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Lessons from the Journey of Ruth
3
The Journey of Ruth
Why Ruth?
"No matter what, I'm with you."
Anna Clare Koffskey, Age 3
What happens
in the book of Ruth?
The Book of Ruth
Elimelech and Naomi married and had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion.
Elimelech died.
Mahlon and Chilion married Orpah and Ruth.
Mahlon and Chilion died.
Naomi is left a widow with no children and no men to provide.
She tells Ruth and Orpah to return home to their birth families
so they still have a chance at life.
Ruth stays, Orpah goes.
Naomi and Ruth travel to Bethlehem.
With the wise support of Naomi, Ruth harvests in the fields of Boaz,
a relative of Naomi to provide sustenance for herself and Naomi.
Boaz sees how hard Ruth works and is generous.
Ruth basically requests to be considered for marriage.
Boaz marries Ruth
after making sure a closer relative can’t be her “redeemer.”
Boaz and Ruth have a son.
"God's actions cannot be confined to normal human ways of acting."
Comedy
A Comedy with 4 acts:
1. Naomi the Loser
2. Harvest and Matchmaking
3. Marriage Contract Concluded
4. Naomi the Winner?
James Fischer,
Collegeville Bible Commentary
Naomi
Naomi
Whither Thou Goest
Sandy Freckleton Gagon
Naomi said
to her daughters-in-law,
"Go back,
each of you to your mother’s house.
May the LORD show you
the same kindness
as you have shown
to the deceased and to me."
Ruth 1:8
Go back
But she said to them,
“Do not call me Naomi [‘Sweet’].
Call me Mara [‘Bitter’],
for the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full,
but the LORD has brought me back empty.
Why should you call me ‘Sweet,’
since the LORD has brought me to trial,
and the Almighty has pronounced
evil sentence on me.”
Ruth 1:20-21
Bitter
"May he be blessed
by the LORD,
who never fails
to show kindness
to the living
and to the dead,"
Naomi exclaimed
to her daughter-in-law.
Ruth 2:20
Never Fails
A son
Then the women said to Naomi,
“Blessed is the LORD
who has not failed
to provide you today with a redeemer.
May he become famous in Israel!
He will restore your life
and be the support of your old age,
for his mother is the daughter-in-law
who loves you.
She is worth more to you than seven sons!”
Naomi took the boy,
cradled him against her breast,
and cared for him.
The neighbor women joined the celebration:
“A son has been born to Naomi!”
Ruth 4:14-17
What can we learn from Naomi about accepting love?
How does Naomi's relationship with God inform your own?
Orpah
Again they wept aloud;
then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye…
Ruth 1:14
Naomi and Her Daughters
George Dawe, exhibited 1804
The facts:
- Orpah showed kindness to Naomi and the deceased
- Orpah planned to stay
- Orpah insisted against Naomi’s wishes
- Orpah finally obeyed
What we know
Orpah
in Jewish Tradition
Talmud
David Slays Goliath
Ted Henninger
Ruth v. Orpah
Orpah
Ruth
Ruth
v. Orpah
Model of Modesty
Pillar of Promiscuity
Mother of Obed
Mother of Goliath
Adheres to Israel
Returns to Moab
Gets a book in the Bible!
No Book of Orpah
Tamar Meir, https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/orpah-midrash-and-aggadah
What
(who)
made
history?
HESED
Either way...
What are your missed opportunities to make spiritual history?
How can you make sure not to miss future moments?
Ruth
And Ruth Becomes Wife to Boaz
Arthur Szyk , 1947