Moabite To Israelite
Notes
Transcript
Covers: Ruth 1:1-22
Covers: Ruth 1:1-22
Read: Ruth 1:1-5
Read: Ruth 1:1-5
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Intro:
Intro:
The book of Ruth is a beautiful story found in the Old Testament. It’s 100% narrative from the History section of the Bible.
Ruth is a small book: four chapters, 85 verses, and only 2,056 words.
The events in Ruth occur during the time the Judges govern Israel
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
Now it was obviously written some time after the occurence because the author set the time period for us looking to the past.
Some think it could have happened during the time of Gideon because of the famine mentioned in Ruth 1:1
However it was probably written sometime after 1010 B.C. during the time of David. One of the purposes of the Book of Ruth is to establish the Davidic lineage which we will discuss later.
We don’t know who the author of the book of Ruth is, although some have speculated the prophet Samuel, which if it was written during the time of David would have been impossible.
The Book of Ruth is the only book in the Bible named after a non-Israelite or gentile.
The Big Idea of Ruth:
The Big Idea of Ruth:
“Invites us to reflect on the question of how God is involved in the day-to-day joys and hardships of our lives.” (Bible Project)
A Lesson to learn from Ruth:
A Lesson to learn from Ruth:
“The danger of interpreting God’s character in light of our circumstances, rather than interpreting our circumstances in light of God’s character.”
The Purpose of Ruth:
The Purpose of Ruth:
The purpose of Ruth is four fold:
To exhibit faith and Godliness of some Israelites in a time of apostasy.
To illustrate the concept of a kinsman redeemer (We will talk about that later)
To show that God’s grace included the Gentiles
To trace the ancestry of David back to Judah.
Main Characters:
Main Characters:
Six main Characters:
Ruth: “Friend” or “Companion”
Naomi: “Sweet”
Mara: (Naomi’s latter name) “Bitter”
Boaz: “Swift” or “Quick”
Elimelech: “My-God-is-King”
Mahlon: “Weak or Sick”
Chilion: “To come to an end”
Ruth’s Outline
Ruth’s Outline
Ruth’s Renunciation (Ruth 1:1-22) [Ruth renounces her Moabite gods for the true God of Israel]
Ruth’s Reaping (Ruth 2:1-23) [Ruth finds and reaps in the field of Boaz]
Ruth’s Request (Ruth 3:18) [Ruth asks Boaz to marry her]
Ruth’s Redemption (Ruth 4:1-22) [Ruth rejoices in her marriage and child]
Today we want to cover the first chapter Ruth’s Renunciation
Ruth’s Renunciation (Ruth 1:1-22) [Ruth renounces her Moabite gods for the true God of Israel]
Tragedy and death (Ruth 1:1-5)
A time of gloom and despair - the famine was no doubt a judgement from God. If you remember the book of Judges it is a cycle over and over where Israel would forget God and begin to serve idols and God would send judgement. They would repent and God would send a judge to deliver them and then it would repeat.
A time of moving- Elimelech, Naomi and their two sons move to Moab because of the famine.
Moab came from Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughter. and was an enemy at times to Israel. But Elimelech had to feed his family so they move.
It was during this time that Mahlon and Chilion their two sons found wives in Moab and tried to establish homes. Unfortunately tragedy and death strikes again and all the males perish.
Naomi, Ruth, & Orpha seem to have stuck together until one day Naomi receives good news...
Bread in Israel (Ruth 1:6)
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
The famine was over and “The LORD had visited his people”
Naomi’s three commands to return (Ruth 1:7-15)
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
Orphah is given two opportunities to leave and go back Ruth 1:8 and Ruth 1:11 and on the second Orphah takes Naomi up on her offer
Ruth is given three opportunities the same two as Orphah and then Ruth 1:15 While Orphah returns Ruth Renounces
Ruth’s renunciation of her people and her gods (Ruth 1:16-18)
A beautiful creed of commitment
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
I’ll go where you go
I’ll live where you live
I’ll accept your people as my people
I’ll accept your God as my God
Where you die I will die
Nothing but death will separate us.
This is a great example of our important commitments
Marriage (In fact this scripture was made into a song and has been sung at many weddings.)
Christianity- Our relationship with Christ
Naomi’s Bitter Return (Ruth 1:19-22)
The tragedy and death brought about a bitter return -
But don’t forget Psalm 126:6
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
So we have seen today a young Moabite woman who had all of her people and land to go back to renounce and refuse them to serve and follow the Israelite God
A Moabite becomes an Israelite.
We will see as the rest of the book of Ruth unfolds that God will take Naomi’s tears she has sowed and allow her to harvest a heap of rejoicing!!!