CENTRAL THOUGHT
Steadfastness in purpose should be borne out of godly convictions.
HYMN: “Nearer; my God to thee!”
TEXT: Ruth 1
INTRODUCTION:
We begin the tender story written about 1000 BC, which is a prime example of Christian love in action, and its powerful effects on people. The book gives an account of one particular family, that of Elimelech – a Jew from Bethlehem – Judah. The family left Bethlehem because of famine that came on the land and went into the heathen country of Moab for subsistence and to sojourn there for a time. Moab was the land east of the Dead Sea. It was one of the nations that oppressed Israel during the period of the Judges. Friendly relations with the Moabites were discouraged in Deut. 23:3-6 and intermarriage opposed (Deut.7:1-4). During the exodus from Egypt, the Moabites did not allow the Israelites to pass through their land. However, Elimelech, the head of his family, died in Moab, and his wife Naomi became a widow. After their father’s death, the two sons Mahlon and Chilion, settled down and went on to marry daughters of Moab. Thus, Naomi was a mournful widow and mother-in-law in the territories of the heathen. But during the dark and evil times, there were still some who followed God, Naomi and Ruth are beautiful examples of loyalty, friendship, and commitment to God and to each other. This is the picture before us; as we study the challenging characteristics of the young woman, Ruth and how she fitted into the Jewish family.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
- To know who Ruth is
- To appreciate the circumstance & challenges before Ruth; and
- To appreciate from the life of Ruth the need to hold on to godly convictions today.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. WHO WAS RUTH?
RUTH 1:4
Ruth was a young woman, living in the country of Moab, when she encountered and married one of Elimelech’s son (a Jew) in her own country. She accepted to marry a foreigner/ stranger. Who was living in her land, by name Mahlon. She was married to this Jewish man for less than ten years before his demise in her native land.
Q2. DISCUSS THE CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH RUTH FOUND HERSELF
Ruth, wife of Mahlon, soon became a widow without any issue in her fatherland. She was faced with a situation that words cannot aptly describe: – her mother-in-law Naomi, a widow, now bereaved of her two sons, was deeply sorrowful and determined to return back to Israel. Although Naomi had decided to return to Israel, she encouraged her two daughters-in-law (Ruth and Orpah) to stay back in Moab and start their lives over again in remarriage. Ruth’s mother-in-law’s words at vs.11 were quite persuasive; there were no other sons of Naomi that the law on-the care for the widow (Deut. 25:5-10) permits to marry. Thus, Naomi encouraged her daughters-in-law to remain in their homeland and remarry, while she returns to Israel. After the second sorrowful weeping by the three of them, Orpah submitted/ yielded to the plea from Naomi, their mother-in-law, and changed her mind thereby leaving Ruth to either change her mind too or be steadfastly minded concerning Naomi. Verse 14 says” … Then, Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth clung to her.” A Gospel tract was titles, “Others may, I cannot”, with the call that each believer should have a persuasion in his/her heart as to what one allows or does, regardless of the circumstance. Also, many have love for Christ and yet leave Him because they do not love Him enough, but love other things better. Ruth did not change her mind and follow her mate Orpah, but her love for Naomi was indeed strong and purposeful.
Q3. READ RUTH 1:15-17, DISCUSS THE CHALLENGES BEFORE RUTH AND WHAT MOTIVATED HER RESPONSE
We read of the more persuasive and direct words from Naomi to Ruth, who was not standing alone with her resolve/ convictions. “… return thou after thy sister-in-law”, Naomi has said. This was the greatest trial of Ruth’s constancy. But she stood up to the challenge, declaring her immovable resolution never to forsake her mother-in-law, nor to return to her own country and her old relations. Ruth begs Naomi, “Do not urge me to leave you…” The life Naomi lived in Babylon must have impacted Ruth greatly; she (Ruth) was very particular in her resolution to cleave to her and never forsake her. She was motivated by her resolve for the God of heaven and of the Jews, hence her response: she will travel with Naomi (‘whither thou goest I will go’); she will dwell with her (‘whither thou lodgest I will lodge’); she will twist interest with her (‘Thy people shall be my people’); she will join in faith/belief with her (‘Thy God shall be my God’); and she will gladly die in the same bed (‘Where thou diest, will i die and there will I be buried’). Our encounter and relationship with God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as one Supreme entity should motivate our responses/attitude in the face of challenges at home, work, society, and church. We need to have such strong, godly convictions as believers in our daily pilgrimage walk (and work) that the challenges of the time cannot alter.
Q4. RUTH WAS “STEADFASTLY MINDED” TO GO ALL THE WAY WITH HER MOTHER-IN-LAW! DISCUSS THE PRACTICALITY OF HOLDING ON TO GODLY CONVICTIONS TODAY? RUTH 1:18; ACTS 21:8-14.
Ruth’s resolution was evident to her mother-in-law, so she gave up the idea of urging her to return to her homeland. Her resolution is a pattern to us as disciples of Christ. We must resolve to continue and persevere and even our adherence to Christ must be closer of Ruth to Naomi. She resolved that nothing but death should separate them, but we must resolve that death itself shall not separate us from our duty to Christ. An example is the case in Acts 21; Apostle Paul knew by personal conviction that God wanted him to go to Jerusalem, even if there will be torture/ pain (as prophesied an demonstrated by Prophet Agabus). As a faithful disciple, holding on to Godly convictions on his call, Paul wanted to please God above everything else. Hence, he was “steadfastly minded” to go to Jerusalem. He therefore declared to the brethren at the house of Philip in Caesarea, “… for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” vs. 13. We should hold on to the convictions based on Scriptures we have received, on righteousness (holy living) (Heb. 12:14; Matt. 5:8), purity in thought and life (Phil. 4:8), attitude to work, business, or studies/ career. Fidelity in marriage to mention a few of the issues of life. Godly resolutions bolt the door to the devil, his agents, his views and suggestions, forcing him to flee. An individual who knows God’s will and is convinced (like Daniel, Joseph, Ezra, Nehemiah) will “not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers) (Ps. 1:1). When he/she takes the godly resolution not to compromise standard, thereby resisting the enemy and his views, the result will be victory and growth in the grace of the Lord Jesus.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
The story of Ruth took place sometime during the period of the rule of the Judges, in the dark days for Israel. When everyone did as he saw “fit” (Judges 17:6; 21:25). But during those times, there were still some who followed God. Thus, Naomi and Ruth are beautiful examples of loyalty, friendship, and commitment to God and to each other. How steadfast are you in purpose or loyalty today as an Ambassador for Christ?
MEMORY VERSE:
RUTH 1:16,17
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: God cares for the widows.
Duet. 25:5-10
Tuesday: Loyalty tested.
Ruth 1:5-11
Wednesday: Ruth was too steadfastly minded to change.
Ruth 1:12-14
Thursday: Be unmovable, resolute in your convictions.
Ruth 1:16,17
Friday: Contend for the faith of the men of old.
Jude vs. 3,4
Saturday: Nothing should separate us from the love of Christ.
Ruth 1:18,19; Rom. 8:35-39