Ruth 1:1 - 12
I. The Defilement In Ruth’s History
A. There Was Defilement In Her Lineage
Moab was the product of incest…(Genesis 19:29-38)
Fausset’s Bible Dictionary says of Moab that it means…(“from father”),
i.e. the incestuous offspring of Lot’s older daughter, near Zoar, S.E. of the Dead Sea
Deut 23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever
4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Ps 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
B. There Was Defilement In Her Land
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.
Strong Encyclopedia says that the national deity of the Moabites was called “Chemosh”…
Chemosh (was) worshipped, according to a Jewish tradition … under the form of a black stone; (Chemosh was known) by the sacrifice apparently of children to him (2 Kings 3:27).
C. There Was Defilement In Her Love 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:
Ruth was the wife of Mahlon, whose name means “sickly”… (Ruth 4:10)
II. The Decision Of Ruth’s Heart
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:
A. The Ramifications Of Her Decision
Her Decision affected her Place, her People, and her Profession.
A. She Commits To A New Land - for whither thou goest, I will go;
She is willing to leave Moab behind forever and to follow Naomi to Israel.
B. She Commits To A New Leadership - and where thou lodgest, I will lodge
She is willing to submit to Naomi and to allow Naomi to guide her life.
C. She Commits To A New Life -
She is willing to give up all the old ways of Moab and to conform her life to the way people live in Israel. She is ready to make a dramatic change in her life.
D. She Commits To A New Lineage - thy people shall be my people
Ruth is willing to cut all ties with Moab. She wants to be a part of the nation which she has married into. She is ready to claim a new lineage.
E. She Commits To A New Lord - and thy God my God:
F. She Commits With No Limits - 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.
B. The Resolve Of Her Decision - 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
steadfastly minded – The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary says…
As she insisted strongly upon going with her, Naomi gave up Dissuading her any more
Luke 9:57-62 - Here are three would be followers of the Lord.
1. The Too Fast Follower: - 57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
2. The Too Slow Follower: - 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
3. The Too Soft Follower: 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
C. The Route Of Her Decision - 19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
This was a journey of some 70 to 75 miles that led northward up around the Dead Sea.
The destination was Bethlehem, which means “house of bread.”
What a picture of a sinner who leaves their old life and makes their journey to the house of God, going on an upward path that crosses beyond the place of Death.
III. The Destination With Ruth’s Husband
Ch 2:1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
A. In Connection To Boaz, There Was A Work In Ruth’s Life - (Ruth 2:2-8)
B. In Connection To Boaz, There Was A Wedding In Ruth’s Life (Ruth 3:11)
And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.
Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.
C. In Connection To Boaz, There Was Worship In Ruth’s Life (Ruth 4:14-17)
14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.
15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.
17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Easton’s Bible Dictionary says that “Obed” means — serving; worshipping.
Ruth becomes King David’s grandmother.
