Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Aug. 17, 1989, edition 1 / Page 16
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Psfic 4B - TUB CHARLOTTB POST - Thuisdfly, August 17, 1989 SuncCay Schoot Lesson by Bessie V^lbon LESSON BACKRROTnvn- Naomi decided to return to her homeland in Judah. Ruth, her daughter-in-law could not be talked out of coming with her. Ruth was willing to leave Moab, the land of her birth to go to a land strange to her and share the life of her widowed mother-in-law. So. the two of them set out for Bethlehem and they arrived there "In the beginning of barley harvest." Their arrival at this time was Indeed fortunate, for hunger was Im minent. The Biblical record suggests that without delay Ruth asked permission of her mother-in-law to join those who were gleaning in the fields, following after those who were reaping the barley harvest. The work was humbling but hon est. Because of their need. Naomi granted permission. Making her way out of the city to the surrounding fields that were ripe with golden grain and alive with reapers, binders, and glean- ■ asked the overseer of the reapers In a certain part of ^ :fte field tf she might glean there. As It turned out. she found herself working In a field owned by Boaz. Later. Boaz himself r C3me from town to see how the harvesting was progressing It ; fcs at this point that our text begins. ^ INTRODUCTION: ,Our lesson Includes the harvesting scenes of Israel In the - :ttoe of Ruth and Boaz. In Judah the grain harvesting period - :>as In the spring. The reaping was done with sickles. Hand- j,;fuls of grain stalks were bound together into bunches, which ;;;j^ere then gathered together and carried on the backs of don- ^-^eys or camels to the place where the threshing was done. AVhen the fields were being harvested, poor or disadvantaged followed behind the reapers, picking up any sheaves of ^rgraln that were dropped and cutting any that were missed, ^thls was called gleaning. Special Instructions were given In Hebrew legal codes to allow this practice of providing for 'pile needy. The regulations regarding gleaning Involved the ^’harvest of fruit and grain. THE LESSON: ^->^Boaz asked the man In charge."Thls is that young wom- r :hn?"The man answered. "She is the foreign girl who came ^;back from Moab with Naomi. She asked me to let her follow workers and gather grain. She has been working since ;Sarly morning, and has Just now stopped to rest for a while plunder the shelter." Then Boaz said to Ruth. "Let me give you paome advice. Don't gather grain anywhere except In the field. p;Work with the women here; watch them to see where they are r. leaping and stay with them. I have ordered my men not to mo- ’pest you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and drink from the water Jars that they have filled." Ruth bowed down with her ^face touching the ground and said to Boaz."Why should you be :^o concerned about me? Why should you be so kind to a for- p^lgner?" Boaz answered."! have heard about everything that ; -you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband -’died. I know how you left your father and mother and your own country and how you came to live among a people you lilad never known before. May the Lord reward you for what you have done. May you have a full reward from the Lord God ;:of Israel, to whom you have come for protection!" (Ruth 2:5- * ..^2) *-If Ruth's deep bow before Boaz seems extreme, we must re- p~thember the vast differences between their social, economic, 'ijid national status. Boaz was a mighty man: a member of jynat would be called the power structure of that society. Ruth ‘ trying to eke out an existence from the wisps and bits of "grain that could be salvaged from what was left over or missed in harvest. Boaz was a leading citizen of Israel: she (Ruth) was a poor widow. Boaz was an Israelite, one of the chosen people of God: Ruth was a foreign girl, a Moabltess. one of a tribal group that frequently had warred with the Hebrews. The spe cial consideration she was being shown puzzled Ruth for as yet she apparently did not know that Boaz was a kinsman of her husband's family. It may seem strange that Naomi had not told Ruth about their kinsman Boaz before she happened to glean In his fields. It may be she had been back In Bethlehem such a short time that the position of Boaz had not become clear to her.We must remember that Naomi had been away from Judah for more than a decade. Getting settled In a new home and reesta blishing associations must have required all of her attention. In her excitement at the good fortune of Ruth's meeting with Boaz. Naomi did not forget to offer a quick expression of . thanks to God. Earlier Naomi felt that God had dealt with her In a very bitter way. (Ruth 1:19.20) Now. however, she could see “ that God had not forgotten her after all. - The future must have seemed bleak for Ruth as she made her -decision to go to Bethlehem with Naomi. Naomi herself did ;not seem to be a person who could help assure Ruth any stable 'future. Furthermore, several may have resented Naomi's ■bringing "that strange foreign girl" among them. - It truly was providential that Boaz was harvesting his fields -near Bethlehem, that It was possible for Ruth to Join gleaners ttat she unwittingly chose to work In one of Boaz' fields, that ;he noticed her. and that she was a kinsman of Naomi. It was •fortunate that he was unmarried and that their age difference .was not a hindrance to thoughts of marriage. That Ruth's (faithfulness and fortitude had come to Boaz's attention could ; perhaps be expected. But that he should have been In the area jwhere she was gleaning and had a chance to see and talk with jher was unusual. His later desire to exercise his kinsman's .right that every Impediment could be cleared away so they Jcould be married, was most remarkable. J So It was that Ruth, loyal to Naomi, diligent In service, non- Jasserttve In behavlor.but alert and self-respecting, progressed jfrom dependent gleaner to wife of the "mighty man of wealth." .From being a stranger and a foreigner, she became "a mother .In Israel." ; Father, help us to remember the compassion Boaz showed to 'the foielgn woman. Ruth. May we too be sensitive to the emo- jtlonal. economic, and spiritual needs of the strangers who are -In our midst. We pray In Jesus' name. Amen. 1 Are You Saved By Works? By J. M. Little "But Israel, which followed af ter the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness, wherefore? Be cause they sought It not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumble stone; As It Is written, Behold, I lay In Zion a stumbling stone and Rock of Offence: and whosoever belleveth on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 9:31 - 33). The Apostle Paul Is pointing out veiy clearly here the tragedy of trying to be saved by works. Practically every church mem ber you meet. Including preach ers, is trying to be saved by works. The News of old tried to be saved by works, they missed the splrltu^ Intent altogether. Salvation In Christ cannot be attained by works, but by faith In the Crucified, Burled, and Ri sen Christ, the Stumbling Stone. Christ Is the Stumbling Stone. The reason you are not saved Is because you are stumbling over the Stumbling Stone, Christ. You will not submit to Him. But you will submit to Him or go to Hell for your trouble. That'S the reason you church members are hard-boiled and cussed. You will not surrender your will to Christ! You are de termined to have your religious works. Just listen to the testi mony given In the churches to day, the Person and Work of Christ are missing. The testimo ny In our churches today give no evidence whatsoever of having been awakened to the sinner's lost, guilty and hell-deserving condition. You have never been made to see that you are totally depraved and do not deserve the least of God's mercies. You have never known that salvation Is all of the grace of God apart from any creature works. You have never seen that you hate God. But you will see all these things under the convicting and reveal ing work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11) long before you are saved. If you have never seen them, you are not saved! I'll stake the destiny of my soul on the truth I'm stating. 1 know how God saves a lost slrmer, and you will agree with me if the Lord ever opens your blinded mind and heart to see your lost condition. The greatest thing that could happen to you now is to be awakened to your lost condi tion. I have wept for so many of you, going on In rebellion not know ing your lost condltloii and the danger you are In. You cannot know the danger you are in until the blessed Holy Spirit opens your eyes to see the danger you are In, that the blessed Holy Spirit opens your eyes to see the danger you are In, that you are lost and on the road to Hell. Have you ever seen that? When my Lord walked this earth in His human body, the Jews stumbled over Him. They refused to be lieve He was the Son of God. To day, every believer Is a stum bling stone. I have become a stumbling stone here. I'll keep many of you out of Heaven, be cause you think you cannot live vrithout hating J. M. Little. You have to hate me because you hate my Lord. I look at those In the working world, you'd give ten thousemd worlds Just to be in my place. I would not be in your place for ten thousand worlds. Your money, position and the air-conditioning you have there will be the only comfort you will ever know. Just think, the com forts of this world are aU you will ever know. You have no Idea of the destruction that awaits your poor, blinded soul one minute after death. Continue to listen to our late pastor, L. R Shelton, with THE VOICE OF TRUTH BROADCAST each Sunday morning at 7:30 over WAGI-FM, 105.3 Me. and 10:30 over WGHB-AM, 1250 Me. The Prophet's Column is a paid advertisement. Obituaries LONG ft SON * Mr. Charlie Davis of 6112 •Spring Garden Lane, Charlotte, Idled August 10, 1989 at Untver- ; sity Memorial Hospital. - He Is survived by his wife: Mrs. I Ruby W. Davis, Charlotte: sons; ; Rickey Platts and Rodney Davis, • both of Charlotte: 3 daughters: !,Mlss Charlynn Davis, Durham, NC, Mrs. LelUe Platts Smith and -Mrs. Linda freeman, both of ; Charlotte: 2 sisters: Mrs. Evelina Johnson, Clover, SC, and Mrs. I Maggie White of Charlotte; 4 ; grandchildren. ' Mr. Terrance Miquei Cren- 'shaw of 1151 Woodslde Dr., J Charlotte, died August 7, 1989. . He Is survived by his father: ' Mr. Bobby Crenshaw of Char lotte; mother Mrs. Linda Cren shaw Murphy of Charlotte; brother: Sanchez Crenshaw of Charlotte: grandparents: Rev. and Mrs. J. C. Robinson of Char lotte, and Mr. and Mrs. Leon Crenshaw of Charlotte; great grandmother: Mrs. Nell Mungo of South Carolina. Mr. Samuel Dekaron Davis of 426 Meridian Dr., Charlotte, died August 11, 1989 at Char lotte Memorial Hospital. He Is survived by father: Sa muel Craig Davis, Charlotte: mother: Mrs. Msixlne Davis, Charlotte: sister: Mrs. Kawlnla Davis Eure, Charlotte; grand mother: Mrs. Susie Nuby of Da- nla, Florida. GRIER Mrs. Helen Montgomery of 325 Fannie Circle, Charlotte, NC. died August 12, 1989. She Is survived by a son: Sand ers R. Knighton, Inkster, Michi gan; daughter: Mrs., Vivian M. Wright, Charlotte, NC; brothers: Carl J. Knighton and Robert Knighton, both of Baltimore, Md., and Lewis J. Knighton, Clin ton, SC; sister; Virginia K. Wal lace, Charlotte, NC. Mb. Willie M. Newby of 3401- C Wheatley Avenue, Charlotte, NC, died August 13. 1989 at Gharlotte Memorial Hospital. She Is survived by sons: Bobby Jackson, Charlotte, and Ronald Humphrey, Baltimore, Md.; daughters: Miss Gwendolyn JaclSon, Charlotte, Mrs. Charlie M. Biggs, Rocky Mount, NC; brother: Charles Humphrey, See Obituaries On Page 6B. ,1S « 04 04 W-D Brand U.S.D.A. Choice Lean Tender Cubed Steak Prices good thru Tues. Aug. 22, 1989. ITT W VD DIXIE COPYRIGHT 1989 WINN-DIXIE CHARLOTTE, INC. America’s Supermarket ® QUANTITY RIGHTS RESERVED Hickory Sweet Sliced Bacon ' pkg. n 19 W-D Brand U.S.D.A. Choice London Broil Steak lb. $2 99 Harvest Fresh U.S. No. 1 New Crop White Rotatoes 10 lb. vent vue bag half gallon All Flavors Breyer’s Ice Cream $970 on Harvest Fresh Sweet Western Jumbo Cantaloupes each 99’ Prestige All Flavors TOMATO 32 oz. bottle Thrifty Maid Tomato Catsup 68« Ice Cream . *2®’ 32 oz. jar Regular or Light Deep South Mayonnaise YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE MFFERENCE
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Aug. 17, 1989, edition 1
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