Sermon Tone Analysis

Scene 1: Three Funerals ()

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way” (J.

K. Rowling, A Tale of Two Cities).

Scene 1: Three Funerals ()

The story of Ruth begins with a Jewish family that flees famine and anarchy in their homeland in search of safety and a better life.

Women were often invisible in Bible times.

The story of Ruth begins with a Jewish family that flees famine and anarchy in their homeland in search of safety and a better life.

The days when the judges ruled were dark days in Israel.

The Book of Judges tells us several times that they were times when “there was no king in Israel” and “everyone did what was right in their own eyes.”

In other words, lawlessness, anarchy, and oppression reigned.

Elimelek and Naomi were Ephrathites, that is, residents of Bethlehem, the hometown of David and the birthplace of Jesus.

There was a famine in the land.

In OT times, famines were often God’s discipline on his erring people.

Because of the famine, Elimelek took his family to live in Moab.

He was looking for ‘greener pastures’ and ‘a better life’.

Do you think this was a good idea?

Bethlehem was in in the Promised Land, the place God promised to his people.

But because of the corruption and the economic crisis (famine) in the land, Elimelek reasoned that his family would be better off in Moab.

The Moabites were a heathen nation, sworn enemies of God’s people who worshipped a pagan deity called Chemosh.

How strange that Elimelek and Naomi would seek a better life away from the Lord’s Promised Land in the embrace of a pagan people.

The Moabites were a heathen nation, sworn enemies of God’s people Israel.

How strange that Elimelek and Naomi would seek a better life away from the Lord’s Promised Land in the embrace of a pagan people.

So how did this work out for Elimelek and Naomi?

Elimelek and Naomi courted disaster when they fled from the Lord’s place and his people.

Yes, there was a famine, but doesn’t God know how to look after his people in the midst of a famine?

Elimelek and Naomi fled Judah to escape death, but all three men died there.

What a tragic irony!

Naomi had three funerals and she was left as the most vulnerable person in society: a poverty-stricken widow with no family.

We cannot run away from our problems because the root cause is usually an unbelieving and disobedience heart, which we take with us.

Naomi blamed God for her suffering.