Chapter 1 – Get your Bible handy and read along. Make notes as you go for comments at the end.
This week……..
Ruth's Resolve 1:1-22
Ruth's Resolve 1:1-22
· Her Background
· Her Choice
· Her Arrival in Beth-lehem
Her Background:
Read Ruth 1:1-5
Let’s start with Naomi, her husband Elimelek and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. We know from the first chapter that during the days of the judges (little tidbit – Samson was a Judge. I didn’t know that until I read the book of Judges), there was a famine in the land so Elimelek took his wife and sons and moved from Beth-lehem to Moab to live.
We then find out that Elimelek dies and Mahlon and Kilion marry Moab women – Ruth and Naomi. It is important to point out here why that stands out in the story.
Moab was about 50 miles from Beth-lehem and situated on the East side of the Dead Sea. Moabs are mentioned a few times in the Old Testament. (Moab was the son of Lot from an incestuous relationship with his oldest daughter - Genesis 19:31-38).
My Bible notes say that mixed marriages were not specifically forbidden in the Mosaic Law but male offspring could not be admitted into the Israel congregation to the tenth generation. (Deut. 23:3-6). If you look up these additional verses – Deut. 7:3-4, Nehemiah 10:30, 13:25-31 -you see that Israelites marrying "foreigners” was really frowned upon.
Ruth and Orpah were Moabites but Ruth chose to follow God.
Her Choice:
Read Ruth 1:6-18
Naomi adamantly encourages Ruth and Orpah to return to Moab. They both refuse at first. Naomi tells them she is too old for another husband and have more sons for them to marry. Why would she say that? Well, it was the custom of the levirate marriage that the brother of the husband who died childless would marry the widow - thus providing an heir to the deceased.
Finally Orpah gives in and returns to Moab. Ruth will have none of that. She wants to stay with Ruth and says to Naomi – where you go I will go, your country (people) will be my country and your God will be my God. When Ruth chooses Naomi and Beth-lehem over Moab and her own people, it meant final severance from her country and religion.
In verse 17, Ruth seals the deal with a vow and subsequent punishment if she doesn’t keep her word.
Can you imagine – losing your husband and leaving for another place with your mother-in-law? I wonder what Ruth’s parents said? Did she tell them goodbye? In the “white space” it makes me wonder if her belief in God had already put distance between her and her family because Moabs worshipped other gods. (Chemosh was the Moab national god – Numbers 21:29, Judges 11:24 and 1 Kings 11:7)
I also like to think about Naomi in this story. I know it’s about Ruth but what a wonderful example Naomi must have been to Ruth that she would give up everything and follow her back to Beth-lehem and turn the one true God.
Her Arrival in Beth-lehem:
Read Ruth 1:19-22
Verses 19 & 20 – The two women arrive in Beth-lehem and when the people saw them, they wondered if it was Naomi. She tells them not to call her by the name “Naomi” because the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with her. Note, we see that even though Naomi said God dealt bitterly with her, she refers to Him as the Almighty (Hebrew – El Shaddai, Gen. 17:1). Naomi still respects God. Naomi then tells them to call her Mara which means “bitter”. Naomi meant “pleasant”.
Your turn…….
Tell us what you got out of this chapter. What does this story mean to you? Any additional insight or information you found while reading this? Oh, and I know I said this but please be sure to say hi to your neighbor and go ahead and comment to each other. I promise everybody here is very nice!
16 comments:
I sort of see Naomi and Ruth as two sides of the same coin. They both loved God, but Naomi seemed to have a defeated spirit as she even changed her name. Ruth, on the other hand, would go wherever she was led believing in God.
I'm sure both women were devastated emotionally by their losses.
Here is a personal example of why I think so. Nearly seven years ago was niece was killed suddenly in an accident. I never had children of my own and she was like a daughter to me. She was eight.
I tell you this because I was more like Naomi after that happened. I still believed in God, but I was oh so bitter. It's taken me years to let that go, but I think I finally have.
I wish I had been more like Ruth.a
Oh Sherry...I loved your comment. It was almost exactly what I was going to say, but your personal example made it perfect.
My humble observations come in no particular order, and sadly, I have no personal examples...yet they are heartfelt. Thank you for sharing Sherry. You made me think even deeper.
It was Ruth's steadfastness that amazes me. Only she made the commitment to Naomi and to God...no matter what it took.
Why did Naomi's husband sell his land? The land and inheritance were always paramount to the Israelites. Did he even value his heritage? His name means God-is-King...I am surprised that he left...but more surprised that he sold his land before he left.
Did Naomi urge Orpah to "go home" and "return" to her own people because that is what she was doing? Was Naomi going home happy? Looking forward to reuniting with her people and her land? I dont' think so. I think she felt defeated (bitter), and with this defeat in her heart...she thought Ruth and Orpah should and would do the same thing. Just like you said Sherry...All three women, widows, with different responses.
But Ruth was steadfast. She also gave hope to Naomi. I believe she was absolutely essential to Naomi's redemption, as much as Naomi was essential to Ruth's redemption.
Also, Orpah and Ruth were married to Naomi's sons, AND for all intents and purposes...they were barren. They remained childless, apparently, for 10 years. That is always difficult, but it was considered shameful in Biblical times, wasn't it?
They dearly loved Naomi however...more imporantly, at least Ruth, loved her God. Her El Shaddai. Perhaps this is the difference between Orpah and Ruth. They both loved Naomi...but did Ruth's steadfastness, through childlessness, sickness and death...come from her love for Ruth? Or her love for God Almighty?
The other thing I see in these first chapter, is that it is GOD that makes all things right. He is the one that brought the Moabites back into the line of Christ...Just like He did the descendants of Lot, Rahab, Judah and Tamar, and more. Fascinating. I have always loved to study the lineage of Jesus. His Ways are Perfect.
Love in Christ,
Lisa
Lisa,
As I read your comment and let your take on things soak in, I've realized something about myself.
I don't always see the big picture when I read the Bible. I take the text very personally. The passages that really speak to me almost always have a correlation in my own life.
In that way, I feel I'm having a very personal relationship with my Lord and Savior.
Yet sometimes I wonder if I'm a selfish Bible student, because I don't always connect all the dots. I am impressed with your ability to do that, Lisa.
Sherry
Blessings Sherry : )
No one can connect all the dots except God ; ) You helped me to remember that we are all in the scriptures. That is God's Plan.
I can see myself in Ruth, Naomi, and more times than I would like to admit...even in Orpah. : ) When I start out doing the right thing...and then second guess myself, and miss a really good opportunity.
More over...this story proves, however, that it is GOD that rights all wrongs. Even if I mess up...miss an opportunity, He will make all things right. One way or another, He fixes me.
Naomi wasn't "wrong" either. She just got sad. She got bitter. But God brought her round-about in an awesome way.
At least she was honest enough to tell her friends and family that she had become bitter.
I had to pray many times during that ordeal with my extended family...that God would keep me from bitterness, and worse, from hardness of heart. It can happen to anyone.
So thank you again Sherry, for making me think more deeply : )
Thank you Kim, for inviting all of us to read about & experience "Ruth" together!
Love y'all,
Lisa : )
I absolutely adore the "go where you go, thy God will be my God, where you die I will be buried" speech by Ruth. I think it would be beautiful in a wedding ceremony...and that's the kind of dedication a marriage should begin with.
Yes, it's unusual that Ruth would remain with her mother in law, when she could have gone home to her own mother, but that is how strong her devotion to Naomi was. After all that had happened to Naomi, how could she leave her alone?
(Sherry, I am so sorry about your niece.)
(Kjo - it says "Kjcd said:...." and then "This comment was removed by a blog administrator" Yikes! Sounds very official and not nice at all! lol!
So, for the record, I was just removing a duplicate comment.
I'm a nice blog administrator! .... maybe a little paranoid but you love me anyway.)
ALL - I know everyone hasn't had a chance to chime in yet but I can't help but say you have already given me much to think about. You've each brought a unique viewpoint and I love it!
Looking forward to seeing what the others have to say!
Sherry, you described Naomi well - "defeated spirit".
We all know how easy it is to trust God in the good times but trusting Him when the bad stuff happens is something entirely different.
I too am very sorry about your niece. I know you loved her very much.
In your comment to Lisa, I love that you apply the Bible so personally. I'm a lot like you in that I don't always see the big picture either.
Lisa,
Sherry was right, you do see the big picture. What great "wondering questions" you pointed out in the white space. For example - I hadn't thought about Naomi's husband and why did he sell the land? I'm a little over halfway through the OT and inheritance and heritage were HUGE to the Israelites.
Kjo,
I really like that verse too. I don't think I paid much attention to it the first time I read Ruth. It would make a nice addition to a wedding ceremony. We should try to have that added. (smile)
Thanks for the condolences my friends. She was a ray of sunshine that must have completed her purpose in eight short years.
Today I was listening to a local Christian radio station and guess what the topic of discussion was?
Ruth!
Confirmation, wasn't it Sherry? : )
It sure was!
Hi,everyone! I may not have much to add but I'm enjoying all of your insights.
I love those cool confirmations and surprises from God that say "I'm still here".
I am also following although I have not commented on this week.
Hi all - I realize it's the very last day for me to post before we start the next chapter .. but better late then never.
Loved all of your comments and they all gave me a deeper insite into Ruth and Naomi.
One of my most favorite versus is 16 & 17 (Kjo mentioned it in her post). I remember reading it when I first moved here and how much it meant to me since I had just left all of my family over 600 miles away and all I had was my fiance and his family. So for me it was God letting me know I too wouldn't be alone. Has been a special verse for me since.
There's probably more I could say but it's time to put the boys to bed. I'll try to get here BEFORE next Sunday night. :-(
Sharon
Hey there Elena! Thanks for stopping by. We're all happy you're still with us!
How are you friend?
Sharon,
Glad you're here too! I remember you saying a few weeks ago that your favorite verse was in this chapter. It didn't jump out at me like it did for you and Kelley. I'm glad it was pointed out to me because it says so much. Beautiful example of how God used it to speak to you.
Post a Comment