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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
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.
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
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
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.”
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.
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
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.
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