THE FLIGHT

RUTH 1:1-3

Intro:    The Book of Ruth is a commentary on one of the most known truths of the New Testament, Cor. 13:13, “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”  The amazing thing about this Book is that the word love is not mentioned once in the entire Book.

A.      Ruth in a nutshell

1.       The love story of a maiden from Moab, Ruth

2.       Her strong attachment to her mother-in-law

3.       A romance that triumphed over Race and religious barriers–Ruth-Boaz

4.       A laboratory demonstration that love is greatest of all

B.      The Book of Ruth holds a very important place in Judaism

1.       There are 5 different Books read at Jewish feasts

a.       Song of Solomon is read during Passover

b.       Ruth at Pentecost

c.       Lamentations read during Feast of Tabernacles

d.       Esther is read at celebration of Purim or deliverance from Persia

2.       Ruth and Esther are the only Books in the bible bearing the name of women

a.       Ruth tells the story of a gentile girl who marries a Jew

b.       Esther tells the story of a Jewish maiden who marries a gentile

3.       It’s of great interest that Ruth is read at Pentecost for the day of Pentecost is of

a.       great importance to the Church

b.       The Church age began on the Day of Pentecost at the coming of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem

C.      As Christians who study God’s Word remember there are three approaches to study that must be remembered to stay well balanced

1.       One primary, basic interpretation

2.       Many practical applications (Rom. 15:4)

3.       A prophetic revelation

4.       Applying these rules to Ruth:

a.       Book of Ruth brings us face to face with message of redemption.  Christ our kinsman redeemer – Ruth a picture of Bride of Christ

b.       Many practical applications are seen as God cares for His children.  Thereare many practical out workings of love demonstrated

c.       Many have missed the many prophetic truths of Ruth – History of Israel and final restoration after years of exile – repossession of land

i.         The Book of Ruth contains the answer of the relationship of Christ, the Church and Israel for the future

ii.       Since 60% of American Churches are “replacement theology” an understanding of this Book would correct this error

D.      The placement of Ruth as the eighth Book of the bible is important

1.       The number eight signifies a “new beginning”

a.       Christ arose on the first day of the week – the eighth day

b.       Noah – “the eighth person” II Pet. 2:5, stepped from the ark into a new world

c.       Jewish boy circumcised on the eighth day, a type of new life, new birth, new creation

d.       The cleansed leper was presented by the Priest before the Lord on the eighth day – this marked his new beginning (Lev. 14:10,11)

e.       David is the eighth son of Jesse, who would begin a new plan of divine grace leading to our Lord Jesus Christ

I.         Days of Judges and famine (Vs. 1)

A.      After Joshua came a period of time known in Jewish history as a time of the judges 

1.       God raised up a series of judges to rule His people Gideon, Samson, Deborah

2.       The last verse of Judges, 21:25 gives the characteristics of those days which was,  “every man did that which was right in his own eyes”

a.       Every man was a law unto himself

B.      “Famine in the land”

1.       Joshua led the nation of Israel into a land flowing with milk and honey

a.       Yet, a severe famine was now upon the land

2.       Deut. 11:16,17 reveals famine as the stick of God’s correction

a.       As long as Israel walked in the law and kept His commandments God promised blessing

b.       But famine and other calamities were the fruit of disobedience

i.         Disobedience in the life of the child of God leads to spiritual famine and judgment

II.       Journey to Moab (Vs. 1a)

A.      A man of Bethlehem-Judah

1.       Bethlehem means “house of bread”

a.       From this name we learn that Bethlehem was noted for its production and fertility

b.       In a place so richly blessed, famine prevailed to the degree that one of its families was ready to leave

2.       Judah means PRAISE

a.       No longer was there praise, for famine had removed joy

3.       What a sad state sin had lead the nation of Israel into

a.       No bread and no joy

b.       From this we learn that we may have a good heritage, but we must be constantly in touch with heaven in order to enjoy the Christian Life

c.       Disobedience breaks fellowship and ruins our walk with God

B.      Traveling to Moab

1.       This Jewish family travels to Moab to escape the famine

a.       Reminds us of Abraham who went into Egypt because of famine

b.       There was no sweet walk with God for Abraham in Egypt

c.       Not until he returned to the promised land and erected an alter was communication restored

2.       Moab or Egypt cannot fill the heart of God’s own. we must return to Him who can meet our needs (I John 1:9 – Phil 4:13)

III.      Those who made the journey (Vs.2)

A.      Elimelech – name means “my god is King”

1.       Jewish names were full of meaning

a.       From his name we may reason he feared God

2.       Yet, when the going got rough he pulled out

a.       There are a lot of fair weather Elemelech’s in our Churches today,

b.       The sad truth is that he died, as did the disobedient children of Israel in the

c.       wilderness, and never got back to the place of blessing

IV.    Death in the family (Vs. 3)

A.      Elimelech’s death prevented him from returning to the place of joy

1.       James 4:13-16 tells us our lives are but for a season

2.       Elimelech no doubt planned to return to Israel, but death prevented it

B.      Naomi the pleasant one now faces a bleak and doubtful future

1.       Before God can bring us back to the place of blessing, sometimes He must remove the crutch of life we lean on, that we may learn to trust Him