II. The Faithfulness of Ruth

A. Deuteronomy 7:1-4

1. The law forbid Israelites from marrying the Canaanite inhabitants of the Promised Land, but it did not forbid marriage to Moabites.

2. Thus, we see in the introduction to the Book of Ruth (1:4) that two Israelite expatriates, Mahlon and Chilion, took wives from the daughters of Moab. Tragically, within a decade of their flight from the famine in their homeland, these brothers died, leaving two widows.

B. Poor Naomi

1. She who had been the wife of a land-owner in Judah, the mother of two sons who would love and support her in her old age, was now bereft of property, husband, and sons, and remained a refugee in a land of people despised by her own.

2. Ruth 1:6-7

a. Receiving word that the Lord had lifted the famine in Israel and given His people food, she determined to return home to Bethlehem.

b. Ruth and Orpah were admirably faithful to Naomi and began to accompany her on her trek home.

C. Ruth 1:8-10

1. Naomi realized that the material interests of her daughters-in-law lay, not with her, but with their mothers in Moab.

a. Thus, she gently advised Ruth and Orpah to return home.

b. She acknowledged that they had been good wives, and invoked the Lord's blessings on them accordingly.

c. She wished them to find rest from anxiety and want by remarrying, which constituted the only prospect of security for a childless widow in ancient times. d. She affectionately kissed them goodbye.

2. But both the young women wept aloud and stated their determination to go with Naomi to live with her people.

a. What a wonderful mother-in-law Naomi must have been for these two young women to determine to follow her rather than to return to their own mothers.

D. Ruth 1:11-13 Naomi insisted that she had nothing to offer the women.

1. Deuteronomy 25:5-6

a. The Law demanded that if a man died without an heir, his brother was to marry the widow.

b. The first son born of this relationship was to be reckoned as the heir of the dead brother and was to inherit his land, so that land in Israel would remain within the family estate.

2. But, Naomi reasoned in rhetorical questions that, due to her age, she could not have sons; and that, even if she could, the young women could not wait until those boys grew to an eligible age.

3. Naomi was grieved that her misfortune had become theirs.

E. Ruth 1:13-15

1. "…the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!" Naomi was a good woman, still believing in the one, true God of Israel, but her misfortune had stirred doubt and bitterness in her heart, so she attributed her troubles to the Lord.

a. (15) She even counseled Ruth to return to the gods of Moab, as her sister-in-law was doing.

i. Numbers 25:1-3 This included the idol, Baal of Peor, a god worshipped by ritual prostitution.

b. Ruth 1:19-21 i. Her name meant "Pleasant," but when she returned to Bethlehem, she named herself "Mara," meaning "Bitter."

ii. Likewise, when our faith waivers in the face of adversity, lacking confidence that the Lord will provide, we become bitter - causing us to stumble and become stumbling blocks for others.

2. Ruth Alone Remains Steadfast Both the daughters-in-law wept aloud once more. a. Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye and returned home, but Ruth clung to her. An embrace is more meaningful than a kiss. (Consider American versus European customs.)

b. Ruth would not be dissuaded from following her mother-in-law. She "clung" to her - the same Hebrew word translated "joined" in Genesis 2:24 used to describe the marriage bond.

F. Ruth 1:16-17

1. Naomi's assertions to the contrary notwithstanding, Ruth emphatically stated her determination to her mother-in-law.

2. This poetic oath has often been used by brides as part of their wedding vows. Even though it was spoken by a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law, the sentiment is appropriate to marriage. This is particularly true since Ruth clung to Naomi as a wife does to her husband.

3. She invoked death upon herself if anything but death parted her from Naomi. She would even be buried among the people of her beloved mother-in-law.

4. Ruth, the Moabitess, in her faithfulness, became a pillar of strength for her mother-in-law, though it was Naomi's family who introduced Ruth to the Lord. How often do spouses who grow up in worldly homes, but are led to Christ by their mates, become spiritually stronger than the family members who grew up worshipping the Lord?

G. Her Faith was to the Lord Was Ruth just faithful to Naomi or to God, as well?

1. Deuteronomy 6:13 The Law required oaths to be done in the name of the Lord, which is precisely what she did (Ruth 1:17).

2. Ruth 2:12

a. Boaz would later commend this woman for her fait in the Lord.

b. This is likely the origin of the phrase to take one under one's wing.

3. Matthew 5:16 Even as our lives should lead our loved ones to be faithful to Christ, the lives of Mahlon and Naomi had, apparently, led Ruth to her faith in God.

4. Ruth's vow to follow her mother-in-law until death was appropriate because Naomi served the Lord, and her vow is appropriate of the bride on her wedding day only if the groom is a Christian and because he is a Christian.

H. Ruth 1:18, 22

1. Naomi, realizing Ruth's determination, ceased trying to dissuade her, and they traveled to Bethlehem together.

2. Fortunately, they arrived at the beginning of the barley harvest, the first crop to be harvested.

I. Conclusion

Ruth is a great example of faithfulness and steadfast loyalty to both the Lord and one's family, through the most trying times.

Go to the next section.

Go back to Ruth.