RIGHTEOUS LIVING IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS: Ruth 1:1-22

We come this morning to a remarkable book. It features a Gentile woman of unrivaled character. It opens the doors into the intense sufferings, hard decisions, and human responses to various issues. It has no miracles, no direct revelation from God, and is focused primarily on a family and their experiences in life.

It is a wonderful account, and like many accounts it has several themes. One theme is that God providentially works things out in the life of His people. Another theme is redemption, a point that helps connect this small book with the storyline of Scripture. It also focuses on God’s kindness through His people.

I have to confess, Ruth has been one of my least favorite books of the Bible. I have routinely read through the Bible, and while I do not dread it, I do not really look forward to it (kind of like reading through the genealogies). But after seriously studying this book, it is quickly become a favorite.

Ruth, as a whole, provides us with a unique perspective of righteous living in an unrighteous world. Here are two religions: Israel and Moab. One faithfully follows the One true God; the other follows a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Here are responses to tragedies: intense famine, a significant move, death of spouse and children, and culture shock. I would dare say that this book is as pertinent as ever.

Our chapter this morning presents us with insights in how to live righteously in midst of trials. In chapter one, trials abound. There is a trial of famine. There is a trial of an enormous move. There is a trial of faith. There is a trial of unexpected death.

Are you experiencing a trial this morning? Then this book is for you. Are you struggling with your faith? Then this book is for you. Are you in a place where you struggle with what God wants you to do? Then this book is for you.

Ruth chapter one offers us a glimpse into actual people’s lives and how they handled the trials that God providentially brought into these families’ lives.

I. TRIALS ARE A COMMON PART OF HUMAN EXISTENCE- Ruth 1:1-5

A. TRIALS TAKE PLACE IN TIME AND LIFE- Ruth 1:1

Sometimes when we discuss trials we deal with them in amorphous language. It is out there, not here. But trials are not something void, trials occur in time and in people’s lives. We are introduced to this family first.

The author of Ruth sets this book in the time of the judges. The period of the judges was a time of civil and social unrest (sound familiar?). The last verse of Judges provides a succinct commentary of what life was like, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25) The book of Judges is filled with wars and sin and depravity that is almost unimaginable. This is the period in which Elimelech and his family lived.

Then we read about this famine. Now, famines were common in Scripture. This happened to Abram (Gen. 12:10), Isaac (Gen. 26:1), and even in Joseph’s time that spanned nations (Gen. 41:56-57). At times, famines were a means of judgment in order to have individuals, or the nation of Israel, to repent. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 offer a detailed statement on what would happen to Israel if they failed to observe God’s Covenant.

We do not have the reasons why this famine came, we just know that it did. And often times, we do not know the reasons why trials come into our lives, we just know that they are there. We experience trials, here and now. This is something that connects us all. But we are given further insights into righteous living by examining some interesting points.

B. TRIALS CAN LEAD US TO FOOLISH OR SINFUL DECISIONS- Ruth 1:1-2

So, we see this trial enter into the life of Elimelech and his family. And like us, he responded. How? He “went to sojourn in the country of Moab.” There are details here that are worthy of our attention.

First, Elimelech is leaving Bethlehem (“house of bread”) for Moab. He is leaving the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey, to head to Moab, one of Israel’s most pernicious enemies and opposers of the One true God. Many times, this cousin of Israel (remember they came from Lot, Abraham’s nephew) tripped them up with false religions and sensuality and with attacks.

But we continue by noting his objective: to sojourn. He did not intend to stay there indefinitely, though no amount of time is mentioned. Now, on the surface this does not seem to be foolish or sinful, does it? A man is faced with a lack of food and moves to an area to seek work. That is innocent, right?

This is how we typically respond to trials. We go with what makes sense, at least in our minds. We do not have work, so we move and take a job to have work. We may not consider the ramifications of the move, or the requirements of the new position (such as working on Sundays), but it makes sense.

Consider where they lived and where they were moving. They lived in Bethlehem, the house of bread, in Israel, an expansive land. And they moved to Moab (roughly between 60-80 miles, depending upon where they went). It is about as far as Gray Court to Rock Hill, but a journey on foot. Was there somewhere closer? We know that there was cities in Israel that he could have taken his family to, but we are not given this information.

So, was his move foolish or sinful? We cannot conclusively say. From the passage it seems that it is foolish, but there may be some sinfulness in his decision. We can conclude, though, that his decision to “remain there” was sinful. They were to live in the Promised Land, and Elimelech’s decision was sinful. He was an Israelite, and God commanded His people to inhabit the promised land, and by “remaining” in Moab he failed to obey the Lord. He also, as will be observed momentarily, lead his family into difficult circumstances.

Each trial we face provides this challenge, and we can potentially respond in foolishness or sinfulness. We will learn some lessons from Naomi and Ruth shortly that will enable us to live righteously, but we must remember that each trial can lead us to foolish or sinful decisions.

C. TRIALS VARY IN DEGREE- Ruth 1:3-5

We are not privy to why Elimelech died. We simply read it. And again, we often do not know why we experience, but that is irrelevant to our responses, for we should always respond in trust to God and faith.

But notice the trials experienced by this family. There is the trial of the famine, of not knowing from where the food will come. There is the trial of the move and cultural differences. Now we come to a much more significant trial: the death of Naomi’s husband.

I cannot imagine what is going through Naomi or her two sons’ minds. What a terrible situation this was! And yet we can see that there are degrees of trials. Some trials are soul-rending, while other trials are simply patient-testing. Perhaps you find yourself in one of these severe trials. There is hope for you, as we will see not only this morning but for the rest of the book. Or, you may be experiencing a smaller trial. Either way, Naomi and Ruth help us work through these periods of our lives.

Trials are a common part of human existence. But we move on to the responses, and see

II. TRIALS ALWAYS POINT US BACK TO GOD- Ruth 1:6-18

This is a significant point that we must learn. Trials always point us back to God! Think of the many examples of Scripture which we could observe. But we will limit our focus to our present passage. We ask the question of this passage, How do trials point us to God? We answer accordingly.

A. Trials remind us that God is in control- Ruth 1:6-7

This is vital, as we will note throughout this entire book. God is in control. He is sovereign. The London Baptist Confession reminds us that,

“God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.”—London Baptist Confession of Faith 5:1

The Scriptures unashamedly teach and display that God is sovereign. By the way, this will be our focus for our church conference this October 16-17 with Rev. Sam Roper and Rev. Lucas Mann!

Notice the wording of this verse, that the LORD had visited his people. The Lord sent the famine, and the Lord sent the food. The Lord ended Elimelech’s life, as well as Naomi’s two sons, just as He gave them life. Trials have a way of reminding us that God is in control. Through a recognition of God’s providence, Naomi decides to return to her homeland.

B. Trials reorient our focus back to God- Ruth 1:8-14

Notice in Naomi’s encouragement to her daughters-in-law that she mentions God twice, both by His covenantal name. Naomi is a great mother-in-law. Her encouragement to return to Moab was based upon her inability to provide anything for Orpah or Ruth. In her age, Naomi would be unable to provide new husbands for them, even if she could remarry and bear children.

But her focus is back on God, she prays twice that the LORD would be with them. And even when she is recounting the trials she has faced, she places them squarely on the shoulders of God, saying “the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”

C. Trials reveal our hearts toward God- Ruth 1:15-18

After Naomi’s encouragement, Orpah returns to her people, and more importantly, her gods. But Ruth makes an important decision, demonstrating a remarkable faith. Ruth decides to stay with Naomi, taking on herself the people of Israel and the God of Israel.

This is a stark decision by Ruth. She is saying no to her religion, her people, her culture and comforts, all embracing the one true God. Trials are like windows into our souls. They reveal the inner workings of our hearts, our true loves, if you will.

For Orpah, trials revealed a weak commitment. She married an Israelite man, but she was not committed to an Israelite God. Often times, trials reveal a shallow relationship with God. How can I say that? When difficult times come, is our first response one of doubt? Or anger? Or bitterness? These reveal many things, but ultimately it reveals a shallow relationship with God.

It also can potentially reveal that we do not have a relationship with God. Orpah, though initially eager to remain with Naomi, eventually left. The young rich ruler, upon hearing Jesus’ challenge, could not withstand the trial and “went away sorrowful” (Matt. 19:22).

For Ruth, it revealed a heart in love with God. She was committed to stay with Naomi. She claimed Naomi’s people as her people. She claimed Naomi’s God as her God. The many trials Ruth faced (death of a spouse, leaving her home, and her mother-in-law’s encouragement to return to her gods) all revealed her heart toward God: she was a firm and commited believer.

III. TRIALS CHANGE US- Ruth 1:19-21

Upon her return her friends and family barely recognized her. They wondered, “Is this Naomi?” Matthew Henry quips, “Afflictions will make great and surprising changes in a little time.” We have no record of the amount of time Naomi and her family spent in Moab, but it was not long enough for the town to fail to recognize her.

Trials changed Naomi’s view of life. I do not think the Scripture minces words, and at the beginning of this chapter there is no mention of God. After her bitter ordeal, however, the trial changed Naomi’s view of life. No longer viewing it without God, Naomi sees God as the giver of the trial.

Trials changed Naomi’s station in life. When she left Bethlehem she was full, but upon her return she was empty. She has a husband, but now she was a widow. She had two sons, now she has one daughter-in-law.

Trials change our understanding. Perhaps Naomi felt justified in following her husband to Moab, we are not given that information. But what we do know is that Naomi now views the trial in relation to her own guilt. “The LORD has testified against me,” she says.

Trials change our view of life, do they not? They reorient our focus to what is important, to what we had, to what we lost. Trials change our stations in life as well. At times we may enjoy financial freedom, but with the loss of a job we experience a change in our financial security. We also have our understandings change with trial, for good or bad. But this brings us to our final point.

IV. TRIALS BRING HOPE- Ruth 1:22

This entire chapter, with the exception of Ruth’s incredible profession of faith, would end in hopelessness. But it ends with verse 22. Naomi and Ruth return home, and they happened to return “at the beginning of barley harvest.”