Last night I again read the book of Ruth. I have to say that
this is one of my favorite books of the bible. I love the story. It is not
often that we hear of a woman as faithful, loyal, and committed as Ruth. Not
only had Ruth come to love Naomi with such a deep love even blood relatives do
not often share, Ruth also came to know and love the God of Naomi. Everything
Ruth does in this story is to please God and her beloved mother-in-law.
Four times
Naomi presses Ruth to return to her people. After the third pressing Orpah,
Ruth’s sister-in-law turns back and Naomi encourages Ruth to go with her, but
Ruth cleaves to Naomi and begs her not to send her away. Ruth then declares her loyalty to Naomi in
that wherever she goes Ruth will follow, even unto death. Ruth also declares
that Naomi’s people shall be her people, and Naomi’s God would be her God (ch. 1 vs. 8-17).
When Naomi and Ruth arrive in
Beth-lehem, many of the town’s people come out to greet Naomi, but Naomi
charges them to call her Mara for she is bitter. “I went out full, and the Lord
hath brought me home empty” (ch. 1 vs. 21 first part). Naomi does not know at this point
what the Lord has given her in the person of Ruth. At the end of the book the
women of the town gather about Naomi after Ruth gives birth to Obed and speak
blessings. “Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a
kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a
restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in
law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him”
(ch. 4 vs. 14-15).
There is so much I could say about
Ruth and how God used her, but I would like to welcome the comments of others,
so, read the book and let me know what you think.
I was listening to a radio program this last week. The speaker was talking about a modern day Ruth. This is a good way to study the Bible and ask yourself, what does this have to do with me? It seems that at times, God asks, how bad do you want it? Like Orpah, he may ask multiple times. How faithful would you be? It reminds me of a time when I was in the service. I was struggling with a certain skill. I was in danger of loosing my chosen field of study. I had to plead for my job, by writing a letter, then I had to meet the leader of the whole school. In that meeting, he offered me another school. I took the other school. He said after I had chosen the other school, that he was willing to give me another chance, but I had chosen my fate. If I would have stayed my life would be completely different then it is now. One moment in time, one choice, can have a profound stamp on your life...and you might not know the entire consequences at the time. So, every choice, every decision, every thought is important. Be faithful. There are many forks in the road, always choose the 'right' one.
ReplyDeleteYes Rich, there are many forks in the road, each leading to a different outcome. I like how you say, "be faithful", because if we are faithful, God will show us which road to take. Sometimes we lose faith though and take the wrong road, but when we are lost and call out to God, many times He carves out a new path for us.
ReplyDelete