Scripture

By Janice Hall

Lesson Text: Ruth 1:1-9, 14b, 16

As we enter this study of Ruth chapter one, it is the time of the judges and the Israelites in a tense  cycle of their own making. Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their sons Mahlon and Chilion find themselves in a season of judgement. There is a severe famine in the territory of Judah around Bethlehem, so the family flees to Moab. Within ten years, all three men are dead and Naomi is left with two Moabite daughters in law. Naomi is faced with decisions after hearing the famine was over and her homeland was now prosperous.

Naomi plans to return home when Orpah and Ruth insist on joining her, showing a level of love and faithfulness. In Israel, Naomi had nothing to give them but in Moab at least they would have a chance to find new husbands and lives. So, Orpah reluctantly agrees and returns home and Ruth refuses to leave Naomi’s side. We see this emotional farewell in verse 14, as Naomi’s journey to her home begins.

In Ruth 1:16, we find the familiar passage: “ 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.” We see Ruth responding with a heartfelt and resolute declaration of her loyalty and devotion to Naomi. Ruth’s words go beyond mere sentiments, but reflect her deep commitment and desire to be part of Naomi’s life, people, and faith.

Synopsis

By Deborah Hillman

Related Scriptures:  Judges 2: 11-19;  Matthew 19: 27-30

Judges 2: 11-19 speaks of a time when Israel served other gods such as Baalim, and the images of Ashtaroth. They forsook the statues and commandments of the Lord God, and practiced evil doings as those around them did.  In doing so, they provoked the Lord God to anger so he handed them over to their enemies who stole all of their possessions. God’s plan was not punishment, but repentance. Because of His great love for His people, God raised up judges to rescue Israel from their bondage.

Matthew 19: 27-30 emphasizes that the reason for following Jesus must be for His name’s sake, for God’s Kingdom. He speaks of willing to leave everything behind and die to selfish ambitions. He encourages us that there are both present rewards and eternal blessings when we follow Him. God wants our whole heart and mind to stay on Him  in everything we do. We are to make personal sacrifices for the gospel and we gain much more than we have given up.

The related scriptures helps us to understand  that God wants our lives to be set apart from the worldly devices of our time. Personal possessions come and go but the love of God in our lives is everlasting. We are to continue to trust and believe what the Word of God says and  meditate on it daily. “ Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statues.” (Psalms 119:11, 12).

Practical Points

By Olivia Hargrave

God’s people are not automatically exempt from the difficulties of life.

As we read this lesson,  we can all relate that in life we will all have to face some difficulties. Naomi has found herself in an extremely difficult situation that some of us also have experienced. In those days, women depended on men for everything and without them some women’s lives were hard. Ruth and Orpah have now became widows just as their mother-in-law Naomi was and their future was hard to imagine. What does it look like when we believe God for everything, and it seems as if that everything is now gone? John 16:33 tells us that Jesus said,” in this world you will have trouble but take heart, I have overcome the world”.

Following God involves sacrifice but also the hope of His sure provision.

Ruth made a decision to stay with her mother-in-law, even though she knew that Naomi had lost everything. Ruth’s  decision to stand by Naomi reflects how God doesn’t leave us even at our worst. As we walk with Christ we are called to walk alongside our sisters and brothers in Christ no matter the season. Galatians 6: 2-3 (NLT) says, “share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important”. As we continue to read the story we see how God blessed Ruth abundantly, met her husband and Jesus is in her genealogy.