07.07.21
Ruth
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (Lamentations 3:22-24)
We are currently walking through the Old Testament Book of Ruth. Today we focus our attention on the title character of the book, the young woman Ruth. She experienced some of the same calamities as her sister-in-law Orpah, and some of the same tragedy as her mother-in-law Naomi. Perhaps we had best review.
Naomi moved with her husband from Israel to Moab during a time of famine. This occurred during the era of the Judges when there was very little knowledge of or respect for the true God. This account of Naomi and her family is a glimmer of hope in a dark time.
While in Moab, Naomi gave birth to two sons. These sons married Moabite girls. The three men in our account all died within a short period of time. The three women were then left as widows, with the two girls now under Naomi’s care.
Naomi, in her grief and bitterness, decided to return to Israel. She gave the girls a choice—go with her or return to their pagan families, gods and lifestyle. Orpah, after some deliberation, decides to return to her family.
What will Ruth do? We are still in the first chapter of the little book of Ruth. The ramifications of her decision form the gist of the remainder of the book.
Ruth steadfastly chose to go with Naomi. Her words of response are no doubt familiar to many of my readers. Here is what she said to Naomi: “Intreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you: for where you go, I will go’ and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)
From what we can discern, Naomi was not the most pleasant person to be around. For certain, she had her share of difficulties in life. Yet she seemed to be one who saw the glass half empty rather than half full. So, it likely wasn’t Naomi’s company that Ruth was seeking. Rather, her choice seems to rest firmly on Naomi’s God. In her life she had seen the gods of Moab, the greedy, demonic gods which demanded child sacrifice among other perversions. She had also been given testimony to the true, living Creator God. Her heart made the right choice for life and for eternity.
The remainder of the chapter tells of the journey these two women made from Moab to Israel. It would have been a walk down the mountains of Moab, through a hot, dry Dead Sea basin, then up the mountains of Judea—fifty grueling miles in all.
When they arrived in Israel, we are simply told that it was the time of barley harvest—for these women, it was a time of hope!
We plan to continue our look at the life of Ruth next time. However, before we leave we must remind ourselves that each of us has a choice to make. Who will we follow? Will we follow our own path, or will we choose to follow Jesus Christ? The words of Scripture ring true—“He that has the Son has life, and he that does not have the Son of God does not have life.” He loved you and gave His life for you. He asks that you give yourself to Him. He will forgive you, and give you life now and forever!