Ruth 1:6-14
Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you, therefore, wait till they were grown? Would you, therefore, refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
Today’s passage is Ruth 1:6-14 and we will learn more about Naomi and her two Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. As the scene opens, the narrator of the story tells us that Naomi and her two daughters-in-law rise up to go back to Judah. Naomi hears that the LORD has visited her people in Judah and gives them relief from the famine, which caused Naomi and her family to leave ten years before. This first passage shows Naomi’s resolve and determination to survive by going back to her homeland of Bethlehem in Judah. Her daughters-in-law are also determined to rise up and go with Naomi. But having a resolve is proven over time. Will they truly go back with Naomi or will they stay in Moab?
As a note of instruction on how to read and study Old Testament narratives, the first thing we want to do as we read through the story of Ruth and see the divine attributes and the workings of God. The Bible, being a book of revelation, is telling God’s story so the whole earth may be filled with His glory, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). Therefore, in Ruth 1:6, we see God’s divine presence and providence that will also be a guiding principle throughout the whole story. The Lord our God is sovereign and omnipotent. He is in control of all events, even the famine in Judah. This famine caused Elimelech to take his wife, Naomi, and his two sons, Mahon and Chilion, to the land of Moab. The Lord his God and King, as Elimelech’s name correctly bears, is directing every step. In Moab, Mahlon and Chilion marry Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. But sadly, Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion died. Death happens and Psalms 116:15, it says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” As we pray for our loved ones who are sick, most of all, we pray that our Lord will open their hearts to the gospel message and save them. We also pray for divine healing. Our God does answer this prayer according to his will. He will either miraculously heals them in this life, or take them home to be with Him in heaven where they are eternally made complete in Christ! All things happen for the good of them who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).
Other attributes of God we see in this verse are His mercy, love, patience, and justice. His mercy and love are shown because God himself brings relief to the land of Judah, to the just and to the unjust. The famine is over. In the book of Judges, God disciplines Israel because of their idolatry and brings famines and afflictions upon His people. While the text does not explicitly says so, we can study the Bible and see how God promised to treat his people when they rebel against Him and go into idolatry, as recorded in the Books of Moses and the Book of Judges, God does visit His people with discipline when they rebelled against Him. Then, because God is merciful, loving, and patient, God relents when His people turn from their wickedness and come back to Him in worship. The text does not explicitly say that the famine was an act of God for disciplining them because they were idolatrous. Nevertheless, if God truly brought discipline upon the people of Judah, we can be sure that God’s dealings with them were just. For He does not keep his anger forever, but will relent when His people turn from their wicked ways. Praise God, and may we be quick to repent of our sins and wickedness daily too!
In verse 1:7, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law set out to go back to Bethlehem, Judah. In this verse, we see Naomi’s plan and her heart to go back home. But, more so, we see God’s plan as superseding all. As a child of God, we learn to be content, as we trust in God and His love for us. When faced with a decision, we ask ourselves, do we go this way or that? We must pray emotionally, and intellectually, and consider the cost, as one must do before building a house or going to war. It is imperative that we realize the truth of Scripture that is said in Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Naomi heard the great news that God has restored her home in Judah by ending the famine. Her heart’s desire, submitted to the will of God, is to go back home. She and her daughters-in-law get us to go.
In verses 1:8-13, we come to the first dialog in the story, which is between Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah. Naomi pleads with Ruth and Orpah to go back to the house of their fathers and to their gods. She explains to them that she is too old to bear children; and if she could, would they wait for the child to be old so they can marry? Later on in our reading, we will come across this Hebrew law. If a man, who is married to a woman, dies and leaves no heir, then the brother or closest relative must marry the widow so she can have a son as an heir for the deceased husband’s property. Naomi is telling her daughters-in-law, that since she has no more children and she is too old to bare more, the daughters-in-law are free to go back to the father’s house. They both cry, Orpah kisses Naomi, but Ruth clings to her!
Verse 1:13 is very important to this story, and the Hebrew expressions we will see again. God is giving us a clip to ponder on, and when the words are repeated, we will immediately remember what was spoken and reflect on their significance to this story, and how the message should impact us. For example, in this verse, Naomi says, “No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” Naomi tells Ruth and Orpah that her situation is “exceedingly bitter” for her for their sake and that the hand of the Lord has come out against her. Naomi, whose name in Hebrew means “beautiful” and “gentle” feels exceedingly bitter. This is an example of irony and we will see this Hebrew expression repeated later as the story develops.
As an application for our lives. we must all recognize that we also have trials and afflictions, but God is in control. As desperate as our circumstances by becoming, we must not fret, but trust in God. I’m sure Naomi feels must like Peter did when he saw the Lord walking on the waves of the stormy sea at night. At first, Peter asked the Lord if he wills, may he come out to him on the water. The Lord answered, ‘Come!” Peter got out of the boast and he also was walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33). But when the waves of the sea billowed and roared, Peter took his eyes off his Lord and begin to sink. In despair, Peter called out to his Lord for help. In the same way, we too must learn to trust God in our circumstances. We can do this by going to the Word of God and studying His divine attributes. As we study, we will pray that we become imitators of God for His glory alone!
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Merciful, Loving, and Patient God! Thank you for revealing Your attributes in this Book of Ruth. Open my heart to the words of truth. May I see You in Scripture and Your attributes! Help me with Your Spirit to imitate and tell others who you are. O Lord my God, may Your glory cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!
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He Leadeth Me by Joseph H. Gilmore in 1862
