I find it highly significant what and how James and Paul by inspiration penned these words. “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (James 2:23). Like Abraham, when members of the Lord’s body say, I BELIEVE GOD. Which is different than, “I believe in God”. We’re saying more than I believe there is a God. We’re saying more than I believe there is a Savior. We’re saying—I am willing to submit—mind—body—soul—life to the will of God (Luke 10:27). We’re saying—I believe the word of God—I accept it as the mirror of my soul (James 1:25). We’re saying—I believe the word of God—alone is the standard—source of all truth (John 17:17). We’re saying I will use His word—to complete me and thoroughly equip me (2 Tim. 3:17).
The book of Ruth is a parallel to life, reflecting good choices, bad choices, tragedy, triumph, and yes even love and relationships. Three Points of our lesson: Dedication to God, Dedication to Family and Two Choices.
Psalm 37:39-40 “But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.” Perhaps we sometimes overlook it, but it is there that we can find powerful help and special providence in time of need. I am interested in affirming that He has promised His help to His people who are serving Him. One of the great messages of the Scriptures is that God helps and delivers those who trust in Him “And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him” (Psa. 37:40).
In the first chapter of Ruth the writer paints a clear picture for us of three women walking down a road that heads out of the country of Moab, and toward the city of Bethlehem Judah. Imagine with me this scene as Naomi stops—turns—and addresses her following daughters-in-law. She said, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 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” (Ruth 1:8-9 ). Such an emotional scene as Naomi reveals two choices, stay, or go. Follow me to a possible life of hard labor, to a land and people you do not know, to live under the law of Jehovah or turn back to your people and your gods, an easier road. What would you have done?
“Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. 18 I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor. 6:17-18) God gave an “exceedingly great and precious promise” (2 Pet. 1:4) “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” He promised that we could have an eternal Father-child relationship with Him the almighty creator. This promise should be sufficient to motivate us to leave the world behind and turn to God. John said, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!…” (1 John 3:1), and we who know God, know that we are because we obey Him.
Why do some walk away from marriage, from friendships, from faith? Naomi gave her sisters-in-law the option to go home to their gods, family, and possibly new husbands. They both made choices, Orpha decided to leave her family, and God, Ruth clung to Naomi and to God. We don’t know what befell Orpah, we do know that Ruth was blessed for her choice for saying, “Your God shall be my God”.
John wrote, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4). Such an exceeding great and precious promise of a home in heaven one day for the faithful in Christ. This one text should motivate all the investigate answer to the question, “What Must I Do?”, because if we don’t know, we won’t ever see God.
The book of Ruth is filled with wonderful examples of love, faith, and providence for us all to learn from. In the next few lessons we’ll examine some of these. In this first message we’ll consider how Naomi and Ruth faced the problems from cultural sources, problems caused by natural forces and problems that are a result of poor choices.
Two kinds of troublers exist. One for God, and the other against God. An example is Ahab’s and Elijah’s confrontation, “Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals.” (1 Kings 18:17-18). Another example is how Ahab hated Micaiah because he prophesied only evil against him (1 Kings 22:8). Men have always opposed those who call men back to the word of God. Throughout the ages, men have tried to deter the servants of God who were busy defending the truth against the assaults of unrighteousness. But it is never more troubling than when members react negatively to the preaching of the word of God. I hope you are a good troubler–for the body of Christ needs such.
