Zwipo 4 - KBTP & KJV

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.

The love story of Ruth and Boaz is one of the most heartwarming narratives in the Bible. It highlights loyalty, kindness, and the providence of God. Below is a seven-part exploration of their story, showcasing key moments and lessons we can learn.

1. Ruth’s Loyal Love for Naomi

Bible Verse: “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.'” (Ruth 1:16)

The story begins with Ruth’s decision to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, after the loss of their husbands. Despite being a Moabite with no obligation to remain, Ruth chooses loyalty and selfless love over personal comfort. Her declaration of commitment is a profound example of love rooted in devotion and faith.

Lesson: True love often involves sacrifice and putting others’ needs before your own.

2. Ruth’s Humility and Hard Work

Bible Verse: “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” (Ruth 2:2)

Arriving in Bethlehem, Ruth immediately seeks ways to provide for herself and Naomi. She humbly works in the fields, gleaning leftover grain, which was allowed under the law for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10). Her actions reflect love expressed through diligence and service.

Lesson: Love is not just about words but is demonstrated through actions of care and responsibility.

3. Boaz’s Kindness Toward Ruth

Bible Verse: “The Lord bless you, my daughter. This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier… You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.” (Ruth 3:10)

Boaz, a wealthy landowner and relative of Naomi, notices Ruth’s character and dedication. He treats her with kindness, ensuring she has more than enough grain and protection while working in his fields. Boaz’s actions are motivated by compassion and respect for Ruth’s integrity.

Lesson: Love involves recognizing and honoring the worth of others, especially their character and efforts.

4. Ruth’s Bold Request for Redemption

Bible Verse: “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” (Ruth 3:9)

Following Naomi’s guidance, Ruth approaches Boaz at night, asking him to act as her kinsman-redeemer. This was not a romantic gesture in the modern sense but a cultural and legal request for protection and provision. Ruth’s boldness reflects her trust in both Boaz and God’s plan.

Lesson: Love sometimes requires stepping out in faith and making courageous decisions.

5. Boaz’s Integrity and Commitment

Bible Verse: “I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.” (Ruth 3:11)

Boaz agrees to Ruth’s request but ensures the proper legal steps are taken first. He respects the traditions and laws of Israel, seeking permission from a closer relative before redeeming Ruth. His actions show his integrity and willingness to do things the right way.

Lesson: Love is honorable and seeks to uphold righteousness in all circumstances.

6. The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz

Bible Verse: “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.” (Ruth 4:13)

Boaz redeems Ruth and marries her, fulfilling his role as her kinsman-redeemer. Their union is not only a picture of love between two people but also a reflection of God’s faithfulness in providing for His people.

Lesson: God honors love that is rooted in obedience, faithfulness, and His divine plan.

7. God’s Providential Love Through Their Lineage

Bible Verse: “Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son!’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (Ruth 4:16-17)

Ruth and Boaz’s love story is woven into God’s grand plan. Their son, Obed, becomes the grandfather of King David, placing them in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). This demonstrates how God uses love and faithfulness to fulfill His promises.

Lesson: Love that honors God has eternal significance, impacting generations to come.

Conclusion

The story of Ruth and Boaz is more than a romance—it’s a testament to God’s providence and the power of love rooted in loyalty, humility, and faith. Their story encourages us to trust God’s plan, love selflessly, and honor Him in all our relationships.

Let this example inspire us to live with the same devotion and integrity, trusting that God is working behind the scenes to bring about His perfect plan for our lives.

Zwibhayilo zwe tjibi

1 Yahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, 2 “Idwa bathu be Iziraela uti, ‘Ha kuna mmwe watjinya ngosaziba, mu tjimwe tje zwithu Yahwe zwabakalaula kuti zwisithamiwe, ngono kathama tjimwe tjazo ngaathame sahwoku:

3 “ ‘Ha ali mpirisiti wakazhodziwa atjinya, kutjinya kukwe kozhisa nlandu mu bathu, ndizo ngaadusile tjibi tjaathama nkong'wana usina bulema kuna Yahwe tjili tjibhayilo tje tjibi. 4 Ayise nkong'wana ihwoyo ku nkoba we nshasha we bushanganilo mbeli kwa Yahwe, abige luboko gugwe pezhugwi kwe nsholo we nkong'wana, abe eubhaya mbeli kwa Yahwe. 5 Ngono mpirisiti wakazhodziwa atole mamwe e malopa e nkong'wana aayise ku nshasha we bushanganilo. 6 Mpirisiti adubike tjinyala tjitje mu malopa, abe enyasa mamwe awo katendeka mbeli kwa Yahwe ali mbeli kwe tjisitilo tje bugalo gwakayengemala. 7 Mpirisiti azhodze mamwe e malopa mu nyanga dze tjibeso tje motsha unonuhwa zwinozipa tjimu nshasha we bushanganilo mbeli kwa Yahwe, ngono malopa wose asala e nkong'wana aatebulile pa tjigadziko tje tjibeso tje tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa tjipa nkoba we nshasha we bushanganilo. 8 Aduse mafuta wose mu nkong'wana we tjibhayilo tje tjibi, lizwizwi ne mafuta wose e zwimukati, 9 ne so mbili ne mafuta adzo kudwila ku thunji ne mafuta apezhugwi kwe tjilopa, azwidusilanye ne so. 10 Mpirisiti unowotola mafuta iyawa ebe eapisa mu tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tjagala tjipisigwa zwibhayilo zwinopisiwa, sekwa agala ethama nge mafuta adwa mu ithuwo tjabhayigwa tjibhayilo tje mbakisano. 11 Koga ganda le nkono ne nyama kose ne nsholo wayo ne thozo dzayo ne zwamukati ne nswane wayo, 12 ntumbu wose we nkong'wana usengegwe kuzhe kwe bukotokelo, ku bugalo bubuyanana ku tjizhalanlota, upisiwe mu moto we hwuni pezhugwi kwe tjizhalanlota.

13 “ ‘Ha itjaba tjose tje Iziraela tjathama tjibi ngosaziba ngono kwakasumbikala mu mesho e gubungano, bebe bethama tjimwe tje zwithu Yahwe tjabakati tjisithamwe ngono bebe babe ne nlandu, 14 ha tjibi tjabathama tjibe tjizibgwa, gubungano lodusa nkong'wana kube tjibhayilo tje tjibi, ngono banowouzhisa mbeli kwe nshasha we bushanganilo. 15 Bakulu be gubungano babige maboko abo pezhugwi kwe nsholo we nkong'wana mbeli kwa Yahwe, ngono nkong'wana unowobhayiwa mbeli kwa Yahwe. 16 Ndizo mpirisiti wakazhodziwa unowozhisa malopa mamwe e nkong'wana ku nshasha we bushanganilo, 17 ngono mpirisiti unowodubika tjinyala tjitje mu malopa ebe eanyasa katendeka mbeli kwa Yahwe ali mbeli kwe tjisitilo. 18 Ngono mpirisiti unowozhodza malopa mu nyanga dze tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo tjimu nshasha we bushanganilo mbeli kwa Yahwe, ngono malopa wose asala unowoatebulila ku bhato le tjibeso tje tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa tjipa nkoba we nshasha we bushanganilo. 19 Ngono mafuta e nkong'wana wose aaduse muuli abe eapisila mu tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo. 20 Sekwa akathama nge nkong'wana we tjibhayilo tje tjibi ndiko zwako kwaanowothama nge nkong'wana ihwoyu. Mpirisiti unowothama gadzano yabo na Yahwe, ngono Yahwe banowobazwiibhatigwa. 21 Ntumbu wose we nkong'wana unowousengela kuzhe kwe bukotokelo kanoupisa sekwa akapisa nkong'wana we kutanga. Etji nditjo tjibhayilo tje tjibi tje gubungano.

22 “ ‘Ha ntungamili athama tjibi ngosaziba mu tjimwe tje zwithu Yahwe Ndzimu uwe tjabalaula kuti tjisithamwe, ngono abe nlandu, 23 ngono ha tjibi tjaathama atjizibisiwa, unozhisa tjipo tjitje ili mbudzi ndume isina bulema. 24 Ngono abige luboko gugwe pezhugwi kwe nsholo we mbudzi, abhaye mbudzi iyeyo panobhayigwa tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa mbeli kwa Yahwe, itjetji nditjo tjibhayilo tje tjibi. 25 Ndizo mpirisiti unowotola mamwe e malopa e tjibhayilo tje tjibi nge tjinyala tjitje ebe eabhoma mu nyanga dze tjibeso tje tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa, ebe etebulila malopa asala pa bhato le tjibeso tje tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa. 26 Ngono mafuta wose aapisile mu tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo sekwa akapisa mafuta e tjibhayilo tje mbakisano. Sa ikoko, mpirisiti unowonthamila kugadzana ngekwe tjibi tjitje, ngono Yahwe banonzwiibhatigwa.

27 “ ‘Ha mmwe we bathu koga angatjinya ngosaziba, ngoti athama tjimwe tje zwithu Yahwe tjabakalaula kuti tjisithamwe, ngono abe nlandu, 28 ha azibisiwa tjibi tjaathama, azhise tjipo tje mbudzi hadzi isina bulema, edusila tjibi tjitje tjaathama. 29 Ngono ntjinyi abige luboko gugwe pezhugwi kwe nsholo we tjibhayilo tje tjibi, abhaye tjibhayilo tje tjibi panobhayigwa tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa. 30 Mpirisiti atole mamwe e malopa atjo nge tjinyala tjitje aabhome mu nyanga dze tjibeso tje tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa, abe etebulila malopa asala pa bhato le tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo. 31 Wakatjinya aduse malopa wose sekwa akaadusa mu tjibhayilo tje mbakisano, ngono mpirisiti unowopisa tjibhayilo mu tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo kube nnuhwo unonuhwa zwinozipa kuna Yahwe. Sa ikoko, mpirisiti unonthamila gadzano na Yahwe, ngono Yahwe banowonzwiibhatigwa.

32 “ ‘Ha nthu angazhisa pkhwizi kube tjipo tjitje tje tjibi, azhise ili hadzi isina bulema. 33 Abige luboko gugwe pezhugwi kwe nsholo wayo, abe ebhaya pkhwizi ili tjibhayilo tje tjibi pa bugalo gunobhayigwa tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa. 34 Ndizo mpirisiti unowotola mamwe e malopa e tjibhayilo tje tjibi nge tjinyala tjitje, ebe eabhoma mu nyanga dze tjibeso tje tjibhayilo tjinopisiwa, ebe etebulila malopa asala pa bhato le tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo. 35 Ngono unowodusa mafuta ayo wose sekwa kunodusiwa mafuta e pkhwizana ye tjibhayilo tje mbakisano, ngono mpirisiti unowoapisila mu tjibeso tjinopisigwa zwibhayilo, pezhugwi kwe zwipo zwinopisiwa mu moto kupisigwa Yahwe. Sa ikoko mpirisiti unowonthamila kugadzana na Yahwe ngekwe tjibi tjaathama, ngono Yahwe banonzwiibhatigwa.’ ”

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: 3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. 4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. 5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: 6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, 10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering. 11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, 12 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.

13 ¶ And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; 14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. 16 And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: 17 And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail. 18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 19 And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar. 20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. 21 And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.

22 ¶ When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; 23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: 24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. 25 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. 26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

27 ¶ And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. 29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. 30 And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. 31 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. 32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish. 33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering. 34 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar: 35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.