THE STUDY OF RUTH: The Study of Gleaning Lesson 4 – Chapter 2

FGA Genesis Home Cell Group 5-June-2009

GLEANING (definition)• To pick up after a reaper • To strip (as a field) of the leavings of

reapers

GLEANING (stripped)• Is a partnership – one allows and the

other takes advantage:• The owner of a land will allow the poor to

gather in his field during harvest• No easy “handouts” are given• No wastage (After everyone was full, Jesus told

his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” John 6:12)

• Assist the poor from resorting to sinful ways

Video Presentation:

“Chicken-a-la-carte”

• Lev 19:9-10When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.

Law of Gleaning

Lev 23:22

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.

Law of Gleaning

Deut 24:19-22When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. And you shall remember that you were slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.

Law of Gleaning

3 Categories of Laws

• Ceremonial Law• Civil Law• Moral Law

Ceremonial LawThis kind of law relates specifically to Israel’s worship (Leviticus 1). Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ. Therefore, these laws were no longer necessary after Jesus’ death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principals behind them – to worship and to love a holy God – still apply. The Jewish Christians often accused the Gentile Christians of violating the ceremonial law.

Civil LawThis type of law dictated Israel’s daily living (Deut 24:10-11).

Because modern society and culture are so radically different, some of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands should guide our conduct. At times, Paul asked Gentile Christians to follow some of these laws, not because they had to, but in order to promote unity.

This sort of law is the direct command of God – for example, the Ten Commandments. It requires strict obedience. It reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies to us today. We are to obey this moral law not to obtain salvation, but to live in ways pleasing to God.

MORAL LAW

What is the purpose of the Law?

A. To make lawyers richB. To make life on earth miserable C. To imprison/control usD. To make sure we are aware of sinsE. To teach us God’s way

Reading from Galatians 3 (New Living Translation)1You stupid Galatians! I told you exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil spell on you? 2I want to know only one thing. How were you given God's Spirit? Was it by obeying the Law of Moses or by hearing about Christ and having faith in him? 3How can you be so stupid? Do you think that by yourself you can complete what God's Spirit started in you? 4Have you gone through all of this for nothing? Is it all really for nothing? 5God gives you his Spirit and works miracles in you. But does he do this because you obey the Law of Moses or because you have heard about Christ and have faith in him? 6The Scriptures say that God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith. 7And so, you should understand that everyone who has faith is a child of Abraham. 8Long ago the Scriptures said that God would accept the Gentiles because of their faith. That's why God told Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed because of him. 9This means that everyone who has faith will share in the blessings that were given to Abraham because of his faith.

10Anyone who tries to please God by obeying the Law is under a curse. The Scriptures say, "Everyone who doesn't obey everything in the Law is under a curse." 11No one can please God by obeying the Law. The Scriptures also say, "The people God accepts because of their faith will live.“ 12The Law isn't based on faith. It promises life only to people who obey its commands. 13But Christ rescued us from the Law's curse, when he became a curse in our place. This is because the Scriptures say that anyone who is nailed to a tree is under a curse. 14And because of what Jesus Christ has done, the blessing that was promised to Abraham was taken to the Gentiles. This happened so that by faith we would be given the promised Holy Spirit.

15My friends, I will use an everyday example to explain what I mean. Once someone agrees to something, no one else can change or cancel the agreement. 16That is how it is with the promises God made to Abraham and his descendant. The promises were not made to many descendants, but only to one, and that one is Christ. 17What I am saying is that the Law cannot change or cancel God's promise that was made 430 years before the Law was given. 18If we have to obey the Law in order to receive God's blessings, those blessings don't really come to us because of God's promise. But God was kind to Abraham and made him a promise. 19What is the use of the Law? It was given later to show that we sin. But it was only supposed to last until the coming of that descendant who was given the promise. In fact, angels gave the Law to Moses, and he gave it to the people. 20There is only one God, and the Law did not come directly from him.

21Does the Law disagree with God's promises? No, it doesn't! If any law could give life to us, we could become acceptable to God by obeying that law. 22But the Scriptures say that sin controls everyone, so that God's promises will be for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ. 23The Law controlled us and kept us under its power until the time came when we would have faith. 24In fact, the Law was our teacher. It was supposed to teach us until we had faith and were acceptable to God. 25But once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher. 26All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. 27And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes. 28Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. 29So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham's family, and you will be given what God has promised.

Purpose of the Law1. To make us aware that we need faith to

be accepted by God2. Given so that we are aware of sins in

our lives and in our world3. To draw us to God4. That when we believe in God we know

that the Law is for our good & required of us (Matt 22:37-38)

• Exodus 22:21-25– You shall neither mistreat a

stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.

God’s Commandment Concerning the strangers, the widows, & The

pOOR

What are some of the problems faced by widows, orphans and strangers?

Poverty

Loneliness

Weaknesses

Vulnerable

What problems can you think of concerning gleaning in the Old Testament days?

1. God cares for the foreigner/stranger: – Ruth was a foreigner in the land of Israel but

yet she was allowed to glean. 2. God cares for the widow and the poor:

– Naomi left Israel married and secure but she returned widowed and poor.

3. God wants everyone to work for their livelihood & stay away from committing sins & not become a sluggard:– Everyone was involved during the harvest.

(Ruth 2:8-9)– If you are hungry, you have to work.– You shall not steal. (Lev 19:11)

4. God wants us to remain under His covering at all times:– Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s field.

5. Both parties in observing God’s Law of Gleaning were blessed

Lessons from Gleaning

What problems can you think of concerning gleaning in our

modern day society?

Galatians 2:10: They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing

which I also was eager to do.

GOD BLESS