Ruth 1- My God and Your God

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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 that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread.  V6

As we continue on, Naomi and her two daughters in law (Ruth and Orpah) are now faced with a crisis, since all of their husbands have died from the famine. Remember Naomi is a Jew and originally came from Bethlehem of Judah, which is ultimately the birth place of the Messiah Jesus (Micah 5:2)

“She had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord has visited His people” Naomi has heard the famine is over in Bethlehem, which was a result of Gods judgement for 7 years due to Israel’s disobedience in the time of Judges. So Naomi is going to head back to Bethlehem to find the Kinsman Redeemer to provide for her and the daughter in law Ruth

‘Giving them bread” is a prophetic message as the City of Bethlehem name means “House of Bread”

Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.  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.  V7-8

At first the two daughters in law (Ruth and Orpah) were going to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem, but Naomi insisted they go back to their own households in Moab and basically find new husbands to support them. Naomi knows she is old and beyond child bearing age, he chances of finding a new husband or Kinsman Redeemer were probably small, she didn’t want to drag her daughters down with her since they still had a chance of finding new husbands for survival

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.  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!”  v9-13

Naomi basically feels like she is cursed, it could be perhaps because they left Israel to live in a pagan Gentile region of Moab and ultimately they lost everything , including the lives of her husband and sons. So Naomi doesn’t want to drag down Ruth and Orpah with her

Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.  V14

At this point , after Naomi insisted multiple times, Orpah decided to go back to her household in Moab, while Ruth “clung to her” Ruth was willing to be loyal to Naomi until death, regardless of what happens.

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.  v15-16

Here Ruth makes an amazing profession of faith, while Orpah turns back to her “gods”, remembering Moab is a pagan land. Ruth professes “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God”

Ruth has forsaken her pagan “gods” and has pledged allegiance to the on true God of Israel. Which ultimately this story and marriage between Ruth and Boaz will lead to the line of David, which will lead to the Son of God Jesus Christ! 

Introduction to the book of Ruth

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One of only two books names after a woman (Ruth and Esther)

Ruth is part of Jesus Christ  genealogy (Matthew 1:5)

Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

Matthew 1:5

Author: Samuel 

Time:  “When the Judges Ruled” 

Location: Moab and Bethlehem

The book of Ruth was typically read during Pentecost due to Harvest references

Major Themes:

  1. New Covenant – Jews and Gentiles in the Covenant
  2. Woman are coheirs in the Kingdom with me part of Gods salvation
  3. Ruth protrays the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31
  4. Gods sovereignty and provision are demonstrated
  5. Ruth is in the genealogy of the Messiah (Christ)
  6. Boaz is a shadow of Christ – The Kinsman Redeemer
  7. The throne of David which points to Jesus Christ

Ruth Chapter 1 – The Famine

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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 Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.  V1

The author, who is believed to be the prophet Samuel, inspired by the Holy Spirit gives us a timeline of these events, “in the days when the judges ruled” , these events happened around the same time period of the book of Judges between 1380 BC to 1050 BC

We see there is a severe famine in the land, this will kick off a sequence of catastrophic events which God will ultimately use for His glory and the fulfillment of the Messianic line in Jesus Christ. This is a fascinating book of how we connect the dots between the Old Testament to The Lord. 

A certain man of Bethlehem (Elimelech) you should already see the ties to Christ, as this man is a citizen of Bethlehem, a Jew, however due to the severe famine, they were forced to move to Moab to find food. Of course Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem as prophesied by Micah, as we walk through the book of Ruth, we will make all the connections to the Messiah

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  Matthew 2:1

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.  Micah 5:2

The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.  V2

So the mans name is Elimelech, which means “My God Is King” which is very prophetic as this story will be about the Kinsman Redeemer which ultimately leads to Jesus Christ. HIs wifes name is Naomi and their twos sons are Mahlon and Chilion, make note they are all Jewish from Bethlehem, where when the sons move to Moab they will marry gentiles wives (Ruth and Orpah)

Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.  Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.  V3-5

Now here is where the the issues begin, because of the severe famine in the land, Elimelech dies, who is the man of the household, but also Naomi’s sons will also die during this time of famine, this will lead this family in a severe crisis, how will they be able to support themselves?

You must remember during this time period, it was almost impossible for a widow or single mother to raise her family financially. Typically the husband or next of kin, the son, would support the family , however in Naomi’s case , she lost her husband and two sons in a pagan land. 

This reminded me of a scenario the religious leaders were challenging Jesus on who would be the husband of a widow who theoretically lost 7 husbands

23The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27Last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”  Matthew 22:23-28

The Sadducees (religious leaders) presented this bizarre challenge to Jesus, about a woman who lost her husband and then all seven of his brothers died, who will be together in the resurrection, what were the religious leaders referencing?

Well they were presenting what we know as “Kinsman Redeemer” during ancient times, if a wife lost her husband, should be married to one of his brothers to provide for her and the family, since there was no welfare or unemployment. While the religious leaders use an exaggerated example to try and trip up Jesus, you can get an understanding of this practice in that time period

This how the story of Ruth begins, with Naomi heading back to Bethlehem to find her Kinsman Redeemer, which will ultimately be found through Ruth, a Gentile in Boaz which is a shadow of Christ

Zechariah 14- Worship The King!

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And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.  And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain.  If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.   Zechariah 14:16-19

The Millennial Reign of Christ will be like a time period the Earth has never seen or experienced before! The Messiah, The Lord Jesus will physically come back to Israel, and rule and reign from throne of David (Luke 1:31-32) Satan has been bound, the curse of sin on the Earth was lifted, the entire world will have knowledge of Christ and will be required to come worship him. As every knee will bow and tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2)

As we see in Revelation, this is the Millennial Kingdom, when you can connect the prophecies of Zechariah with the Apostle John, you can get a clear vision of your future in Christ! Come and worship the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords!

4And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for [a]a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.  Revelation 20:4-6

In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.  Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.  Zechariah 14:20-21

The entire Earth will give glory to Jesus Christ, the phrase “Holiness to The Lord” will be engraved on everything! The whole Earth belongs to The Lord and will be in complete submission to Him! 

In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  Isaiah 2:2-3

Just as the prophet Isaiah also foretold, The King is coming! The Lord will teach us His ways, the knowledge of Christ will cover the Earth, Jesus will reign and reign from His throne, The Kingdom of God is at hand! Amen!