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The Book of Ruth 

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It’s been over a week now, but we are back.  Hopefully, you have been tracking PGTMIN this month on Facebook as we’ve been meditating on all of the names of Jesus.  It’s been a powerful time of expounding on the meanings of each name and what they mean to us.  Check it out and be blessed!

 

Last night, God led me to talk about a powerful woman of God – Ruth, who became the great grandmother of King David by marrying her Boaz.  The book of Ruth is only four short chapters but there are so many life long lessons in the book for us.  If you haven’t already, I will let you read this for yourself, but will highlight a few of the passages here.

 

Ruth and her sister-in-law Orpah were Moabites.  They were from a place where people served false gods, yet after Naomi’s husband died, they married Naomi’s sons, Ephrathites from Bethlehem of Judah.   The Amplified Bible and commentaries indicate that Ruth’s husband Mahlon was sickly or an invalid – in any case both of Naomi’s sons, Mahlon and Chilion also died and left Ruth and Orpah as widows.  

 

I can only imagine that Naomi and these Moabite women cared for their men but Ruth in particular had to deal with special issues with Mahlon because he was sickly.  The book of Ruth reflects Ruth’s love, kindness, goodness and care for others.   In fact it was these qualities that probably made her mother-in-law love her.  She also loved her mother-in-law so much so that when Naomi tried to get her to go back to her people and her gods after the death of her husband, she refused.  This is what Ruth said to Naomi at Ruth 1:16-17:  

 

“Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do the same to me [as He has done to you], and more also, if anything but death separates me from you.”

 

Of course this is powerful and makes us stop and think – Do others see so much of our great and Almighty God in us that it would make them say – I want to follow you I want your God to be my God?   Umm???  OK – I have to be honest here - I called my son and asked him if my daughter-in-law felt this way about me.  I haven’t asked my daughter-in-law yet (smile) but I plan to.

 

Note that Naomi says some things in the Book of Ruth that are not reflective of the God we serve when she tells the people to call her Mara (Bitterness).  This is because she is feeling sorry for herself and her losses.  However, here are some of the great take-aways from the Book of Ruth that we should think about:

 

  • God’s love is in His strategic plans for our lives

  • Commitment to faithfulness and loyalty is extremely beneficial

  • Boldness in venturing out and following God (not man) is life changing for good, even if it means leaving family and friends

  • Trusting those who love, honor and worship the true God is wise

  • An understanding of what it means to be responsible; show initiative; make sacrifices is critical to success

  • Laziness leads to nothingness

  • Wisdom is in always being a listener and a continual learner

  • Obedience to knowledge and experience helps you immensely

  • Continually recognizing those who truly know and worship the true God is wise

  • Acting on your compassion and commitments as you are led by God is important to your success spiritually and in every area of your life

  • Showing favor to others – in other words, putting the needs of others before your own will always cause you to prosper 

 

No doubt when you read or re-read Ruth, you will have additional take-aways to share.  Remember Jesus is Lord!!!  We love you!  Have a blessed week and don’t forget to follow PGTMIN on Facebook.  

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