RUTH

Ruth Chapter 1

• Ruth 1:1  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 Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob also left their own land and went to another in times of famine. It always led to trouble either in the near future or later on. I'm not being critical or judgmental just stating facts. Whether it was out of the will of God or not the reader must decide.

There are certain verses we can find in the bible that warn not to trust in Egypt for help but I don't remember concerning these three men does God make a direct commandment not to go. However with many times bad seems to happen. Abraham and Isaac almost get their wives stolen from them. Jacob was okay when he reunited with Joseph in Egypt but later on the Israelites were in bondage to a king that arose who didn't know Joseph. Out of fear that the children of Israel would join Egypt's enemines and fight against them, that king make them slaves. The famine in Isaac's day was in Gerar or the Philistines, not Egypt. Wtih Ruth's family the place of refuge was Moab.

• Ruth 1:2  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 Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 
• 3  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. 

We see as we study Ruth that they go into Moab to dwell but later that Naomi came out alone except for Ruth. Her husband Elimelech and her sons Mahlon and Chilion die. They were in the land of Moab about 10 years. We don't know why they died so young within 10 years of dwelling in Moab. Long life is promised if the law was obeyed and it was shortened for disobedience but the bible doesn't really say why so we can't speculate.

There are other reasons for early deaths. The law of God given by Moses does give a promise of long life though in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. So it is in the law sort of like the natural law of reaping what we sow. Still we know also just from observation that innocent people and children do die young as a result of disease, wars and other reasons. For this and other isolated incidences we have to leave it to the Lord who is the final judge of all the earth.

Meanings of the names is something interesting I found:

Elimelech- My God is King.
Naomi- My pleasant one
Mahlon- Sick
Chilion- Pining

They were originally from Bethleham. Ephrath was the ancient name of Bethlehem. There is a Messianic prophecy that mentions this place. Messianic prophecies concern the coming of the Messiah (Christ) which we now know as Yeshua or in the English language, the precious name of Jesus. Jesus is a masculine given name derived from Iesous, the ancient Greek form of the Hebrew and Aramaic name of Yeshua or Y'shua.

• Micah 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 

These events here take place during the days of the Judges of Israel before they had kings. Moab held Israel in servitude for 18 years because the children of Israel did evil in the sight of God. This is recorded in Judges chapter 3. They were in bondage to Moab until they cried unto the Lord. Then a man called Ehud from the tribe of Benjamin rose up and delivered them from the servitude by Moab. Famine many times is a result of God's judgment. The events recorded in the book of Ruth took place at the beginning of the time of the Judges but whether or not they were under the bondage of Moab at this time is noted stated.

There are several famines in scripture.

The first being in the days of Abraham recorded in Genesis 12:10. The second being in the days of Isaac, Genesus 26:1.

The famine in Jacob's say ended up causing the whole family to go into Egypt where they were  reunited with Joseph and were there over 400 years. The famines were in the land of Canaan in most cases.

The famine recorded in the book of Ruth took places in the time of the Judges after the death of Joshua. There was a famine in the days of David the king. 2 Samuel 21:1. A famine in Elijah's day was because of the sin of King Ahab. There were 3 famines in the days of Elisha, all judgments from God. 2 Kings 4:38, 6:25, and 8:1. Anothere famine was in King Zedekiah's day. He was said to have done evil in the sight of the Lord. 2 Kings 25:3 and Jeremiah 14. Next is in the days of Nehemiah recorded in Nehemiah 5:3. And last the famine mentioned in the book of Acts prophesied by Agabus that is was coming upon the Roman Empire in the days of Claudius Caesar.

• One verse that comforts me though is in the Psalm 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 

God is good and full of mercy even when we fail.

• Ruth 1:6  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.

The famine in the land of Judah was over. I sometimes wonder how they communicated back then and found out things about what was happening in other countries with no media, telephones or modern communication systems like we have.  

• Ruth 1:7  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.
• 8  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. 

How awesome to read the kind relationship both of the daugher in laws had to offer to go with her to a strange land.

• Ruth 1:11  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. 

Back then it seems women were expected to marry again when widowed. It may have been the only way to survive. This troubles Naomi very much that she was too old to bear more sons if she married again. She really loved her two daughter in laws.

• Ruth 1:14  And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 
• 15  And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 
• 16  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: 
• 17  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 chose to serve the God of the family of Judah instead of returning to Moab where they served the idols. As a result she later became part of the linage God chose to bring forth His Son Jesus into the world. Ruth must have sensed something in Naomi that caused her to believe in the real God of Israel. God never once forsook Naomi and Ruth but provided for them as we shall see in the next chapters.

• Ruth 1:18  When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 
• 19  So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 
• 20  And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 
• 21  I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 
• 22  So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest. 

From verse 19 we see that the family of Naomi's husband was well favored in Judah although Naomi was full of saddness thinking the Lord caused the things that happned to her.

In Deuteronomy 23:3 Moabites were forbidden to enter the congregation of the Lord but we see that Ruth is different in that she was willing to forsake her nation's god and believe in the God of Israel. Jehovah. This is a preview of the message of being saved by grace. Through Jesus we see the gospel of grace being given to Gentiles and not limited to Jews. Ruth was a preview of this. Like the harlot Rahab that lived in Jericho, Ruth became a believer back before Jesus came into the human race to bring salvation to all who would believe the gospel.

Ruth Chapter 2