Ruth 1 – A Love Story April 28, 2018
The Book of Ruth is a
book of prophecy. It is a book of love and carries this romance along, brings
out the romance of redemption and gives us hints about God’s plan; example
about the Kinsman-Redeemer (the theme) that points to Jesus, Israel and the
Church. Author is Unknown.
This event is
historical, an event that actually happened; it occurred in the time of the first
half of Judges, around 11 century B.C..
There are applications from this book that will apply to our own
lives. We see Ruth faithfulness are
clear implications of our Lord’s redeeming work. Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer, point to Jesus,
Ruth portrays enters new life through Jesus.
Bethlehem to the Cross; to the Crown; to the Throne of
David. The Kinsman-Redeemer; the distinction between the Church and the Nation
Israel. We need to understand this, is
essential to understand the Book of Revelation.
The Jewish people read this book on Pentecost every year.
Book of Ruth
Chapter 1: Love’s Resolve, Deciding - Ruth staying
close to Naomi
Chapter 2: Love’s
Response, Serving - Ruth gleaning
Chapter 3: Love’s
Request, Resting - The Threshing Floor Scene
Chapter 4: Love’s Rewarded
- The Redemption of both Land and Bride
*Matthew 1:5
Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz
begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot
Jesse, {Rahab, Ruth – Gentile Brides in
Jesus lineage} {Notice, Rahab, Ruth have no death
recorded}
Naomi Widowed, Famine in Judah
Ruth 1:1 Now there came a time of famine while judges were ruling in the land of
Israel. A man from Bethlehem of Judah,
his wife, and his two sons left to live in the country of Moab. (Jewish
family)
This
first verse tells us what happen, where it took place, when it took place, and
how it took place. Bethlehem is about 5
miles south of Jerusalem.
The
period of time about 400 years when the judges ruled was after Joshua had
conquered the land, but before King Saul, is when Ruth takes place during that time
period. The famine is one of 13 famine
mention in the Bible is the reason the family had to leave their home.
Because
of the Book of Ruth, the House of David is link to Bethlehem
*Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem
Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you
shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are
from of old, From everlasting."
Remember,
Country of Moab; Moab was the son of Lot and one of his
daughters.
*Genesis
19:36-37
That's how both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. (37) The firstborn gave birth to a son and named him Moab, and he is the ancestor
of the Moabites to this day.
*Deuteronomy
23:3
"No Ammonite or Moabite may participate in the assembly of the LORD, and
none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD, to the
tenth generation,
Living in Moab
Ruth 1:2 The man's name was
Elimelech, his wife's name was Naomi, and their two sons were named Mahlon and
Chilion--Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah. They journeyed to the country of
Moab and lived there for some time.
Names
of the family, who are the players:
Elimelech:
“God is my king.” (Interesting name: during the time of the judges they had no
king.)
Naomi:
“pleasant.”
Mara
(Naomi): means bitter
Machlon:
means “to be sick.” “unhealthy, sickly.”
Chilion:
“wasting” or “pining.”
Orpah:
“fawn,” or “gazelle.”
Ruth: “friendship,” “desirable.”
The
route to the pagan land of Moab, had to go past Jericho, Judean wilderness near
the Dead Sea, across the Jordan River and into the land of Moab, with the
intention to return.
Ruth 1:3 Then Naomi's husband
Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons.
Ruth 1:4 Each of her sons married
Moabite women: one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. After they lived there about ten years,
Machlon
married Ruth (4:10), Chilion married Orpah.
Jews
were forbidden to marry Gentile women, especially those from Ammon and Moab
Ruth 1:5 both Mahlon and Chilion
died, leaving Naomi alone with neither her husband nor her two sons.
{lost
male protector, become dependent on society}
When
Elimelech left Bethlehem, he lost his property, either sold it or lost it by
debt and part of this story will deal with “redeeming the land.”
To
be a childless widow was to be among the lowest, most disadvantaged women in
the ancient world. There was no one to support them, and you had to live on the
help from strangers. Only recourse for
them was to go home to Bethlehem.
Ruth's Loyalty to Naomi, return to Judah
Ruth 1:6 She and her
daughters-in-law prepared to return from the country of Moab, because she had
heard while living there how the LORD had come to the aid of his people, giving
them relief.
Ruth 1:7 So she left the place
where she had been, along with her two daughters-in-law, and they traveled
along the return road to the land of Judah.
Ruth 1:8 But along the way, Naomi
told her two daughters-in-law, "Each of you go back home. Return to your mother's house. May the LORD show his
gracious love to you, as you have shown me and our loved ones who have died.
Ruth 1:9 The LORD grant that you may find
rest, each in the house of her husband." So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
Notice Naomi described marriage
as a place of rest or security.
Ruth
and Orpah would be better off in Moab than Bethlehem where they would be
outcasts. Naomi freely blessed them and
prayed that they would remarry.
When
the women wept shows evidence of the real relationship of love between Naomi
and her daughter-in-laws.
Ruth 1:10 They both replied to her,
"No! We will go back with you to your people."
Ruth
loyal decision
Ruth 1:11 But Naomi responded,
"Go back, my daughters. Why go with me? Are there still sons to be born to
me as future husbands for you?
According
to the laws of ancient Israel, if a young woman was left widowed, without
having had a son, then one of her deceased husband’s brothers was responsible for being a “surrogate father” and
providing her with a son. Naomi here says that she has no other sons to give
Ruth 1:12 So go on back, my
daughters! Be on your way! I'm too old to remarry. If I were to say that I'm
hoping for a husband tonight and then also bore sons this very night,
Ruth 1:13 would you wait for them until they were grown?
Would you refrain from marriage for them? No, my daughters! I'm more deeply
grieved than you, because the LORD is
working against me!"
Naomi
recognized what happen to her was not by pure chance, but by the hand of God. What did she do, leave Israel and marrying
her sons. Notice, she did not grow
bitter against God. Israel law –
Levirate marriage.
Ruth 1:14 They began to cry loudly
again. So Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth remained with her.
Ruth
stayed with Naomi because she needed someone to take care of her. What happen to Orpah, we do not know.
Ruth 1:15 Naomi told Ruth,
"Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law!"
Moab
national god was called Chemosh which has human sacrifices.
*Numbers
21:29 Woe to you, Moab! You are destroyed, you
people of Chemosh! He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters have
gone into captivity to Sihon, king of the Amorites.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth answered,
"Stop urging me to abandon you and to turn back from following you.
Because wherever you go, I'll go. Wherever you live, I'll live. Your people
will be my people, and your God, my God.
Famous
saying comes from: your God, my God.
Ruth
was raised in Moab, an idol-worshiping Gentile country. She was abandoning everything, not because
she was married to a husband, but to follow her mother-in-law, including
adopting a strange and totally different way of life. Was this by the example of her life, which
Naomi set for Ruth.
Ruth 1:17 Where you die, I'll die
and be buried. May the LORD do this to me--and more--if anything except death
comes between you and me."
Interesting, Ruth invoked
the name of God (Lord) in her oath and not the name of Moeb Chemosh god. Ruth intends to care for Naomi's burial and the
rituals connected with death, and to be buried in the same place as Naomi. She totally cast her lot in with Naomi and
set aside her formal life.
How
then could Ruth enter into the congregation of the Lord? By trusting God’s grace and throwing herself
completely on His mercy. Law excludes us from God’s family, but grace includes
us if we put our faith in Christ.
Ruth 1:18 When Naomi observed Ruth's
determination to travel with her, she ended the conversation.
Naomi and Ruth Return, back to Bethlehem
Ruth 1:19 Now the two of them went
until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem,
that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, "Is
this Naomi?"
This
would make a journey of about 75 mi., and not a straight or level path. It
meant they would have to descend from the Moabite highlands to the Jordan
Valley, a descent of 4,500 feet, followed by an ascent to Bethlehem of 3,750
feet, walking through desert territory, through the Wilderness of Judah. There was probably less 200 people in town.
Ruth 1:20 But Naomi replied,
"Don't call me 'Naomi'! Call me 'Mara'! That's because the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.
Remember,
Mara means bitter. She felt this way, but she was not bitter against the Lord.
Naomi came back repentant and honest about her situation.
Ruth 1:21 I left here full, but the
LORD brought me back empty. So why call me 'Naomi'? After all, the LORD is
against me, and the Almighty has broken me." {she believe God was behind all things and
her course in life}
Ruth 1:22 So Naomi returned to
Bethlehem from the country of Moab, along with her daughter-in-law Ruth the
Moabite woman. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Barley
ripens before wheat and began to be reaped or harvest sometimes as early as
March or April, when rainy season came to an end.
Maps
of trip of Naomi and Ruth,
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