Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Are you able to share the Gospel clearly and confidently without wandering off on rabbit trails? Learn why every believer should understand the Gospel, eagerly proclaim it, and guard it against false teaching. Listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon
Determined to Do Right
The question we must ask ourselves every day when faced with various circumstances is “What is the right thing to do?”
This is what Boaz considered when he determined to go to the city gate. He wanted to marry Ruth and provide for and protect her as her kinsman-redeemer. But he knew there was a relative closer to Ruth than him, who could choose to take on that role. Boaz was a man of integrity, unable to simply allow himself to rush off in a great swell of emotion when Ruth proposed to him on the threshing floor. His vision was set clearly on winning Ruth legitimately.
Boaz prioritized doing the right thing over his reputation. He went to the most public place—the city gate—in order to pursue a marriage with a foreigner, which potentially could have harmed his reputation and legacy. The closer relative was not willing to take this risk (Ruth 4:6). This man isn’t even given a name in Scripture. This is a lesson to us: we shouldn’t strive to make and safeguard a name for ourselves. Let someone else make a name for us and praise us. We should simply strive to do right.
Boaz’s words reveal that one of his motivations was to “perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance” (Ruth 4:10)—to preserve the name of Elimelech, Naomi’s deceased husband, by continuing his family. That’s selfless. That’s impressive. If Boaz had only been concerned for himself and his desires, he could have whisked Ruth away as his wife. Instead, he carried out his responsibility and publicly owned the situation. At the time, the passing of the kinsman-redeemer title was customarily sealed with the public exchange of a sandal (v 7). This exchange symbolized something greater—namely, Boaz’s commitment, love, and personal sacrifice for Ruth. Similarly, the cross stands in public view, and there we see Christ’s commitment, love, and sacrifice on our behalf. It cost Boaz financially to marry Ruth. It cost Christ His very life to redeem us and make us His beloved bride.
Both of these sacrifices—Boaz’s and Christ’s—won great rewards and legacies, providing a future and a hope: one for a young Moabitess and her mother-in-law, the other for all of humanity. Boaz’s pursuit of rightness resulted in a marriage that played an integral part in all of history by continuing a lineage that eventually led to the birth of our Savior (Matthew 1:5). And because of Christ’s sacrifice, we now look forward to the day when we will stand in glory, see His face, and praise His name forever. Our Bridegroom came and rightfully won us at great cost to Himself. Imagine Ruth’s joy when she heard that Boaz had given his sandal and confirmed that he would marry her. A similar joy should be ours as we look at the cross and know we are Christ’s. And the example of Boaz should be ours as we look at our day’s decisions and difficulties and learn simply to ask, “What is the right thing to do?”
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
Boaz Redeems Ruth
1Now Boaz had gone up to xthe gate and sat down there. And behold, ythe redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2And he took ten men zof the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4So I thought I would tell you of it and say, a‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you1 will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth2 the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order bto perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6cThen the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
7dNow this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to eChilion and to Mahlon. 10Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, fto perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11Then all the people who were gat the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, hwho together ibuilt up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in jEphrathah and kbe renowned in Bethlehem, 12and may your house be like the house of Perez, lwhom Tamar bore to Judah, because mof the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.”
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
Inward Trembling
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.
My soul, do you feel this holy trembling at the sins of others? For if you do not, you lack inward holiness. David's cheeks were wet with rivers of waters because of prevailing unholiness. Jeremiah desired eyes like fountains that he might lament the iniquities of Israel, and Lot was deeply troubled by the conduct of the men of Sodom. Those upon whom the mark was set in Ezekiel's vision were those who sighed and cried for the sins of Jerusalem. Gracious souls cannot help but be grieved to see what pains men take to go to hell. They know the evil of sin experimentally [experientially], and they are alarmed to see others flying like moths into its blaze.
Sin makes the righteous shudder because it violates a holy law that it is in every man's highest interest to keep; it pulls down the pillars of the nation. Sin in others horrifies a believer because it makes him think of the baseness of his own heart: When he sees a transgressor he is reminded of his own frailty and vulnerability: "He fell today, and I may fall tomorrow." Sin to a believer is horrible because it crucified the Savior; he sees in every iniquity the nails and spear. How troubling it should be when the Christian learns to tolerate rather than shrink from it in disgust.
Each of us must examine his heart. It is an awful thing to insult God to His face. The good God deserves better treatment; the great God claims it; the just God will have it or repay His adversary to his face. An awakened heart trembles at the audacity of sin and stands alarmed at the contemplation of its punishment. How monstrous a thing is rebellion! How dreadful a doom is prepared for the ungodly! My soul, never laugh at sin's fooleries, lest you begin to smile at sin itself. It is your enemy, and your Lord's enemy: Learn to detest it and to distance yourself from it, for only then can you give evidence of the possession of holiness, without which no one can see the Lord.
Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for November 2
Azariah Reigns in Judah
1vIn the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, wAzariah the son of Amaziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 2He was xsixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 3And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 4yNevertheless, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 5zAnd the Lord touched the king, so that he was a leper1 to the day of his death, aand he lived in a separate house.2 And Jotham the king's son was over the household, governing the people of the land. 6Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 7And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers bin the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
Zechariah Reigns in Israel
8In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months. 9And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, cwhich he made Israel to sin. 10Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him and dstruck him down at Ibleam and put him to death and reigned in his place. 11Now the rest of the deeds of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 12(This was ethe promise of the Lord that he gave to Jehu, “Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” And so it came to pass.)
Shallum Reigns in Israel
13Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of fUzziah3 king of Judah, and he reigned one month in gSamaria. 14Then Menahem the son of Gadi came up from hTirzah and came to Samaria, and he struck down Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and put him to death and reigned in his place. 15Now the rest of the deeds of Shallum, and the conspiracy that he made, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 16At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on, because they did not open it to him. Therefore he sacked it, iand he ripped open all the women in it who were pregnant.
Menahem Reigns in Israel
17In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem the son of Gadi began to reign over Israel, and he reigned ten years in Samaria. 18And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 19jPul4 the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave jPul a thousand talents5 of silver, that he might help him kto confirm his hold on the royal power. 20Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy men, fifty shekels6 of silver from every man, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land. 21Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 22And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.
Pekahiah Reigns in Israel
23In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, cwhich he made Israel to sin. 25And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him with fifty men of the people of Gilead, and struck him down in Samaria, in the citadel of the king's house with Argob and Arieh; he put him to death and reigned in his place. 26Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
Pekah Reigns in Israel
27In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, lwhich he made Israel to sin.
29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, mTiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured nIjon, oAbel-beth-maacah, Janoah, pKedesh, qHazor, Gilead, and rGalilee, all the land of Naphtali, and he carried the people captive to Assyria. 30Then Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah and struck him down and put him to death and reigned in his place, sin the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31Now the rest of the acts of Pekah and all that he did, behold, they are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
Jotham Reigns in Judah
32In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, began to reign. 33He was ttwenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. 34And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, uaccording to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35vNevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built wthe upper gate of the house of the Lord. 36Now the rest of the acts of Jotham and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 37In those days the Lord began to send xRezin the king of Syria and xPekah the son of Remaliah against Judah. 38Jotham slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.
Greeting
1Paul, a servant1 of God and aan apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and btheir knowledge of the truth, cwhich accords with godliness, 2din hope of eternal life, which God, ewho never lies, fpromised gbefore the ages began2 3and hat the proper time manifested in his word3 ithrough the preaching jwith which I have been entrusted kby the command of God our Savior;
4To Titus, lmy true child in ma common faith:
nGrace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Qualifications for Elders
5oThis is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and pappoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6qif anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife,4 and his children are believers5 and not open to the charge of rdebauchery or insubordination. 7For an overseer,6 sas God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not tbe arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent uor greedy for gain, 8but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, vand disciplined. 9He must whold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in xsound7 doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10For there are many who are insubordinate, yempty talkers and deceivers, especially those of zthe circumcision party.8 11They must be silenced, since athey are upsetting whole families by teaching bfor shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12cOne of the Cretans,9 a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”10 13This testimony is true. Therefore drebuke them esharply, that they fmay be sound in the faith, 14gnot devoting themselves to Jewish myths and hthe commands of people iwho turn away from the truth. 15jTo the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and kunbelieving, nothing is pure; but both ltheir minds and their consciences are defiled. 16mThey profess to know God, but they ndeny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, ounfit for any good work.
Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind
1Set ethe trumpet to your lips!
One flike a vulture is over the house of the Lord,
because gthey have transgressed my covenant
and rebelled against my law.
2To me they cry,
h“My God, we—Israel—know you.”
3Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him.
4iThey made kings, jbut not through me.
They set up princes, but I knew it not.
With their silver and gold they made idols
for their own destruction.
5kI have1 spurned your calf, O Samaria.
My anger burns against them.
lHow long will they be incapable of innocence?
6For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it;
it is not God.
kThe calf of Samaria
7For nthey sow the wind,
and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
ostrangers would devour it.
8pIsrael is swallowed up;
already they are among the nations
as qa useless vessel.
9For rthey have gone up to Assyria,
sa wild donkey wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
10Though they hire allies among the nations,
I will soon gather them up.
And tthe king and princes ushall soon writhe
because of the tribute.
11Because Ephraim vhas multiplied altars for sinning,
they have become to him altars for sinning.
12wWere I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13As for my sacrificial offerings,
xthey sacrifice meat and eat it,
but the Lord does not accept them.
yNow he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins;
zthey shall return to Egypt.
14For aIsrael has forgotten bhis Maker
and cbuilt palaces,
and aJudah has multiplied fortified cities;
so dI will send a fire upon his cities,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
Psalm 123
Our Eyes Look to the Lord Our God
A Song of mAscents.
1To you I qlift up my eyes,
O you who are renthroned in the heavens!
2Behold, as the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
till he has mercy upon us.
3sHave mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,
for we have had more than enough of tcontempt.
4Our soul has had more than enough
of uthe scorn of vthose who are at ease,
of the contempt of wthe proud.
Psalm 124
Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord
A Song of mAscents. Of David.
1xIf it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
ylet Israel now say—
2if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3then they would have zswallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4then athe flood would have bswept us away,
the torrent would have gone cover us;
5then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6Blessed be the Lord,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth!
7We have escaped like a bird
from dthe snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped!
8eOur help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 125
The Lord Surrounds His People
A Song of mAscents.
1Those who ftrust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which gcannot be moved, but abides forever.
2As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so hthe Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
3For ithe scepter of wickedness shall not jrest
on kthe land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous lstretch out
their hands to do wrong.
4mDo good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are nupright in their hearts!
5But those who oturn aside to their pcrooked ways
the Lord will lead away with qevildoers!
rPeace be upon Israel!
