Part 2: Basking in Bitterness (featuring Ruth and Naomi)

Part 1 Review — Responding to Ruin (featuring Ruth and Naomi) — Ruth 1:1-18

Series Introduction

Last week we began a new series titled “Ruth: From Ruin To Redemption.”

This will be an 8-part series taken from the Book of Ruth

In this series, we will move through the Book of Ruth verse-by-verse from beginning to end

The Book of Ruth fits chronologically right in the middle of the Book of Judges (even though it comes right after it in our Bibles)

Her story takes place during the darkest days in all of Israel’s history

After Joshua had conquered the land, the judges ruled and eventually people fell into rejection of God’s truth and the country was filled with violence, idolatry, and corruption.

Because of this, the story of Ruth stands out like a tiny ray of sunlight in a cold, dark abyss.

She is a simple Gentile woman, who shows a kinder, Godlier spirit than all of Israel.

Her story is a shining example of the way that God is still present, working in people’s lives, even when the world seems like a crazy, awful place.

Each week, we’re going to look at what each part of the story teaches us about God and about people. My prayer is that in each part you’ll see two things:

How God is faithful, loving, kind, and providential for His people.

How God’s people should take that faithfulness, love, kindness, and grace and reflect it back into the world around them

Ruth 1:1-18

Our story opened with a sentence that sets the stage for this time period in Israel: things are bad.

Next, we met a man named Elimelech and his family: Naomi and her two sons

Because of a famine in Israel, Elimelech had to take his family somewhere where they could survive.

His family journeyed to a neighboring country called Moab.

Not long after they arrived, Naomi’s husband died.

By the time 10 years had passed, her two sons had died as well, leaving her alone with her daughters-in-law

Naomi had truly lost everything: her home, her husband, her sons, and now she couldn’t even support herself.

Naomi decides to make the long journey home, and tells her Orpah and Ruth, her daughter-in-laws, to return to life with their family

Orpah hears to Naomi’s plea and returns to her family, but Ruth makes the shocking decision to stay with Naomi

It’s incredible, that even with all she’s seen happen, and even with Naomi’s indictment on God, that Ruth chooses to follow Naomi

Ruth is now going to be an Israelite. She is now going to serve Yahweh. She is going to die one day in Israel, not Moab.

How does this change my relationship with other people?

We need to recognize that the way we respond to things falling apart has an affect on the people around us

We need to love people, even when it all falls apart

How does this change my relationship with God?

We can trust God because He is good even when we are not

We can believe that even when things fall apart, God hasn’t left the story

Tonight, we will continue Ruth’s story starting our reading in verse 11

Ruth 1:11–17 KJV 1900

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. 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.

Part 2 — Basking in Bitterness (featuring Ruth and Naomi) — Ruth 1:18-22

Introducing The Thought

“What defines your story?”

Telling The Story

Situation: The setting, background, characters, etc.

Ruth 1:19 KJV 1900

19 So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

So Ruth and Naomi make their journey to Bethlehem

This one verse summarizes the endless hours it would have taken these two women to travel from Moab to Bethlehem

Show map

There must have been many obstacles and difficulties in their journey, and the words “they two” describes their new unified identity in this story — Ruth’s decision has bound them to each other.

Stress: The trouble that gives the story its dynamic

Ruth 1:19 KJV 1900

19 So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

Now, they finally their destination: Bethlehem

As they begin walking up to the gates, imagine what must be running through Naomi’s mind?

She hasn’t seen this place in over 10 years!

Who is still left? What has changed in this city?

What will people think of her when they find out what she’s been through?

Will they blame her for leaving in the first place?

Now that God ended the famine it must seem like such a silly decision!

It’s common for people to come and go at city gates, but it’s not common for someone to return after leaving for 10 years!

Imagine the nerves and pressure as she approaches the gates. People begin to recognize that it’s Naomi—after all these years!

They might start to ask, “Where is Elimelech? I don’t see him?”

They may wonder how big her sons have gotten now! And how many grandchildren she has!

After all, this is Naomi, wife of Elimelech. The brave family that left so they could survive and perpetuate the family name!

“Where is everyone?” They might ask...

Search: The various solutions explored as the story unfolds

Finally, Naomi and Ruth step inside the gates.

The people look at them both — exhausted, tattered, and dirty from the long journey.

Now they can see, there is no joy on the face of these two women. This is not a homecoming to celebrate.

What happened to Naomi? Where is her family?

Who is this woman—clearly she’s not an Israelite?

Solution: The solution discovered, resolving the stress

Ruth 1:20 KJV 1900

20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

Eventually, Naomi breaks the silence, “You knew me as Naomi, my name once meant ‘lovely one’. But I’m not Naomi anymore. I have a new identity.”

“God has ruined my life. Call me Bitter. All I am now is a broken woman.”

The Book of Ruth (2) The Arrival at Bethlehem (1:19–21)

In Israel, names were not just labels of individuality but descriptions of inner character which in turn were presumed to influence the person’s conduct

Naomi wasn’t just changing her name, she was changing her whole identity as a person.

Bitterness was what God dealt her, and now bitterness is what she would become.

Ruth 1:21 KJV 1900

21 I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

Now, Naomi begins to answer the question on everyone’s mind: “What happened?!”

Naomi answers, showing that “I” was fine before “God” did what He did:

I used to have a home, but now it’s gone.

I was full, but God emptied me.

God has seen me, but He has declared me His enemy.

God has done this to me. He took everything I had, and left me broken with nothing left.

In Naomi’s eyes: her story was over. Her life would now be lived out in the shadow of pain brought by God.

The one person who was supposed to have a plan. The one person who was supposed to be good. No more.

God could’ve given her a full life, but instead He ruined it.

Naomi was dealt a bitter hand, and now bitterness is who she is.

(New) Situation: The new circumstances that prevail

Ruth 1:22 KJV 1900

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

And with this, the first part of our story concludes.

Ruth watches as Naomi brings her to her new home—a broken shell of a woman.

On her mind must have been the question, “What do we do now?”

Finding The Truth

What does it mean to be bitter?

In the Bible, “bitterness” is usually an agriculture metaphor that describes when a plant has become bitter and therefore unusable. Hebrews 6:8 describes “bitter land” with the phrase “whose end is to be burned.”

The bitter root makes the plant unable to have be healthy and produce fruit. The fruit that it produces is sour and useless.

This metaphor helps us understand what bitterness does in a person:

Dictionary of Bible Themes (5799 bitterness)

A feeling of anger and resentment, caused particularly by perceived unfairness in suffering or by adverse circumstances

Bitterness is dwelling on hurt and pain brought into your life and letting it consume you.

What truths do we see about people?

Becoming bitter is a choice that we make

All of us will experience difficulties in our lives.

When those come, it is normal to be discouraged, hurt, and angry.

Sometimes they come because of decisions we make, and sometimes they are totally out of our control.

However, what is in our control, is whether or not we choose to allow those feelings to take root in our hearts and become bitterness.

Bitterness takes root in our hearts when we choose to believe that God is not truly good.

Scripture warns us against the sin of bitterness time and time again! Each time, we see that bitterness leaves a path of destruction!

Romans 3:10–14 KJV 1900

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Ephesians 4:31–32 KJV 1900

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

James 3:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

It may feel good in the moment to dig your heals in and become bitter, but it will only bring you more hurt!

When we ignore Scripture and choose bitterness, it will eventually become the lens through which we see everything. It taints our view of life.

If you allow it to take root, bitterness won’t just stay contained as a small part of your life. It will start to define your story.

So what do we do? How do we avoid letting bitterness in, and if we already have, how do we get it out?

What truths do we see about God?

We can see bitterness removed from our hearts when we choose to dwell in the goodness of God.

Bitterness says that God isn’t good, and bitterness is lying.

At this point in our story, Naomi cannot see how God is good. To her eyes, God has allowed her life to be ruined.

But, God does not always work in ways we understand, or in the timing we want

As Isaiah 55:9 says...

Isaiah 55:9 KJV 1900

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

Yet, we must hold to the truth that God is good, and just like He had not abandoned Naomi, He has not abandoned us

God has proven time and time again that He loves us and He is for us

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He pursued us and saved us while we were sinners

Romans 2:4 KJV 1900

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

The goodness and kindness of God causes us to repent from our sin and turn to Him as our Saviour.

Ephesians 2:7 KJV 1900

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Through Jesus Christ he continues to show exceeding grace and kindness towards us

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV 1900

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

We cannot imagine in our minds the goodness and kindness that God has prepared for us one day in Heaven with Him.

The goodness of God allows us to see past the pain in our present circumstances as we believe by faith that they are not the end of the story.

Bitterness can only be replaced by choosing to believe that God is good.

When we dwell in this, we can begin to repent of the bitterness that takes root in our hearts

As our hearts begin to dwell on Who God truly is, we can be free from bitterness

Let me leave you with one of my favorite passages...

Psalm 43:5 KJV 1900

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Challenge

Have you allowed bitterness to take root in your heart?

Have you blamed God for the pain in your life?

Have you bought the lie that God is not really good?

Don’t allow that bitterness to define your story! Let it be replaced with joy and peace that rests in the fact that God is good!

Even when we don’t see it, even when we can’t understand it, we can experience peace by trusting in the goodness of God.