The Book of Ruth

The Book of Ruth is an amazing reminder of God’s providence and provision for His people. It is just four chapters long, but there are many important themes for us to learn. Even in the first chapter we get a glimpse into the pain and difficulty that God can allow to come into our lives and how we are to deal with it.

Tragedies do come into our lives, often when we least expect them.  Naomi faced famine, the difficulty of being moving to a foreign land, the death of her husband, followed later by the death of both of her sons. As she returned home to Bethlehem, her response was one of truthfully acknowledging her pain, but also allowing a bitterness toward God and life in general to develop,

“I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty…” (verse 21).

“Do not call me Naomi (which means “pleasant”), call me Mara (which means “bitter”), for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (verse 20).

In contrast to this response we have the great example of radical commitment that Ruth demonstrates as she declares that she will not leave Naomi on her own,

“…For wherever you go I will go,

 Wherever you lodge I will lodge,

Your people shall be my people,

And your God my God.

Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.

The Lord do so to me, and more also,

if anything but death parts you and me”

(verses 16 and 17)

What a declaration of commitment this is! In God’s sovereign plan He was already using Ruth to accomplish His will, for it was through Ruth and Boaz’s family line that King David, and ultimately Jesus our Redeemer would be born into this world.

We too, will get situations thrown at us when we least expect them. Some of them are extremely difficult for us to handle. Though they may get us down, may they never take us out. Do not allow bitterness to become who we are.  Instead, may we find our confidence and hope, not in ourselves, but in our God who gives us strength.

Because of His Commitment to us,

Pastor Peter