THE BOOK OF RUTH

 

Intro into the Book of Ruth

The Scriptures in reference to the Old and New Testament declare this truth, Jesus said, “Bear witness about Me.” John 5:39

 

The Scriptures bear witness to the attributes of God.

The Scriptures bear witness to the patience and mercies of God.

The Scriptures are valuable and trustworthy for all generations, no matter what age you are or where you come from.

The Scriptures encourages the heart to see God prevail and glorified even the toughest of decisions whether as a nation, at war, or whether you are alone.

The Scriptures reveals the redemption plan of God for man though His Son.

The Scriptures were written for our instruction and that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures that we might have hope.

 

The story of Ruth does exactly that; it is filled with God-inspired hope. Ruth is a story of the mundane life, no miracles, no prophets, no audible voice of God. People who live each day and are faced with tragedy, death, decisions and the challenges of life. The Book of Ruth is filled with hope, a portrait of biblical manhood and womanhood. We get front row seats to God’s providence in the lives of His people; specifically in the lives of Ruth and Boaz. “Providence” is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. Through divine providence God accomplishes His will. To ensure that His purposes are fulfilled, God governs the affairs of men and works through the natural order of things. The laws of nature are nothing more than God’s work in the universe. The laws of nature have no inherent power; rather, they are the principles that God set in place to govern how things normally work. They are only “laws” because God decreed them.

 

The prominent purpose for this short letter is to bring the calamities and sorrows of life under the sway of God’s providence. This shows us that God’s purposes are good, despite the circumstances that lead to it. This is not a false statement when Naomi laments “She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” Ruth 1:20-21

Is this calamity the providence of God’s last word? Are bitter ingredients (Like vanilla extract) put into the mixer to make the cake taste bad? No! Its for us to trust in God all the more, as He guides us through each trial, moment in life for His glory and our good. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matt 10:29-30

 

The question we need to ask ourselves as we dive into this letter is……

 

Can I trust and love the God who has dealt

me this painful hand in life?

 

This is what the Book of Ruth reveals to us as it answers that question. An encounter that displays and reveals the workings of God in the life of this woman. The book of Ruth shows us that our actions have consequences. But understand our lives are not a simply the consequences of various decisions we have made and events that have occurred. But there is a power that is greater than our decisions and it’s the grace of God. Its God’s divine providential power which directs the outcomes of those decisions and events according to His sovereignty and good purposes for you and me. Examples of this… The life of Joseph, God allowed Joseph’s brothers to kidnap him, sell him as a slave, and then lie to their father for years about his fate. This led to saving millions of people including the people of Israel. Judas Iscariot, God allowed Judas to lie, deceive, cheat, steal, and finally betray the Lord Jesus into the hands of His enemies. All of this was a great wickedness, and God was displeased. Yet, at the same time, all of Judas’s plotting and scheming led to a greater good: the salvation of mankind. Jesus had to die at the hands of the Romans in order to become the sacrifice for sin. If Jesus had not been crucified, we would still be in our sins. How did God get Christ to the cross? God providentially allowed Judas the freedom to perform a series of wicked acts. We read in Luke’s account, “For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” Luke 22:22

 

This letter reveals the providence of God and the power of God despite our decisions. One commentary suggests that this book may be “The most beautiful short story ever written.” This letter is filled with some of the richest and deepest truth in the form of a passionate love story, and God’s promise of a Redeemer. In this little book of 85 VERSES, we will see God’s providential woven thread pointing us to the Savior.

 

A story that connects the house of David with the Tribe of Judah.

A story that connects Jesus to the line of David.

A story about making bad choices in life and the lessons you learn from them.

A story about the consequences of disobedience to a faithful God.

A story about an outcast, a despised nation without hope.

A story about choices and the results of those choices.

A story about dedication and commitment.

A story about what a virtuous woman looks like.

A story about what a real man of God looks like.

A story about God’s sovereignty and providential care.

A story about the glory of God displayed to mankind!

A story about redemption even to the worst kind of people, you, me, a sinner.

 

But the story of Ruth doesn’t

start off well!

As you would read in a fairy tale or a classic Disney movie....” Once upon a time there lived this beautiful young lady.....”or “Once upon a time there was this noble king who was loved by all!” The story begins with a big decision to make not only for yourself but for the whole family, “a famine in the land” (v1) The very place Elimelech and his family lived were faced with a calamity of great proportions...........Bethlehem, Judah was without food. Bethlehem means “the house of bread” and Judah means “praise”

 

“So, the house of bread in the land of

praise is without bread!”

 

The very first part of the opening verse gives an indication for the reason of this famine in such a blessed land. “These were the days of the judges” (v1) The book of Judges is like Charles Dickens beginning to the The Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” But for the book of Judges there was very little that was good. Time was not easy for anyone during the time of the judges, especially for the Jewish people. Warren Weirsbe said “the book of Judges is the story of Israel at one of its lowest points in history; it’s a record of division, cruelty, apostasy, civil war, and national disgrace.” The last verse in the book of Judges summarizes that statement, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

 Judges 21:25

Throughout the book of Judges, you read a repeated cycle of rebellion and repentance with God’s people. This led to a downward spiral for God’s people as we enter the book of Ruth. In the beginning God’s people rebelled and sinned, but God acts in judgment against them, the people repent and cried out to the Lord, all is better. This went on for most of the book until you come to the end where everyone did what was right in their own hearts.

 

The last judge was Samson, who systematically undermines our expectations of what a deliver ought to be. Samson was called to be a Nazirite at birth, separated for God from defiling influences. But Samson, systematically breaks every vow that was made on his behalf. Instead of avoiding contact with everything dead, he scoops honey for the corpse of a lion. Judges 14:9. Instead of avoiding contact with the Philistines, he wants to marry one. Judges 14:1-2. Instead of avoiding strong drink, he participates in drinking parties with his future in-laws. Judges 14:10. And Samson ends his life bringing judgement on God’s enemies, but establishing no rest for God’s people. The final chapters of Judges (17-21) demonstrate the ultimate downward spiral and show us in graphic detail a nation that broadly lost its way. Becoming every bit as bad as the pagan nations that were the previous residents of the Promise Land.

 

Which brings us into the book of Ruth where Elimelech is

faced with a decision concerning the famine.

 

Now, famines weren’t uncommon to these people, similar events happened in the days of Abraham (Gen 12); Isaac (Gen26); Jacob (Gen 46). Elimelech had a decision to make; whether to stay and possibly go hungry and wait upon the Lord and see what He is going to do! Or find somewhere else to go that has food and be content and safe. See, Elimelech’s very name should have given him the answer. His name literally means “My God is King” God called Elimelech to live in Bethlehem, so he had no business leaving there to anywhere, least of all Moab. He took his family from the house of bread, a place that God’ promised the patriarch of old a land flowing with milk in honey. All God asks in return is that they put their faith and trust in Him as they did when they crossed the Jordon River with Joshua and the rest of the people. Do we really take the promises of God seriously? Jesus said, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matt 6:25-33

Did they forget how the Lord provided for their ancestors,

those who walked before them?

 

Did they lose heart in their rebellion after the judges died?

 

Did they have any faith at all?

 

Elimelech chose the simple and easiest route for himself and his family; go where there is food. There was no king in Elimelech’s life, and therefore, like so many others in the days when the judges ruled, he chose what was best for him. Instead of following the path of repentance and faith, trusting the Lord will provide for his needs. He moved and followed after another god, himself. One commentator wrote we are no different at times in our decision making, “Like Elimelech, we act as the sovereign of our lives, making the choices that seem best in our eyes, without reference to God and without serious thought about the long-term implications. Many bear the label “Christian,” yet their Christianity has no real impact on life-defining decisions, just as Elimelech bore the name “My God is king” yet lived in a way that made it evident that God wasn’t his king at all. The roads we choose for ourselves often make our deepest hearts commitments plain for all to see.”

 

His bad decision to leave was bad enough but he decides to leave and go to Moab, a much worse place for his family. For Israel, Moab was known for several things, none of them good. What he forgot was that the Scripture makes it clear that God would have provided for Elimelech’s family if they had stayed in Judah, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.” Ps 37:25-26

 

Paul comforts the weary Christian with these words of comfort. “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;” 2 Cor 4:8 

By leaving they prevented God from displaying His power and care in their behalf.

What’s worse is that they chose to go to a country, a nation that God calls a “wash pot” 

Psalm 108:9. A better way you could paraphrase v9 of Psalm 108 is to say “Moab is a garbage can”

 

Do you know where the descendants of Moab came from? From the events that took place between a drunken Lot and his daughters. (Found in Genesis 19:37) Not a very good beginning to a nation of people!

 

Moab oppressed the Jews for 18 years up to this point in time during the book of Judges.

Moab were outcasts to the Jewish people, they were half breads and wicked.

Moab is not spoken of well in God’s Word.

Moab tried to hire Balaam to curse the Israelites. (Num 22:4-24:25)

Moab was a pagan and idolatrous country. (1 Kings 11:7-33)

Moab was later defeated by king Saul (1 Sam14:47)

Moab was cursed by God. Isaiah 15 & 16; Jeremiah 28; Ezekiel 25:8-11.

 

The prophet Amos reveal this about Moab, “Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime. But I will send a fire upon Moab, And it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; Moab shall die with tumult, With shouting and trumpet sound. And I will cut off the judge from its midst, And slay all its princes with him," Says the LORD.” Amos 2:1-3

 

Think about the decision Elimelech makes....A man whose name means “my God is King” leaves the land that God promised the patriarchs, to go to a place that is described as a garbage can. It would be the same if we had a famine and said there is no more food here, we must go to the Garbage Dump to find it. Look at what happens to this family over the next ten years. Disclaimer! This doesn’t mean God killed off all the men for their bad choices, we don’t read that here passage! What do see is God who is glorious and all powerful displaying His providential plan for the redemption of many, in the years to come! But sometime our chooses lead us down paths that overtime we recognize they were wrong ones as the prodigal son in Luke 15. For Elimelech and family they felt comfortable they felt more at home in the land of compromise than in the Promise Land. 

His sons took for themselves Moabite women as their wives, knowing that the law of Moses commanded them not to. “You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.” Deut 7:3-4

 

This too is often the way it is for us, choosing to step outside of God’s revealed will and over time wrestle with our consciences. But yet remaining on the outside because it requires less effort. The prodigal decision to leave the land God promised you and your people was a deliberate one. It says they “went to the fields of Moab, and they were there.” (v2) this is much different than just going there for a time until the famine is over. They were there like drifting through life without any grand plan, they just existed not thinking about the future. Let’s ride this one out…..but again they were never to leave in the first place and overtime it will get harder to return. For ten years his family were comfortable in the land of compromise. Which makes its even harder when you have to return home to admit your previous choice was wrong. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.” Luke 15:17-18

 

Sometimes God allows these kinds of things to happen in our lives to refine us, to strengthen us, to lean upon Him more every day. God can always take our bad decisions and turn them out for our good. God knows what He is doing, as His children we need to walk by the faith and trust Him as Abraham did when he said to his only son Isaac, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.” Gen 22:8

There is wisdom of this world that leads to

foolishness and sorrow.

 

And there is wisdom of God that seems foolish to the world,

but it leads to blessing and eternal life.

 

We will see this over the course of this letter. The prodigal does come home because God has something greater in store for them and future generations. As Paul reveals by what he is able to say by what we find in the book of Ruth, “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” Eph 2:11-19

 

Understand as we look into the opening of this letter, When we seek provisions for an empty life, we receive providential, unrecognized kindness. This happens when the Lord disciplines us on the wrong things for life fulfillment and ease. God does this in order to draw the believer back to Christ and to reveals His mercy and grace and provisions that He has for us.