is specifically mentioned in Judges. You could also watch this: The Judges – The Biblical Timeline. "While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, 300 years, why did you not deliver them within that time (Judges 11:26)." So the 1405- 1080 works somewhat into that 300 year mark. See below for another version of the timeline "total years vs. available time chart." The "time of the judges," as this is often called is between the death of Joshua (Joshua 24) and the rise of Saul as King,

April 4 continued

1) Read James 5:12. What does the New Testament tells us about making an oath or a vow? "Do not swear by heaven or earth . . . Let your yes be yes and non be no." How did Jephthah turn out? Continue reading in Judges 11 to find out. Judges 11:29-40. Jephthah swore to give to God whatever came through his door first as a burnt offering. He followed through with his vow, but it reminds me not to make a vow.

2) What happens of significance in Judges 13:1-5? God tells Manoah his wife will have a son and he will be a Nazarite. And he will save Israel from the Philistines.

April 5

1) Judges 16 begins the story of Samson and Delilah. Before reading, write down what you know of this story and how you learned it? Perhaps you remembered a song or a Bible story from childhood? Or maybe this will be your first time to hear the story.

Although I know the story, this song is a compilation of the story of David and Samson. Someone didn't know much about these stories. Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof--David
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you--David
She tied you to a kitchen chair (???)
She broke your throne, (King David?)and she cut your hair--Samson
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

2) What did Delilah want from Samson and why? She wanted to know what made him strong so she could gain silver. "And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver, (Judges 16:5)

3) How does Judges 16 end? Samson kills 3000 Philistines in one day.

April 6

1) In Judges 20:2 how many Israelite warriors gathered together? 400,000 How does this compare to the size of your city or village? 160x larger than Dillingham. About the size of Anchorage. Judges 20 is amazing in its details of the battle between the Benjamites and the Israelites. I like this interesting detail . "Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss (Judges 20:16)."

2) Why are many of the stories in Judges very gruesome? The book of Judges is about the battles of the people of Israel. When they lost sight of God, there was war and slavery. When they followed the judges and kept their eyes on God, there was victory. Do you think this pleased God or was he showing us something else? I don't think God was after the war and pain. God was showing the Israelites and us how to battle and win. Rid ourselves of sin and follow hard after God. What does this tell us about the world now? We are often in the same cycle: We lose sight of God in our life. We find ourselves in battles where we need God's help. We cry out to God and repent. He hears us. He rescues us.

3) Compare your thoughts on the above questions to Judges 21:25. Judges 21:25 says, "In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes." This type of life brings mayhem as we find in Judges.

I made the following verse corrections--April 1 should have been Judges 4:4; April 4 continued should read "Continue reading in Judges 11 to find out.;" April 5 is about Judges 16; April 6 is about Judges 20."

"Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

Titus 2:14

Revival with Dobie Weasel, founder of Life Tribe ministries at Bristol Bay Church. He will minister life changing and life renewing messages April 12 and 13 at 6:30 pm, April 14 @11 am and 6 pm. Bring your friends and youth. Potluck following the 11 am service. 4021 Kanakanak Rd., Dillingham,AK.

Dillingham and other villages have a large group of Bristol Bay Area Health Care (BBAHC) workers who help villagers from all over Bristol Bay. Dillingham as a hub village with the Kanakanak Hospital and Jake's Place sees an influx of people from all the villages coming to town for care. Pray for the current workers and BBAHC as it reaches out to those who come and go. Pray for Christian workers to join BBAHC and be a light in the villages. Pray for current Christians in this organization.

Below is a devotional article written by a worker who helps people as they come and go through BBAHC. She takes her devotion from Joshua which we have been studying:

Full stop.

How many times have I prayed desperately for God to intervene, for the enemy to leave... for evil not to prevail. All while I'm still harboring bitterness in my heart, unforgiveness in my relationships, or anger in my countenance?

The Lord told Joshua to tell the people they wouldn't be victorious over their enemies in battle until they removed the sacred idols they stole from the land.

The scripture reads like this: "You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them (Joshua 7:13)." "Them" being the idols. I read it as "them" being the enemies.

You cannot stand against the Enemy [in your life] until you remove the Enemy [from your life].

How can I ask God to do the work I'm not yet willing to do?

If I don't want the enemy to gain any ground in my life, my family, my work environment, my friendships. I can't allow him to gain any ground in my spirit.

-Ashley Davis