The events in the book of Ruth took place during the times of the Judges, there was much unfaithfulness in the land, but it is very refreshing (and encouraging!) to see that there were men and women who were faithful during those dark times.
What are your thoughts on it? How does it apply to us?
...”And to walk humbly with thy God”...(Mic 6:8)
Naomi was a woman who had walk humbly with the Lord. She had not fallen into bitter and rebellious spirit despite the painful tragedies and the bleak future she was facing. Her life went to hardships and sorrows but she remained meek and bear her famish and despair with reverence, fear of the Lord, and integrity to God.
These parallel the story in Job 2:9-10:
... "Then Job’s wife said to him, do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die! But he said to her, you speak as one foolish woman speaks, shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips”...
Perhaps, it was Naomi’s character that inspired the kindness of her daughters-in-law, especially Ruth, preparing the way for another milestone in the history of Israel and God’s redemptive Plan.
...”And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God, Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me....(Ruth 1:16-17)
The book of Ruth was a brief record of the progenitors of King David giving honor to Ruth his grandmother. She was a moabite woman whose faithful, and humble character led her to abandon her native land and family for a dim future in Israel, in compassionate affection for Naomi, an Israelite woman who had misfortunes upon misfortunes.
The Lord God however, did not forget her kindness and honored her with the lineage of King David and our Lord Jesus Christ, showing that His goodness and lovingkindness endureth foreever.
...”Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him”...(Acts 10:34-35, speaking of Cornelius)
Greetings
I love the book of Ruth. Ruth had such a servants heart, she loved and cared for her mother in law and was willing to go with her even though she didn't really know where that journey would lead them. She put Naomi's needs above her own and never looked back.
In the book of Ruth I see GOD faithfulness demonstrated over and over again to both Ruth and to Naomi. Yes they had struggles and sorrows but through it all GOD cared for them and never abandoned them.
God Bless
maryjane
Here are some background notes I made when we studied the book of Ruth recently.
Background.
Set in the times of the ‘Judges’ when the prevailing spirit was "In those days there was no King in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
There was a famine in the land (Bethlehem means ‘ the house of bread’). Probably a judgement of God for idolatry and through the oppression of the nation’s still living in the land that Israel should have driven out (Judges 1:27-36 & Judges 2:11-23). We see this in the time of Gideon (Judges 6:11).
Elimelech takes his family to Moab to escape the famine. Moab was an enemy of Israel who paid Balaam to entice Israel into sin by marrying the daughters of Moab (Numbers 25). As a result God decreed that no Moabite could enter the assembly of the Lord (Duet 23:3-4).
Main Characters in the story.
Elimelech from Bethlehem (name means ‘My God is king’).
Naomi, wife of Elimelech(Name means ‘pleasant’)
Ruth , Moabites who married Elimelech’s son Mahlon.
Other Characters.
Mahlon, son of Elimelech(name means ‘sick or ‘sickly’)
Cilian, son of Elimelech(name means ‘ wasting away’)
Orpah who married Chilion
Boaz ”“ Kinsman redeemer from Bethlehem.
Note: Bread is a symbol of God’s word and in Amos 8:11 it says about a famine not of bread, but of hearing the word of the LORD. In the times of the Judges there was a lack of hearing God's word. We also are living in a world where there is a famine of God’s word, also in the church.
A very relevant book for the times we live in.
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