Ruth II Lesson 7

Ruth II Lesson 7

The Prophecy and Blessings of the Elders

The elders pronounced a blessing upon the union in marriage of Boaz and Ruth. The blessings were not only beautiful but they were significant in that they were also prophecies of the coming Messiah.

1. And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are ________ . The LORD make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel;...(Ruth 4:11)

The House of Israel

What was so special about the house of Israel? Read below what God said about the house of Israel:

2. “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a _____ _______ above all the peoples on the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6)

The house of Israel was a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth! Why? It was because they came into existence for the exclusive purpose of bringing the Savior into the world. The house of Israel had been set apart from all other nations and given their own special Law to keep their people holy, fit, prepared and ready to bring forth the Savior. The elders who blessed Boaz that day knew all about their special status and they gave glory to Rachel and Leah for “building the house of Israel”. What a wonderful honor to be given to these two women! The blessing that the elders declared concerning Ruth was that she would be like them. This was a prophecy that the Christ child would descend from Ruth through her son, Obed.

“May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem”

This blessing pronounced by the elders was also a prophecy of the coming Christ:

(Taken from Micah 5)

3. “ But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are _____ among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be ______ in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” (2)

4. Therefore He shall give them up, Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; Then the remnant of ____ ______ Shall return to the children of Israel. (3)

5. And He shall stand and feed His flock In the _______ of the LORD, In the _______ of the name of the LORD His God;

And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth; (4)

6. And this One shall be ______ . " (5)

The House of Perez

7. May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the _________ which the LORD will give you from this young woman.” (Ruth 4:12)

The first blessing was upon Ruth. She would be like Rachel and Leah. This blessing is upon Boaz. His house would be like the house of Perez. Boaz had descended from Perez. Christ descended from Perez and Christ would descend from Boaz.

Review Questions:

8. How did Rachel and Leah build the house of Israel?

9. What was so special about the house of Israel?

10. What blessing or prophecy was made about Ruth?

11. What blessing or prophecy was made about Boaz?

12. Who was Obed?

13. How long would this Holy One born in Bethlehem Ephrathah be great?

14. Who was Perez’s mother