Bible Character Studies: Ruth Pt. 1 Background of some remarkable women.
Good morning...
My home email is banddswish@sssnet.com for those of you who wish to contact me. Your comments are welcomed as are your prayers for our Great god to use this blog to touch many hearts for His kingdom. So far He has allowed the blog to reach into at least 20 nations on many different continents, to the praise of Christ's glory!
God granted us a chilly but beautiful sunny morning on this last Saturday of February and our transition to spring will begin soon.
Today I want to bring before us the book of Ruth with the intent upon primarily focusing on the Godly character of Ruth. I think you will find this to be a study that stirs your heart into yearning for a deeper walk with the Lord.
Photo of where the land of Moab used to be.
A time of uncertainty and fear.
Judges 2:11-13 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
The book of Ruth unfolds during the time when Israel had judges that God raised up to deliver them from their enemies. Moses and Joshua have passed on and the era of kings was still in the future for Israel. Israel was to be governed by Jehovah but all too often we read in the book of Judges that "every man did what was right in his own sight."
The texts above shows us how quickly the people abandoned Jehovah and fell into idolatry which caused them to act in a depraved manner. 7 times in the book of Judges we read that the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Jehovah. Twice we are reminded that every man did what was right in his own eyes because there was no king.
Naomi, Ruth and Orpah introduced.
Ruth 1:1-2 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Most of my study resources indicate that the book of Ruth was written during the period of the Judges and very likely during the time that Gideon judged Israel. This book begins by introducing us to a Jewish husband and wife and their two sons. We are told that there was a famine in the land so severe that Elimelech and his wife Naomi left the promised land and went to Moab.
What do we know about the land of Moab? It is on a plateau and is bordered by mountains and desert and the Dead Sea. The land has plenty of rainfall and is roughly located where the modern state of Jordan is today.
The Moabite people were descendants of Abraham's nephew named Lot. However, Moab and his brother were born through an incestuous relationship between Lot and his two daughters. The people were often in conflict with Israel.
This is how the story of Ruth begins. Elimelech and his wife Naomi leave the promised land behind and take their 2 sons to Moab so that they could find food and earn a living. Their actions are not all that unusual. Abraham went to Egypt seeking food and Jacob sent his sons into Egypt looking for food.
3 wives were suddenly widowed.
Ruth 1:3-5 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Tragedy was going to strike swiftly. First, Naomi's husband Elimelech died making Naomi a widow. However, she still had her two sons who could take care of her. Both sons married Moabite women which was something God did not want Israel do to.
Next, both sons of Naomi died apparently close together. Now Naomi faced serious trouble. Her sons were dead and she had no one to care for them.
Naomi decided to depend upon God.
Ruth 1:6-7 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
Naomi heard that God had blessed His people and that there was bread in Israel. She determined to return to her homeland with her daughters in law.
A painful separation of a family.
Ruth 1:8-13 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
Naomi loved both her daughters in law as the text indicates and they loved Naomi. Three dear women who were happily married and being blessed were now on their own as widows.
Naomi tells them both that they can stay in Moab and that she would ask Jehovah to bless them and deal kindly with them as they did with Naomi and their husbands. Ruth and Orpah were good wives and Naomi acknowledge it. They were good to Naomi as well and they all loved each other.
It is a tragic situation and in that culture there would have been little hope for any of the women to find rest and provision. However, Naomi knew that God's holy law did make provision for the care of widows which was why she was returning to Judah.
Points to Ponder...
My home email is banddswish@sssnet.com for those of you who wish to contact me. Your comments are welcomed as are your prayers for our Great god to use this blog to touch many hearts for His kingdom. So far He has allowed the blog to reach into at least 20 nations on many different continents, to the praise of Christ's glory!
God granted us a chilly but beautiful sunny morning on this last Saturday of February and our transition to spring will begin soon.
Today I want to bring before us the book of Ruth with the intent upon primarily focusing on the Godly character of Ruth. I think you will find this to be a study that stirs your heart into yearning for a deeper walk with the Lord.
Photo of where the land of Moab used to be.
A time of uncertainty and fear.
Judges 2:11-13 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
The book of Ruth unfolds during the time when Israel had judges that God raised up to deliver them from their enemies. Moses and Joshua have passed on and the era of kings was still in the future for Israel. Israel was to be governed by Jehovah but all too often we read in the book of Judges that "every man did what was right in his own sight."
The texts above shows us how quickly the people abandoned Jehovah and fell into idolatry which caused them to act in a depraved manner. 7 times in the book of Judges we read that the children of Israel did evil in the sight of Jehovah. Twice we are reminded that every man did what was right in his own eyes because there was no king.
Naomi, Ruth and Orpah introduced.
Ruth 1:1-2 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Most of my study resources indicate that the book of Ruth was written during the period of the Judges and very likely during the time that Gideon judged Israel. This book begins by introducing us to a Jewish husband and wife and their two sons. We are told that there was a famine in the land so severe that Elimelech and his wife Naomi left the promised land and went to Moab.
What do we know about the land of Moab? It is on a plateau and is bordered by mountains and desert and the Dead Sea. The land has plenty of rainfall and is roughly located where the modern state of Jordan is today.
The Moabite people were descendants of Abraham's nephew named Lot. However, Moab and his brother were born through an incestuous relationship between Lot and his two daughters. The people were often in conflict with Israel.
This is how the story of Ruth begins. Elimelech and his wife Naomi leave the promised land behind and take their 2 sons to Moab so that they could find food and earn a living. Their actions are not all that unusual. Abraham went to Egypt seeking food and Jacob sent his sons into Egypt looking for food.
3 wives were suddenly widowed.
Ruth 1:3-5 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Tragedy was going to strike swiftly. First, Naomi's husband Elimelech died making Naomi a widow. However, she still had her two sons who could take care of her. Both sons married Moabite women which was something God did not want Israel do to.
Next, both sons of Naomi died apparently close together. Now Naomi faced serious trouble. Her sons were dead and she had no one to care for them.
Naomi decided to depend upon God.
Ruth 1:6-7 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
Naomi heard that God had blessed His people and that there was bread in Israel. She determined to return to her homeland with her daughters in law.
A painful separation of a family.
Ruth 1:8-13 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
Naomi loved both her daughters in law as the text indicates and they loved Naomi. Three dear women who were happily married and being blessed were now on their own as widows.
Naomi tells them both that they can stay in Moab and that she would ask Jehovah to bless them and deal kindly with them as they did with Naomi and their husbands. Ruth and Orpah were good wives and Naomi acknowledge it. They were good to Naomi as well and they all loved each other.
It is a tragic situation and in that culture there would have been little hope for any of the women to find rest and provision. However, Naomi knew that God's holy law did make provision for the care of widows which was why she was returning to Judah.
Points to Ponder...
- This story begins during a time of uncertainty, idolatry and fear.
- A Hebrew husband and wife travel to Moab to find food.
- Their 2 sons marry Moabite women which God did not want Israelites to do.
- They were a happy loving family.
- Tragedy struck and made 3 wives into widows with bleak futures.
- Naomi heard that God had visited His people and she chose to return to the land of Judah.
- God's holy law provided for the needs of widows.
It is joyful to see the love that this family had for each other. Both Daughter in laws of Naomi loved their husbands and were good wives. They loved Naomi and she loved them. Suddenly becoming a widow was upending all three lives and their prospects for a family and even survival were growing dim.
This post reminds us that God is always at work and He will not forsake His people. He is going to do a marvelous work for Ruth and Naomi and He is going to richly bless their family. We are also going to see how much Naomi loved Ruth and the Godly character of her daughter in law.
Bob
Bob
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