New Beginnings: The Story of Ruth Part 1

Introduction

We as a church family are starting off on a new journey. I’m the new member to this family, it will be a new beginning and an opportunity to travel a new road and see how the LORD will use each one of us on this road. I want to begin this journey by looking at the new beginning that happened to a family in the Old Testament. We are going to be looking at the story of Ruth

Ruth 1

The book is a short one, only 4 chapters long. Four acts like a play as many commentaries point out.

Background to the book

The book of Ruth takes place during the time of the Judges. It would be a downward spiral that would occur.

Israel sins and turns from God.

Oppression comes to the land.

People cry out to God.

God raises up a judge.

Judge frees them from the opposition for a season.

After a time it starts over again, but they are worse off

Ruth 1:1-5

Four people leave Bethlehem

Elimelech

His wife Naomi

Mahlon (son)

Chilion (son)

This is not an easy journey . No planes, buses, cars. This was a long walk to Moab out of the Promise Land. They will need to go over the Jordan River or around the Dead Sea. It is around 50-70 miles from Bethlehem to Moab.

Name Meanings

Naomi - Pleasantness

Elimelech- My God is King

Mahlon- sickly

Chilion- sickly

Oprah- neck, girl with full mane

Ruth- Refresh, satisfied, friend, companion

Patriarchal Problem

Since we are in the time of the Judges the nation of Israel is sinning and one of the ways God is trying to get them to come back to Him is by causing a famine. The famine is affecting Bethlehem where a family (husband, wife, and two sons) live. They decide to leave and move to Moab.

Moab (Genesis 19:37: The descendants are an incestral line with Lot and his two daughters.

They are in the land of Moab for 10 years. In those 10 years Elimelech dies. Both sons marry Moabite women. Then both sons die. Talk about a roller coaster of a life.

In this society there is no insurance, medicare, social security and to top it all off they are women, which the society did not respect. Yet, God on the other hand had a new beginning in store.

3 widows (Naomi, Oprah, and Ruth) No kids —>no heirs—> No HOPE!

Famine over in Bethlehem (Ruth 1:6-13)

The LORD visited, giving them bread!

Bethlehem: House of Bread (foot)

There had been a famine in the house of bread, but now it was over!

Naomi makes up her mind to go back home to start over. Her daughters-in-law decide to go with her.

At some point in this 50-70 mile journey, Naomi has a conversation with her two daughters-in-law.

GO HOME.

Verses 8-9, Naomi gives a blessing to them both

LORD deal kindly to you

They both had dealt kindly to Naomi during this time of sorrow

LORD grant you rest —> new husband

Verse 10: Both say they will return with Naomi

Verses 11-13: Would you wait? Do I have anymore kids waiting for you?

The hand of the LORD has gone out against me

Grieves her —Hebrew: Bitterness/Bitter (she would refer to herself as Mara, meaning bitter later on in 1:20)

One Leaves / One Stays

Orpah leaves and goes back, bur Ruth stays. In fact she “clung to” Naomi.

Clung: To cleave, cling, keep close. To stick to, adhere to, like glue. It shows loyalty and devotion.

First time this Hebrew word is used is Genesis 2:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” The word translated joined is the same Hebrew term. Cleave to his wife.

Ruth is like glue to Naomi.

Naomi once again asks Ruth to go back home to her people…her gods.

Even with all the choices that Elimelech and his family made, whether good or bad, God had used this roller coaster ride to impact Ruth, a woman from Moab. Listen to her response to Naomi

Ruth 1:16-18

But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

Don’t ask me to leave

Don’t ask me to stop following you

Where you go…I will also go

Where you stay…I will also stay

Your people…will now be my people

Your God…now is my God

Where you die…that is where I will die

Where you are buried…that is where I will be buried.

Oath made. The LORD do so to me and more if anything other than death parts you and I.

How had the LORD been working in Ruth’s life already?

Sometimes God uses us in spite of ourselves. Did her mother-in-law talka bout the Exodus or the conquering of the land? Were the stories from the wandering in the wilderness still being told in Moab?

She wanted to worship the one true God over the god of Chemosh (which had child sacrifice)

After Ruth’s statement there was no more deterring her.

Ruth 1:19-22

....Came to Bethlehem (once again an understatement) long trip that is uphill

…city was excited “made a noise” “roar”

Is this Naomi?

Name Change

Do n’t call me Pleasant “Naomi” call me Bitter “Mara”

Remember in verse 13 “it grieves me” bitter- hand of the LORD has gone out against me” therefore I am bitter.

Verse 21: I went out full — famine in the land when they left, but she had her family. Now she does not. There had been a famine and no food. Now there was food, but no family.

God has answered her - testified against her

They returned…beginning of the barley harvest

Barley Harvest

Nisan [March - April] month 1 - Also Passover season

The Harvest was ripe

“Naomi had left Bethlehem because of a food famine. She returned with a famine in her soul” (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

Conclusion

As we enter this new beginning at Victory Bible Church some of you might feel like Naomi, some might feel like Ruth, but take comfort that God is leading. There is a harvest!

Maybe you are like Ruth and you want to know the True God. I would invite you to speak to me after the service of how you can know the one true God through Jesus Christ.

Maybe you are like Naomi. Bitterness is in there. Talk to God. It is OK to talk, yell, and even screen at God when youa re in the midst of pain. Read the Psalms! God can take it. He aleady knows your heart so you might as well vocalize it.

Next we will see how Act 2 pays out in Ruth 2.