Ruth Chapter 1

Ruth
Introduction:
· Story of commitment, dedication, trial, testing, deliverance, and freedom
· Teaches about our relationship in Christ
· The progressive stages of that relationship:
- Counting the Cost
- Growing in Grace
- Rewards through Refining
- Fruits of Freedom
Chapter 1 – Counting the Cost - We will see Naomi (a blackslider), Ruth (new convert), and Orpah (double-minded women):
- Perils of worldliness and sin
- Importance of preaching a ‘real’ gospel
- Steps of a prodigal in return to the Lord
- Cost in following Him
Verses 1-2
- Starts in days of Judges and in a time of famine
- Elemelech and Naomi are living in Israel – God’s chosen land – but starting to look towards the prosperity in the world

Just like a Christian in hard times looking NOT to the Lord, but to what the world can provide. Ever been in that kind of famine? Where God doesn’t care or notice the difficulty you are in?

Why does God allow this?

Verses 3-4
- Elimelech and Naomi were faced with 2 options running or trusting they chose running.
- They left Bethleham (‘the place of bread’) and Judah (‘prasie’) for Moab (‘From Father: What Father?’) Which gives insight to Elimelech’s state of mind.

As he doubts the love and fatherhood of God he steps into willful disobedience to the word of God. He didn’t plan to stay permanently it wasn’t a great rebellion, just a new season in another land. There is nothing wrong with that is there?

Verses 3-5
- He stayed 10 years and never came out. The choice took his life, and the life of his 2 sons. It took Naomi 10 years to see that he promised much but delivered nothing, just like the world.
- Those who leave the Lord today will find the same thing – though the world promises fame, fortune, and happiness it doesn’t compare to the peace of being right with the Lord.
- We meet Ruth (‘friendship’) and Orpah (‘stiff necked’)
Verses 6-10
- A good choice – they are coming home!
- Why? – they heard of the Lord giving food to his people
- He seemed far away to the human eye, but He always knew the situation and provided when the time was right…He is sovereign.
- Naomi is now like the prodigal ready to return home. It may have taken her 10 years but she finally came back to God.
- God stripped Naomi of everything she had, she lost her husband and her two sons – she had nowhere to look but to Him!

When you have been a Christian for a while you have seen many believers come to the faith and then go back to Egypt away from God – that is the nature of the prodigal son. Why does this happen?

Luke 14:26-29 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters –yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him.” What does this say in relation to what we are discussing?

Verses 11-13
Naomi told them the truth – she didn’t tell them God would bless them and solve all their problems. She however gave them the chance to count the cost of having the Lord their God.

Jesus expects nothing less. Why do we tend to tell people it will all be good, easy, and Jesus will solve their problems?

Verses 14-18
-Orpah left – it wasn’t for her!

How is this like Christians today?

Read Matthew 13: 3-9, 20-21

-Ruth stayed – she is the picture of true conversion, belief, and commitment to God. She counted the cost and gave up everything to love and follow Naomi and her God. Verse 16-18 =)

What is the quality of commitment Jesus asks today, not the quantity but the quality? Jesus said those that follow take up their cross. What does it mean to take up your cross?

Speaks of death
1. Your right to:
2. your own ability to:

-We will see these attitudes displayed fully through the book of Ruth – this is the “quality” of commitment that Jesus desires.

John 2: 23-25 “Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, may people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.” Even though some believed and wanted to commit to Jesus. Jesus wasn’t about to commit himself back. Why?

Verses 19-22
They make it back to Bethleham but Naomi (‘pleasant’) doesn’t want to be called that anymore. She prefers Mara (‘bitter’).
We can understand her sorrow – she has lost everything.
Naomi may have come back empty and bitter, but that is not how things would end. She would once again soon see the blessings of the Lord.
She returned at the beginning of barley season, season of the first fruits.

In Israel, the first fruits of a crop were reason for thanksgiving, which was to be directed to God (Ex. 23:18). In the New Testament, this has its fulfillment in Jesus. I Cor. 15: 20 “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came resurrection of the dead.” So in a figurative sense, Naomi was soon to experience life out of death. She had come back bitter and despondent but she would soon be raised from the grave!

Though bitter they would soon see new life!