“An Intense (and harsh) Introduction” – Ruth, Part 1
Ruth Sermon Series, Part 1
Ruth 1:1-10
Introduction
- Author of Ruth is unknown; some suggest prophet Samuel (11th century BC)
-- However, there is no significant proof to give it solely to Samuel
-- Many suggest it was around 5th century BC (due to intermarriage issues)
-- So, logical analysis (sake of clarity) gives it a date of 4th – 6th century BC
-- The main characters are Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz – each with unique stories
- Location: Here is the layout of our story, geographically
-- Moab was located just southeast of the Dead Sea
-- On the other side of the Dead Sea was the land of Judah (Hebron & Gaza)
-- And to the North would’ve been the lands of Reuben and Benjamin (Jerusalem)
- Ruth is an incredible story of redemption and of obeying God
-- It is a story of love, a story of romance, BUT a story of great personal cost
-- Story of incredible providence on display by God: (spoiler)
-- Boaz and Ruth have a son, Obed, whose the father of Jesse, father of David
- All of the characters in this book face crisis of some sort in their lives
-- IMP: This allows us to see them as human, personable, and relatable to us
- Get this: For us, there can be no division on how God uses His word
-- We are fortunate to read stories like this in order to gain strength from them
- Book of Ruth sits between (and contrasts) two key books:
-- Judges: reflects what happens when a nation rebels and turns away from God
-- Ruth: shows what happens when God’s people live in covenant with Him
-- 1 Samuel: demonstrates the fall of King Saul and David's rise to the throne
- There are no miracles in this book, and it’s named after a Gentile (only 2)
-- Aud. Part: The other Gentile book is … any guesses? LUKE!
-- For you and I in 2022 … it is a unique book to study and take apart
- There are two key Hebrew words which we will see in great detail:
1. “chesed” which means God’s kindness or love, close to concept of grace
2. “go’el” which means redeemer, someone who literally saves
- So, with all that said, let’s dive in and seek God’s face today!
- Read Ruth 1:1-10 / Pray
Point 1 – In the early days, famine overtakes God’s land
- We begin with the location of the story (v1)
-- 8 miles North of Jerusalem, 3 West of Bethel, and 12 Southwest of Shiloh
-- It is important to note what is going on here, which is why it’s written
- Some additional background for us:
- RE: Ruth and Judges take place within the same general time period
-- It is a time between Israel’s conquest of Canaan under Joshua, and …
-- A time when a united (and Law-abiding) kingdom begins under King Saul
-- It is, in a word, a very schizophrenic time period for the inhabitants
-- Consider: Change is hard … this is change on a global, dramatic level
- (Again): Judges shows us what happens when a nation rebels from God
-- EX: God sends a famine to the land for their disobedience (removes blessing)
- But what really happens in Judges is: The unthinkable becomes the norm!
-- APP: People turn their back on God and create policies/programs they like
-- Choosing to disobey and do what they wanted is accepted as standard procedure
-- FREE: We should probably read Judges ourselves and see ourselves in it
- When people rebel against God’s teaching, they decide they are morally superior
-- Paul warned of the VERY same thing happening, centuries later to Timothy
-- 2 Timothy 4:3, “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.”
- However, something happens from these books that we can learn from
-- FACT: God is still God, and He will always remain true to Himself
-- 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.”
-- Greek: “pistos”, to be reliable and faithful
- So in the land, there is a tremendous famine that has them seek life elsewhere
-- Elimelek (v2) moves his family to the land of Moab
-- But what we know is: running from where God told you to be is not wise!
- Even though they are trying for a better life … they’ve done something wrong
-- APP: They have left God’s Promised Land (Judah) for something else
-- DEEPER: In essence, they believe that they know best and decide to handle it
- Spoiler alert for the series:
-- RE: God’s promises and commands are non-negotiable; He requires obedience
-- If we’ve studied anything this year it is this: discipleship requires commitment
-- It is why this story is critical to us … we must follow God and not ourselves!
- TR: So, once they move, something tragic (but truthful) happens to this family
Point 2 – Disobedience to God may bring death
- Of the 4 people we have just met, 3 of them have their obituaries printed (v3)
-- Elimelek, Mahlon, and Kilion (Naomi’s sons) have all died in this strange land
-- RE: They left God’s promised land, but they also (willfully) lived sinfully
- Look at it … (v4) … her two boys married Moabite women!
-- Now, I understand that love makes you do strange things (amen?) … but …
- God was very clear in how He decreed His people should live
-- Deuteronomy 23:3–6, “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the Lord. These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in distant Aram-naharaim to curse you. But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam. He turned the intended curse into a blessing because the Lord your God loves you. (says it again) As long as you live, you must never promote the welfare and prosperity of the Ammonites or Moabites.”
- Pretty clear direction, right? Well, it’s restated later too (AFTER this story)
-- Isaiah 25:10, “The hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain; but Moab will be trampled in their land as straw is trampled down in the manure.”
- There are no causes given for the death of these three men, but …
-- Knowing how God feels about living against Him, this could be the cause
-- NOTE: Other causes could be famine, sickness, accidental, etc.
-- However, the result is clear: All the males (aka, the providers) are no more
-- We may never know if God took their life, but we know they are dead
- The family lived in Moab for approximately 10 years
-- Naomi’s sons married and settled into the community in Moab
-- And even though there is no indication of their religious practices …
-- … it is fair to assume they practiced the theory of, “When in Rome …”
- (pause) It’s pretty morbid, but it deserves our attention: Disobedience to God may bring death! (physical and spiritual death (being cut off), by the way)
- The DILs each have stories of their own also …
-- For example, their names have significant meanings in the Hebrew
• Orpah means “firmness of neck”, probably a very poised & stately woman
• Ruth means “friendship”, or even: refreshment (as in breath of fresh air)
- RE: Naomi and Elimelek left Bethlehem to escape death (through a famine)
-- And in their leaving, 75% of their family has died in this strange land (v5)
-- And now we have Naomi and her two daughters in law, without providers
-- One might think that all is lost, and really & these three women are doomed
- TR: Now … thankfully God wouldn’t just leave us hanging, right? Right!
-- One thing is certain: The future was very bleak for Naomi and her two DILs
-- Unable to remain where they were, they had to do something …
Point 3 – God’s invitation to return home is still open!
- Faced with insurmountable odds, Naomi hears what God is doing
-- Coming to her senses, she realizes that returning home is still an option
- APP: Great lesson for us: You CAN return & God will still receive you
-- Perhaps you’ve been seeking a place to call home, well, WELCOME HOME!
-- Discipleship Challenge: If you’re feeling without hope, go back to Him!
-- Go to where you know you’re loved and accepted, stop trying to reset
- But there’s a problem …
-- Naomi obviously had great love for these two young ladies
-- Her compassion is seen in to take care of them and help them (v6)
-- What she has heard is that the Lord has/had prepared a way for food in Judah
-- Her love overflowing, she suggests that they go back to their families (v8)
- KEY: This was not to get rid of them, but to give them the best chance at a life
-- It is a life without her and a life where they could find new husbands/loves
-- This would allow Naomi the chance to go home and find forgiveness also
- She offers a special blessing on them, that God would show kindness
-- And then, she (physically) prays out loud that their families would receive them: “May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.”
-- This is an intentional blessing on their lives – to return and be welcomed/loved
- Check this out:
-- APP: Even in the toughest of times, praying for someone is ALWAYS right
- The bible tells us that they wept aloud (v9) Why?
-- They were expressing grief as well love for one another; they’d miss each other
-- APP: Here’s something to see … family being family even in the hardest times
- Get this: Sometimes the subtly of life-application is hidden within the words
-- Hebrew: “nasah”, to lift or to carry
-- Hebrew: “bakah”, to weep heavily, to wail
-- As Naomi lifted them up in prayer, they joined in to lift & comfort her too
-- LIFE APP: We have opportunity to comfort and support one another also!
Big Idea
- Here is a hard lesson to absorb – and one that frames this introduction:
-- (Unknown quote): “Sometimes when you abandon God, your life has disastrous consequences.”
- FACT: When you choose to rebel against God, bad things can/do happen
- Naomi is now in this strange land, and has to survive …
-- Her willingness to return her DILs to their homes is out of compassion
-- But they’re not willing to just abandon their MIL (v10) … why?
-- Is it a sense of loyalty? A feeling of duty? Perhaps a selfishness?
- Come back and we’ll continue this next week!
- Pray for grace, for a testimony of compassion, & for a life of obedience
