Through The Bible - Tamil - 10 (Judges & Ruth) by Zac Poonen
Summary
The book of Judges serves as a warning that God's people only remain faithful when guided by a man of God; otherwise, they tend to backslide. The speaker highlights that while God can deliver from physical enemies, humanity struggles to conquer internal sins like anger. The message emphasizes God's sovereign choice, pointing to women like Ruth, a gentile, who became an ancestor of Jesus, illustrating that God's plan transcends human limitations and compromises.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The book of Judges as a warningThe book of Judges details the history of Israel backsliding and experiencing repeated deliverence, serving as a warning to believers today.
Inability to drive out the inhabitantsDespite God being with Judah and other tribes, they failed to drive out certain inhabitants of the valley because of iron chariots, mirroring how believers often allow strong sins to remain.
Gideon's victory and later backslidingGod delivered Israel through Gideon and tested the troops by how they drank water, selecting 300 men, though Gideon later backslid into idol worship.
Samson's strength and downfallSamson was mightily used by the Holy Spirit and possessed incredible physical strength, yet he fell apart to sexual lust because he could not conquer the inner flaw.
Everyone doing what is right in their own eyesThe root cause of Israel's spiritual failure is summarized in the final verse of Judges, where everyone did what was right in their own eyes without seeking God's will.
The story of Ruth and God's sovereign choiceRuth was a woman completely outside of Israel who chose to follow God and ultimately became the great-grandmother of King David and an ancestor of Jesus.
Naomi and her daughters-in-lawAfter the famine, Naomi prepared to return to her homeland and urged her daughters-in-law to go back, leading Ruth to make a steadfast commitment to stay with Naomi and her God.
Ruth gleaning in the field of BoazRuth went to glean leftover grain in the fields and providentially ended up in the field of Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi.
Boaz shows kindness to RuthBoaz noticed Ruth, commended her for coming to seek refuge under the God of Israel, and instructed his workers to leave extra grain for her.
Ruth seeks redemption at the threshing floorFollowing Naomi's instructions, Ruth went to Boaz at night by the threshing floor to ask him to act as a kinsman-redeemer.
Boaz as a picture of Christ our RedeemerJust as Ruth needed a relative to redeem her because she could not do it herself, we were lost sinners until Jesus became our relative and redeemed us.
Hope for those from non-christian backgroundsThe story of Ruth encourages believers from non-Christian backgrounds that God can sovereignly lead them and include them fully in His family and purposes.
