About Ruth The beginning sentence of the book of Ruth places it during the period of the
Judges
(Ruth 1.1). It tells the story of three characters: Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. Remember, the period of the judges was a cycle of breaking covenant generation after generation. It is pictured in Scripture as a dark time in the life of Israel. Two points can be discerned from Ruth. First, we can make choices to live life to its fullest even when others around us choose to live life in decline. Or, to say it another way, we can choose to live in a different story than the one our culture presents us with. Second, salvation history will not be detoured by humankind’s choices.
The word which is often translated judge in the Old Testament does not always have a clear meaning. It conjures a picture in this present century of a person seated behind an elevated desk wearing a black robe swinging a gavel. On each occasion in the book of Judges, as Israel broke Covenant stipulations, God raised up a judge, not a legal expert, but a charismatic military leader who was empowered by God to fight against an enemy.
Judges describes the occupation of the Promised Land as undertaken by individual tribes or sometimes one tribe working with another64 and includes the interval of time when the tribes of Israel, having entered the Promised Land, are learning to live together as well as living with their neighbors while in the midst of hostile nations on their borders.We must think of Israel during this period of time as a loosely bound group of tribes which were held together by the Covenant made with God. It was a theocracy. God was king. The first part of Judges pictures a cycle through which the tribes would orbit as they broke Covenant with God. The phrase “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” might be understood as a technical phrase which means “breaking Covenant.” Several of the dates of the Judges overlap66 because often more than one tribe would be in the cycle at the same time. What the book of Judges presents for its readers is a concept that was developing in the history of Israel about what would happen to them if they did not keep the stipulations of the Covenant.
There is a pattern to Israel’s failures that appears several times: O pposition to God R etribution of God B eseechment to God I mpartation of Deliverance by God T ranquility with God
So What?
Judges may be a demonstration of what occurs when there is no recital and recommitment in each generation as seen at the end of Joshua (Joshua 24). Each generation must remember what God has done and recommit to his faithfulness. It also points toward the concept that when one lives in God’s EPIC Adventure, i.e., keeps his Covenant, God is pleased. When one chooses a different story to live in, well, things can get out of hand.
Wife of Elimelech and mother-in-law of Ruth (Ruth 1:2 through 4:17). She went with her husband to the land of Moab, and after his death returned to Bethlehem. When greeted on her return, she told the women of the town to call her, not no omi (“pleasantness”), but marah (“bitterness”), “for,” she said, “the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” She advised Ruth in her dealings with Boaz, and afterward nursed their child.
The name may mean “my joy,” “my bliss,” but is perhaps better explained according to the traditional interpretation as “the pleasant one.”
From: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Public Domain.
Boaz
A wealthy Bethlehemite, kinsman to Elimelech, the husband of Naomi. He married Ruth, and redeemed the estates of her deceased husband, Mahlon (Ruth 4.1). Boaz is mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, Matt. 1:5.
From: Smith’s Bible Dictionary. Public Domain.
Introduction SRC="http://gen2rev.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/deadtree.jpg" TITLE="Photo by Free Digital Photos" align="right" width="300" height="166" border="0">Ruth’s story occurs during the period of the Judges (Ruth 1.1). Ruth carries a double punch. First, light in the thickness of the dark: Ruth is set in the shadow of the book of Judges. People in this period of time were infatuated with doing what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it (Judges 17.6). Ruth is truly an oasis in the midst of the desert of the judges. Second, acceptance in the hopelessness of rejection: Ruth was an outsider, a foreigner. but was accepted into the family of Israel. It is a story of death to life.
In the Hebrew Bible the book is found in the Writings. The purpose of this book was to demonstrate how a Moabitess figured in the genealogy of David. While accomplishing this it also was a plea for a welcome hand to be extended to those who came to Israel from outside. Israel’s vocation was to be a light in the world and the book of Ruth plays that scenario out.
Situation
Drought in Israel caused poorer families to move toward greener pastures. Such was the case with Elimelech’s family as they moved from Bethlehem to Moab. The church would do well to live in Moab for a while. Becoming “native” helps us learn to communicate God’s salvation history for all.
Observation Moving from one geographic area during a famine may suggest that the condition of Elimelech’s family could not be worsened by the move. This move may indicate that his family was poor. Most likely Orpah and Ruth came from poor families as well. When they married into the family of Elimelech, they became members of that family. The death of the two sons did not release Orpah and Ruth from that fact. Naomi had a legal claim and a part of her responsibility was to find Orpah and Ruth new husbands as the language of Ruth 1.11-13 reveals. She gave them their freedom and encouraged them to return to their homes. She knew that as foreigners they could be rejected if she returned to Israel.
When Elimelech’s family was faced with desperation, they moved. He and his sons died within a ten-year period. Naomi was left by herself in a different nation with two daughters-in-law. She must have felt hollow and lonely. Her family dreams had evaporated. What had been family desperation was now personal desperation. What could she do? This loss was a “bitter pill” (1.13) and she believed that what happened to her was allowed by God. As with all of us, Naomi’s response was her choice.
Ruth’s choice to follow Naomi was a decision that had been made over a ten-year period. When Ruth married into the family, she was under obligation outwardly to worship the God of Israel. Being a part of the family for ten years had apparently impacted her and her own personal commitment toward God. Her dedication to remain faithful to Naomi and God was not spontaneous. Her oath in verse Ruth 1.16-17 was common in the ancient world and was often expressed in very emotional language.
Meditation
Think about how you have responded during times of desperation. Did you choose bitterness or some other negative response toward God?
Think about your dedication to others. How dedicated are you to God, your family, your work? Are you loyal?
Living into the Story
Choose to respond to God in a positive way remembering that he has everything in control even when it looks out of control and desperate. Pray for God’s peace in the midst of desperation.
Rededicate yourself to God, your family, wife, children, employer. Pray for the people to whom you are dedicated.
Training Jesus Followers
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The word which is often translated judge in the Old Testament does not always have a clear meaning. It conjures a picture in this present century of a person seated behind an elevated desk wearing a black robe swinging a gavel. On each occasion in the book of Judges, as Israel broke Covenant stipulations, God raised up a judge, not a legal expert, but a charismatic military leader who was empowered by God to fight against an enemy.
Judges describes the occupation of the Promised Land as undertaken by individual tribes or sometimes one tribe working with another64 and includes the interval of time when the tribes of Israel, having entered the Promised Land, are learning to live together as well as living with their neighbors while in the midst of hostile nations on their borders.We must think of Israel during this period of time as a loosely bound group of tribes which were held together by the Covenant made with God. It was a theocracy. God was king. The first part of Judges pictures a cycle through which the tribes would orbit as they broke Covenant with God. The phrase “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” might be understood as a technical phrase which means “breaking Covenant.” Several of the dates of the Judges overlap66 because often more than one tribe would be in the cycle at the same time. What the book of Judges presents for its readers is a concept that was developing in the history of Israel about what would happen to them if they did not keep the stipulations of the Covenant.
There is a pattern to Israel’s failures that appears several times:
O pposition to God
R etribution of God
B eseechment to God
I mpartation of Deliverance by God
T ranquility with God
So What?
Judges may be a demonstration of what occurs when there is no recital and recommitment in each generation as seen at the end of Joshua (Joshua 24). Each generation must remember what God has done and recommit to his faithfulness. It also points toward the concept that when one lives in God’s EPIC Adventure, i.e., keeps his Covenant, God is pleased. When one chooses a different story to live in, well, things can get out of hand.
There are many synonyms to use for the word believer, which is the most common word for a person who has "converted" to follow Jesus. I have chosen "Jesus follower(s) or follower(s) of Jesus instead of the word believer in these presentations to allow the reader an opportunity to move away from the idea of believer which conjures up the possible thought of "ascent" to a set of doctrines that have been assembled by different groups over the centuries and show up in this day and age as a set of statements posted on web sites and other written material. These sets of beliefs are suggested by many as the ones that one should ascent to so that upon death the one who assents can go to heaven, i.e., just believe and you are good to go. Jesus followers/followers of Jesus suggest an action that one should take. Remember, Jesus told his disciples to follow him. Yes, belief is important, but one must move beyond belief to action.
(See "Discipleship" Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. 182-188.)
Moving from one geographic area during a famine may suggest that the condition of Elimelech’s family could not be worsened by the move. This move may indicate that his family was poor. Most likely Orpah and Ruth came from poor families as well. When they married into the family of Elimelech, they became members of that family. The death of the two sons did not release Orpah and Ruth from that fact. Naomi had a legal claim and a part of her responsibility was to find Orpah and Ruth new husbands as the language of Ruth 1.11-13 reveals. She gave them their freedom and encouraged them to return to their homes. She knew that as foreigners they could be rejected if she returned to Israel.
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