THE HAND OF GOD

RUTH 1:4-9

Intro:    Ruth is more than a touching love story between a gentile woman and a Jewish prince named Boaz.  The Book of Ruth has many valuable spiritual lessons, as well as setting forth prophetic truths

A.      The Jewish cast:

1.       Elimelech who’s name means “my God is King”

2.       Naomi means “pleasant” and we could call her, “merry sunshine”

a.       Always had a happy outlook on life

3.       Mahlon means “unhealthy”

4.       Chillion means “puny”

a.       I’m sure the women of Bethlehem felt sorry for merry sunshine who had the burden of two unhealthy boys

B.      Last week we learned that famine had descended on the house of bread, Bethlehem

1.       Elimelech had taken his family and went into Moab

a.       We also learned this famine had come as a result of sin in the Jewish nation

                                                   i.      Blessing promised for obedience (Lev. 26:3-12)

                                                 ii.      “The way of the transgressors is hard” (Prov. 13:15) and is outlined in Lev. 26:32,33,38,39

                                                iii.      In 70 A.D.  Titus captured Judah, sacked the city of  Jerusalem and scattered its inhabitants to the four corners of the earth

2.       We ended last week with the death of Elimelech (Vs. 3)

a.       The death of her husband was only the beginning of Naomi’s troubles.

b.       For she was to suffer tragic loss in Moab

I.        The life and death of Naomi’s two sons (Vs. 4,5)

1. The marriage of the two sons (Vs. 4)

1.       We get a look into the family life of those who have taken there eyes off God.

a.       The family alter has broken down and the parents had lost there power and influence over their sons

                                                   i.      Deut. 6:6-15 reveals the path when children are without spiritual resources

                                                 ii.      As parents we have a Godly responsibility to ground our children in the faith

2.       The evidence of spiritual decay was seen in their marriage

a.       God had clearly forbidden marriage to outside the Jewish nation.  

b.       II Cor. 6:14 gives the same instructions to Christians about marriage, yet so few Christian parents instruct their children

2. The wives of Moab

1.       Orpah – means “deer or fawn” and indicates an athletic type girl

2.       Ruth – one of the main characters of the book now comes into focus

a.       Her name means “beauty” or “personality”

b.       A good word to describe her was “glamorous” in the best sense of the word

                                                   i.      Why she married a “puny” Jewish boy is only seen in the end of the story

3. The death of Naomi’s two sons (Vs. 5)

1.       The family of four is now reduced to one

a.       All of this takes place in the short space of less than 10 years

2.       Unhealthy and puny are dead and now she is left with two foreign girls

a.       The prodigal family, like the prodigal son got a whipping in a far country

b.       The prophetic truths (Rom. 11:25, 26)

II.      The beginning of the restoration and road to recovery (Vs. 5-9)

1. “She arose that she might return” gives us the key to spiritual victory

1.       As the prodigal son of Luke 15:18 said, “I will arise and go to my fathers house”

2.       The decision to leave the old crowd and get back to the place of blessing is the key to victorious living:

a.       II Cor. 6:17 makes this a New Testament Christian principle

b.       There is a very important spiritual lesson here that many miss

                                                   i.      That death and weakness comes in the far country both in Moab and the prodigal son also in (I Cor. 11:29-31)

                                                 ii.      As Naomi the prodigal returned she was not shunned or beaten, but received with joy

                                                iii.      God does not spank His children for returning to the place of spiritual blessing

2. Naomi hears the famine is over and the Lord was again with the land (Vs.6)

1.       Preparation is made to leave Moab and return to Bethlehem

a.       Someone brought the message

3. The journey begins (Vs.7)

1.       The two daughter-in-laws set out to accompany Naomi back to Bethlehem

2.       The sad truth many people make preparation but never finish the journey to spiritual restoration

4. A person who has turned their back on God’s Word and direction is not in a place to give sound spiritual advice (Vs. 8)

1.       Naomi seeks to send her daughter-in-laws back to their old way of life.

a.       In going back that would include idol worship and following false God’s

2.       Apparently these two daughter-in-laws had been good wives

a.       This mother-in-law commends them for treating her sons well and showing respect

b.       Notice these girls had treated their mother-in-law with respect and kindness

5. Further proof of Naomi’s spiritual condition (Vs.9)

1.       She urged them to find rest in the home of heathen husbands

2.       This would be utterly impossible if they had respect unto the God of Israel

3.       Every person is either a help or hindrance to the eternal welfare of others

4.       A time of weeping

a.       Further proof that there must have been a deep love and devotion for such a scene as this to take place

Conclusion:

1. Decision time

1.       What path will they take?

2.       One marches into oblivion never again to be heard about

3.       The other down a path that leads to a place in the lineage of Christ