Ruth

Chapter Introduction

This book provides no hints as to who the author is.  God didn’t believe it was pertinent to His purposes, so we’ll refrain from speculation.

This chapter begins the story of Naomi turning back toward home.  She had suffered much and blamed God for afflicting her.  While she saw no purpose in her trials and saw no path to a successful future, we can look at the story and see she brought a gentile woman who had an incredible future. 

Ruth appears as a type of the church: a gentile without hope who forsook her old gods and old ways to follow Yahweh.  We know her as a bride-to-be.

Ruth 1:1-2

It was the days of the judges, characterized as a dark time when everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:23).  The tribes were not united under their Lord in the land He had promised to them. 

• The Ammonites (descendants of Lot) raided Israel.
• The Midianites and Amalekites raided Israelites and stole their crops.
• The Philistines were a constant threat during these days.
• The Moabites under King Eglon.  Israel served him for 18 years.
• The Canaanites had not been fully conquered and negatively influenced the spirituality of the Israelites.

We have to consider at least that God allowed these enemies to afflict Israel so they would remember their need for divine assistance.

With a weakened sense of community, tribe, and nation, everyone was fending for themselves, doing what was necessary to get through life.  The priesthood had been compromised.   There was no national benevolence through the tabernacle.  Communities were oppressed and, in some cases, hiding in fear. 

This famine isn't recorded anywhere else, so we can't really use it to determine the exact time of Naomi and Elimelech's lives. It could have been a local famine or something more widespread in the land. We have to consider that the famine may have resulted from the curses of the law.  If Israel diligently obeyed the Lord and observed His commandments, He would bless them.

“Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.” (Deut 28:4)

Likewise, if they did not obey the voice of the Lord and keep His statutes and commandments, the curses would overtake them. 

“Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.” (Deut 28:18)

The heavens would be like bronze and the earth like iron.  There would be no rain and no crops.  In addition, their enemies would overwhelm them.  The curses we see account for most of the darkness at this book's beginning.

Interestingly, Bethlehem means “house of bread,” but there was no bread. Since the people were under God's judgment for their apostasy in the time of judges, this famine appears to be God correcting His people.

Elimelech means “God is king” or “God is my king.”  This man's name says one thing, but his actions betray him.  It appears that he was running from the hand of the Lord.  Moab was a constant enemy of Israel, sometimes more so than others.  In chapter three of Judges, the Israelites were ruled by Eglon, king of Moab, for eighteen years. 

The Moabites were the offspring of Lot's incestuous relationship with his daughter.  The Moabites worshiped other gods; one of these gods was Chemosh.  It is very telling that this Jewish man would leave the Promised Land and go to Moab.  One of the meanings of Moab is 'waste' or 'nothingness.'  In Psalm 60:8, God calls Moab His washpot. It seems Elimelech took his family from the Promised Land to a place of nothingness.  In running from God's hand, we often run from our discomfort and find ourselves in a place of hopelessness.

The term “Ephrathite” appears several times in Judges, none of which are in a good light.  The term is used for the people of Ephrathah, which is Bethlehem.  It becomes confusing because it is sometimes used to speak of those of the tribe Ephraim.  Men referred to as Ephrathite are often presented in a negative light.   

Interestingly, Mahlon means sickly; Chillion means wasting away.  Names were meaningful in those days.  We have to wonder why anyone would name their kids 'sickly' and 'wasting away'.  However, that's what their names were, and their father took them and his wife to Moab.  The trip to Moab was to escape famine – which was to run from the Lord’s correction.  They ran to their enemy and oppressor for care.

Naomi means pleasant, beautiful, and full of grace. 

Ruth 1:3-5

The family experienced tragedy.  After some time, Elimelech died.  Naomi didn't go back to Israel.  She stayed in the Moab with her sons, who would provide for her in a time when a widow had no means of taking care of herself. 

Naomi’s sons marry Moabite women. The Law forbade marrying Canaanite women, but there was no specific restriction on women from Moab. Because of their actions in the wilderness, they were restricted from worship and the assembly. It was the Moabite women who encouraged the Israelite men to worship other gods (Baal of Peor). Intermarriage with a Moabite was thought to lead to idolatry.  However, in this case, Ruth would forsake her gods for Yahweh.

Orpah means double-minded, while Ruth means beautiful friendship.  Ten more years pass before the two sons die.  Suddenly, these three women found themselves in a dark situation.  It was highly unlikely Naomi would be able to remarry.  Widows were often oppressed.  They had no way to take care of themselves.  The laws of Israel protected widows, but they weren’t in Israel.  Even then, it was a time of lawlessness in Israel.   There was no assurance things would be better there.

Ruth 1:6-10

Naomi lived there ten years past the death of her husband.  It's hard to imagine a famine lasting anywhere near that long and not being mentioned elsewhere.  Naomi makes the right decision to return home, but she makes it for the wrong reason.  Naomi heard things were better at home, and the Lord had provided bread.  She returned for food and did not return to the Lord.  She understood it was God who withheld bread in judgment. 

Both daughters began the trip back to Judah with their mother-in-law. Naomi encouraged both of them to return to their mother's home. The home of the Father was where they would find stability, safety, and provision. It was the home of the mother where they found direction on matters of the family. Naomi’s advice was to return, be advised by their mother, and find a new husband. 

She was grieved, probably for several different reasons.  She had to know that these Moabite women would not be well received in Israel.  In fact, it could affect her ability to live among the other Jews.  These women were also a testament to the unfaithfulness of the family.  The law forbade taking these women for wives.   They were also a constant reminder of Elimelech's lacking faith when he took them to Moab. 

Naomi blessed them and asked the Lord to treat them kindly. This was the chesed of Yahweh she requested, which was covenantal love, faithfulness, mercy, favor, and kindness. The blessing contrasted with the tragedy of their lives.  Naomi asked the Lord to grant them a new husband and home.

The daughter-in-laws protested and said they would return with her to Israel.

Ruth 1:11-13

Naomi again encouraged the daughters-in-laws to turn back – note that she calls them her daughters, indicating the intimate nature of the relationship.  There were no sons to marry the daughters, nor would there be any forthcoming.  This refers to the levirate law, where a son would take his deceased brother’s wife as his own.  He would raise a son so that his brother’s bloodline would not be cut off.  Even if Naomi were to marry and have a son, he would be from a different father and could not step into the place of Naomi’s sons.  Another consideration if Naomi could bring a son was the significant age difference between the son and the daughters.

Naomi evaluated her circumstances. They were bleak, and she saw no future for Ruth and Orpah if they stayed with her. Naomi was grieved for the girls, who had no provision, offspring, or sure path for a husband. Returning to Moab was the best prospect for them. 

Naomi summarized her life as having suffered under the hand of the Lord, who had acted against her.  She essentially blamed God for what had gone wrong in her life.  The Lord was (still is) sovereign, and everything that happened was within God's sight.  Naomi doesn't mention the unfaithfulness of herself and Elimelech.  We can certainly see this attitude in the time of judges.  However, this is also just natural thinking within our sinfallen nature. 

At first, both ladies spoke of returning with their mother-in-law. 

Ruth 1:14-18

Orpah heeded her mother-in-law's advice. Her words made sense. She said her goodbyes and decided to stay in Moab in hopes of finding a husband and living happily ever after. Is Orpah double-mindeded?  Pragmatic?  Is her choice logical?  She turned back to the land, god, and people she knew (comfort zone), rather than risk crossing to another land by faith. 

In examining the typologies of this book, we can see worldliness in Orpah that resembles the double-mindedness so prevalent today.  She turned back to her comfort zone, a life she could see with her eyes, as Naomi moved back toward the Promised Land, God, and her people. 

Ruth, on the other hand, refused to turn back.  In Ruth, we see a commitment to follow Naomi all the way, no matter what.  Ruth chose to live where Naomi lived, as she lived, as one of her people and took Naomi's God as her God.  In making this statement, she was also turning away from the Moabite people, the Moabite ways and the Moabite gods.  Ruth put her life in the hands of Naomi's God, willing to live and die in this land. 

Ruth’s commitment to follow Naomi, even in death, was a commitment to see to her burial and live on until she dies and is buried next to her.  Ruth invokes the name of Yahweh in her oath to let nothing but death separate her from Naomi.

Ruth’s commitment to take a new life with Naomi is quite a statement of faith in the face of Naomi’s declaration of grief over how God had gone out against her. We see Ruth’s:

• Personal Commitment
• Grace, mercy, care
• Perseverance, to run to the end.
• Sense of Family (we’re in this together)

Naomi saw Ruth's determination. She stopped trying to persuade her to turn back. Ruth took a hard position, strengthening herself against the arguments.

Ruth 1:19-22

Bethlehem plays a prominent role in the Biblical story, yet it was never a large city. At this time, it had probably less than two hundred residents, so Naomi's arrival was significant.  It was the talk of the town. 

As they spoke of Naomi’s return, Naomi said to call her Mara, which means bitter.  The question, “Is this Naomi?” suggests that she had changed, maybe in appearance and demeanor. Pleasant and beautiful, Naomi was bitter and beaten down from her time in the wasteland.  Naomi felt the name Mara was more appropriate than Naomi, which meant pleasant, beautiful, and graceful.  She again testified of God’s negative work in her life. 

Naomi held no romantic hope for a better life in Bethlem. She bitterly faced a hard life.  The town was more excited at her return than she was. Naomi had gone out full and returned empty – seemingly dismissing Ruth. 

Naomi thought the Lord’s testimony was against her, and He had afflicted her in judgment. 

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;

For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (Psalm 9:10)

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;

For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (Romans 8:31)

The Big Idea:

1. We begin to see the providence of God and how the divinely chosen King David could emerge from the dark period of the judges, a time with no king and everyone doing what was right in their own eyes.
   1. The roots of David are the human roots of our Lord Jesus.
2. Even in our deepest struggles and darkest times, God invites us back to Himself, showing that redemption is possible regardless of our circumstances.
3. The chapter began with famine, suffering, and everyone struggling.  We should consider whether it is judgment.  The chapter ends with bread in the land, harvest, and a young bride to be about to meet her husband.
   1. It’s a glimpse of Providence.  Naomi lives the details but should know God has a plan to work things out.  This gentile bride would become a mother soon.
   2. This gentile bride receives blessings for blessing Israel.  She begins to typify the church that came to Christ through Israel.
   3. Naomi dwells on circumstances and past affliction to see the same future.
      1. Ruth follows Naomi with her eyes on the future adventure.
4. Too many have a limited value and affection for our Lord.  They come short of His salvation because they cannot find it in their hearts to forsake their old (comfortable, known) life. 
5. If we turn to Him and resolve that nothing shall separate us from Christ Jesus, our Lord, we may be sure that nothing ever could.  Or commitment would bring us firmly to the love and forgiveness we find in Him.

©2015 Doug Ford; Updated & Revised, Sundays, October 2024