06.16.21
The Romance of Redemption
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)
Our opening text is from the Book of Lamentations. It is one of the bright notes in an otherwise very dreary book which presents the sad cries of Jeremiah to the LORD for his nation which is under judgment.
We will take the next few weeks to look at the little book of Ruth. It has been referred to as ‘the Romance of Redemption’ and gives a clear picture of the gospel in the OT. [Thoughts of romance come to mind this week as Debby and I celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary].
The Book has also been called a ‘glimmer of hope’ in an otherwise very dark period of Israel’s history, much like Jeremiah’s day. It occurs during the Book of Judges.
After the death of Joshua and the elders who outlived Joshua, the people forgot the LORD. They had failed to teach their children about the goodness of the Lord: His miracles in Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, His provisions for them in the wilderness, and the conquering of the land of Canaan. All had been forgotten and the people had turned to worship false gods.
God intervened with judgment. The people would repent and cry out to God. He would deliver them. Then they would once again stray. This cycle of sin, suffering, supplication and salvation occurred many times. The most telling verse in the book of Judges is repeated twice—In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (17:6; 21:25)
In the midst of this time of debauchery, idolatry and lawlessness, we find the sweet story of Ruth. I am partial to this story in part because my mom, who passed away a few years ago, was named Ruth. She and her mum, my grandma, were of special help to my spiritual upbringing. The story is a rich example of the grace of God. It is a story of disobedience, faithfulness, love and redemption.
The first chapter of Ruth gives us the setting of the story. It takes place perhaps during the time of Gideon when the Midianites had come upon the land like grasshoppers and had taken all of the crops.
Our first important character is Naomi. Her name means ‘pleasant,’ or ‘sweet.’ There was a famine in the land, likely because of the Midianite attack, and all because of Israel’s sin. Naomi and her husband fled to the land Judah for the land of Moab.
God did not want His people to live in heathen lands. He especially did not want them to live in either Ammon or Moab. These lands were settled by the two sons of Lot born to him through his daughters. They were sworn enemies of Israel.
God’s blessing rested upon the Jewish people as long as they stayed in the land God had promised to them and provided for them. They should have dealt with the source of the famine [sin] rather than running from it.
While in Moab, Naomi experienced trouble upon trouble. Two sons were born to her, but then her husband died. When the boys grew old enough, they married girls of Moab. Then both boys died. Naomi had lost all of her near kin, and was left to care for two daughters-in-law. What was she to do? This we will hope to discover next week.