Ruth 2-1 Wrong Choices

 ”There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.“ ‭‭Ruth‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Naomi had a kinsman: Naomi was related to this man Boaz through her deceased husband, Elimelech. We don’t know exactly how he was related, but he was.

b. A man of great wealth: During the time of famine, when Elimelech, Naomi, and their whole family had left the Promised Land and went to Moab, Boaz had stayed behind - and God provided for him. In fact, God made Boaz a man of great wealth.

i. Ten years before, Naomi and her family made a choice, and it was a choice made in a hard time – a time of famine. But they didn’t have to make the wrong choice they did. The people of Bethlehem had not perished from hunger. They were still there. And they were blessed more than Naomi’s family.

ii. Sometimes we justify wrong choices because of difficult circumstances. But God will strengthen us, and bless us, to make the right choice, even in difficult circumstances.

iii. “The exact expression rendered a mighty man of wealth is elsewhere translated ‘a mighty man of valour’ (e.g., Jdg. 11:1). We perhaps get the force of it by thinking of our word ‘knight.’” (Morris)

c. A kinsman: This introduces an important word in the book of Ruth - the ancient Hebrew word goel. To say that Boaz was a goel (a kinsman) was more than saying he was a relative; it was saying that he was a special family representative. He was a chieftain in the family. (Guzik)

Wrong Choices 

We’ve all made them, one way or another but when we do, if we repent and ask for forgiveness, He will be waiting with open arms to welcome us back home like the prodigal son!

But when we have a choice to make, if seek Him FIRST, “God will strengthen us, and bless us, to make the right choice, even in difficult circumstances.”

If you are in a difficult circumstance, lift it up to the Lord in prayer 🙏 and wait on the Lord.

Blessings 

Ruth 1:22 Repentant and Honest!

 ”So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.“ ‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. So Naomi returned: Naomi came back repentant and honest. She has felt that the Almighty has afflicted me. But in the coming chapters, it will be shown the Almighty will bless her. If only she could see it!

b. Now they came to Bethlehem: It would have been easy for Naomi to focus on what she had lost. She had lost a husband, two sons, and one daughter-in-law. She had lost all kinds of material possessions. All she had left was one daughter-in-law, Ruth. But through that one thing she had left, God was going to bring unbelievable blessing into her life.

i. All the good that happens in the future chapters begins here: With Naomi’s godly repentance and honesty. It will make a difference not only in her life, but in the life of her daughter-in-law Ruth - and in the destiny of the nation Israel - and in your eternal salvation.

ii. It is possible for God to accomplish amazing things both for now and eternity, if we will turn towards Him today, not only in our feelings, but also in our actions. (Guzik)

Repentant and Honest!

My wife and I have been leading Life Recovery Bible Study Meeting at our church and last week was step 5, confess your sins to one another. In the private men’s group, someone confessed his hidden sins from his past, he was repentant and honest and right afterwards he said it was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders!

That’s what Jesus does when we are repentant and honest, He breaks the yolk that we allowed Satan to put around our necks, breaks the chain of sin and sets us free!

”Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.“

‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭BSB‬‬

Confessing our sins to God is a good start but confessing them to someone who’s trustworthy is biblical and helps us break the yolk and chain of sin.

Blessings 

Ruth 1:19-21 Bitter Circumstances!

 ”Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”“

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. The two of them went until they came to Bethlehem: It was a long walk from Moab to Bethlehem, and the trip was mostly uphill. We can imagine along the way, Ruth asking her mother-in-law Naomi all about the God of Israel and the land of Israel.

b. All the city was excited because of them: Bethlehem was just a large village; everyone in the village would have known everyone else and remembered those who had left years ago.

c. Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara: The name Naomi means “pleasant”; the name Mara means “bitter.” Naomi used this to tell the people of Bethlehem that her time away from Israel, her time away from the God of Israel, had not been pleasant - it was bitter.

i. Naomi wasn’t a phony. She wasn’t going to go home, pretend everything was fine, and be “pleasant.” She was going to be honest and say “Here I am and my life has been bitter.”

d. The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me... the LORD has brought me home again empty... the LORD has testified against me: Naomi was not afraid to see the hand of God in all her calamity.

i. Naomi knew that the tragedy that came into her life was not because of fate, chance, or blind fortune. She felt the tragedies were an example of God’s affliction because she could not see the end of His plan. But she knew there was a sovereign God of heaven and didn’t think she had just run into a string of “bad luck.”

ii. Yet, in the midst of all these bitter circumstances, Naomi was not bitter against the LORD. We can imagine one of the villagers asking, “Naomi, if God has dealt very bitterly with you, if the LORD has brought you home empty, if the LORD has testified against you, then why have you come back?” And she would have said, “Because I want to get right with Him again. Things have been terrible, and the answer isn’t in going further from God, but in drawing closer to Him.”

iii. Not everyone reacts to trials the way Naomi did. “Many are humbled, but not humble; low, but not lowly. These have lost the fruit of their afflictions... and are therefore most miserable.” (Trapp)

Bitter Circumstances

Have you been given the short end of the shaft? Drew the short straw and became bitter? Re-read Trapp’s commentary! Our human nature wants to drag us down into the abyss! But we have the Almighty! 

Brethren, when life throws you bitter circumstances, examine yourself to see if you are being spanked by the hand of the Lord or tested like Job!

Remember the prize 🏆, the crown 👑 that you’ll receive in heaven! Read the book of Romans, read the book of Job and keep the faith! 

As the sun rises and sets we will have trials and bitter circumstances! It’s how you react to those that the world will know you are His.

Blessings 

Ruth 1:15-18 She stopped trying to persuade her!

 ”And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.“ ‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Look, your sister-in-law has gone: Naomi did what she could to discourage Ruth from coming with her back to Israel. It wasn’t that Naomi didn’t want Ruth to come, but she didn’t want a fair-weather friend either.

b. Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people: This was a noble - even outstanding - friend-to-friend commitment. But Ruth’s commitment to Naomi went even further: And your God, [will be] my God.

i. This was more than change of address. Ruth was willing to forsake the Moabite gods she grew up with and embrace the God of Israel. She was deciding to follow the LORD. This Gentile woman, once far from God, had drawn near to Him.

ii. And your God, [will be] my God meant that Naomi’s relationship with God made an impact on Ruth. This is striking, because Naomi did not have an easy life. She had been widowed, had lost both her sons, and believed that she had caused each calamity by her disobedience. Yet she still honored and loved the LORD.

iii. People should be able to look at your life, just as Ruth looked at Naomi’s, and say “I want your God to be my God.” Your trust in God, and turning towards Him in tough times, will often be the thing that draws others to the LORD.

c. Your God, my God: Ten years of Naomi’s compromise in Moab never made Ruth confess her allegiance to the God of Israel. Yet as soon as Naomi stood and said, “I’m going back to the God of Israel, I’ll put my fate in His hands” Ruth stood with her. If you think you will persuade your friends or relatives to Jesus by your compromise, you are mistaken. Perhaps you are sincere, but you are mistaken. Only a bold stand for Jesus will really do it.

i. “Ah! You will never win any soul to the right by a compromise with the wrong. It is decision for Christ and his truth that has the greatest power in the family, and the greatest power in the world, too.” (Spurgeon)

d. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me: Ruth had little knowledge of the true God, the God of Israel - but she knew He was a God of fairness and justice, so He could be called upon to hold Ruth accountable to this promise.

There’s a lot to unpack in these verses but what struck me was, “she stopped speaking to her.” Sometimes we have to study other versions to understand the translation. Here’s is the Berean Study Bible translation:

”When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.“ ‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭BSB‬‬

“She stopped trying to persuade her.“

Years ago when we decided to adopt and we’re matched with a 10 year old boy and people were determined to dissuade us, but we were determined to follow the Lords will, so they stopped trying to persuade us.

When you are following the Lords will, don’t let anyone try to persuade you otherwise!

Blessings 

Ruth 1:14 But Ruth Clung To Her!

 ”Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.“ ‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. They lifted up their voices and wept again: Both Orpah and Ruth felt deeply; both loved Naomi; both were anxious about the future. But a choice had to be made, and Orpah chose to stay in Moab, while Ruth clung to Naomi.

b. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her: There comes a place in our following after God where it comes down to doing. Ruth and Orpah both felt the same feelings, but Ruth diddifferently than Orpah.

i. Some are content with feeling Christian feelings - with feeling a love for God, with feeling a love for His Word, with feeling a love for His people. But what will you do? We are glad that God didn’t just feel His love for us; instead, For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16) (Guzik)

Sometimes we read something into the Bible that isn’t described or have a tendency to cherry 🍒 pick verses without context due to our human nature. The last part of this verse stands out to me with the description, let’s read it again!

“and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.“

But Ruth Clung To Her!

Have you ever had a child cling to you imploring you not to go? I envision several emotions with this description, love, fear, sadness, endearment….

Brethren, what type of feelings do you have for your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Are you sad with them when they experience sorrow?

Are you happy with them when they experience gladness?

Will we cling to Jesus when we meet Him face to face?

Blessings 

Ruth 1:10-13 If we will return to Him in Repentance!

”And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”“ ‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

 a. Are there still sons in my womb: According to the laws of ancient Israel, if a young woman was left widowed, without having had a son, then one of her deceased husband’s brothers was responsible for being a “surrogate father” and providing her with a son. Naomi here says that she has no other sons to give either Orpah or Ruth. 

 b. The hand of the LORD has gone out against me: This obviously weighed heavily on Naomi’s heart and mind. She felt that the calamity which came upon her family came because they were disobedient, probably in leaving the Promised Land of Israel and marrying their sons to Moabite women. 

i. Perhaps Naomi felt a particular guilt; perhaps she was the one who pushed to move out of Israel, and who pushed to marry off the sons. 

 c. The hand of the LORD has gone out against me: Despite this feeling, Naomi is going back to the land of Israel - and going back to her God. Though she felt that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me, she did not grow bitter against God. She returned to Him in repentance, knowing that the answer is drawing closer to Him, not going further from Him. What Naomi could not see is that the hand of the LORD would go out for her shortly! There is never reason for us to despair if we believe the hand of the LORD has gone out against me. If we will return to Him, His hand will go out for us again! Naomi had no idea - not the slightest - of how greatly God was going to bless her in a short time. (Guzik) 

 If we will return to Him in Repentance! We have a loving God who sent His Son to take away our sins. All you have to do is repent, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and believe that Jesus died, rose again for you! 

 I am reminded of this repentance and belief! 

 ”One of the criminals who hung there heaped abuse on Him. “Are You not the Christ?” he said. “Save Yourself and us!” But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same judgment? We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”“ ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭39‬-‭43‬ ‭BSB‬‬ 

 Notice the order, repentance and belief. 

 Do you need to return to Him in repentance? Blessings

Ruth 1:8-9 Lifted Up!

 ”And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.“

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Go, return each to her mother’s house: By all common sense, this was the wise thing to do. Orpah and Ruth had stronger family ties in Moab than they did with Naomi, so it made sense for them to stay in Moab instead of going to a new land - Israel - with Naomi.

b. The LORD deal kindly with you... The LORD grant that you may find rest: With these words Naomi freely blessed them. She prayed that they would remarry (each in the house of her husband).

i. Deal kindly is the ancient Hebrew word hesed. “Hesed encompasses deeds of mercy performed by a more powerful party for the benefit of the weaker one.” (Huey)

ii. In Ruth 1:9, Naomi described marriage as a place of rest: The LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband. God intends that each marriage be a place and source, of rest, peace, and refreshment in life.

c. She kissed them... they lifted up their voices and wept: This emotion shown is evidence of the real relationship of love between Naomi and her daughters-in-law. (Guzik)

Lifted Up!

Don’t miss this short emotional statement! “They lifted up their voices and wept.” 

TO THE LORD! 

Are you in pain, suffering, had a loss, in despair? Lift up your voice to the Lord and weep 😭 for He will put your tears in a bottle and save them! 

Find comfort with Jesus because He knows your pain and suffering. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God of All Comfort

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Do you seek God in your affliction?

Blessings