Bro. Bruce's commentaries for the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus are
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.

RUTH

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION:

The reason the book of Ruth is place behind Judges in the Old Testament is because most scholars agree that the events of the book occurred during the time of the "judges."
That would probably be between 1373BC and 1047BC. However, the book itself was probably not written until the time of David. Since David is mentioned in the concluding statements, and Solomon is NOT mentioned, most scholars agree that it was written during the reign of David (somewhere before 971BC).
Ruth is a historical epic. It is a novel of actual historical events with interwoven themes of economic disaster, home life, spiritual apathy, loyalty, love, romance, and the ancestry of King David.
The GRACE of God is particularly portrayed in this short novel. Ruth, a Moabitess, is accepted by God as part of the lineage of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. God's miracle of REDEMPTION is shown to be by HIS election through individual faith.

1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

Elimelech, his wife Naomi and two sons Mahlon and Chilion left Bethlehem-juday when times were bad. There was a drought and they couldn't raise crops. They settled in a part of the Moabite country.

3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

Now times were bad in their own country, but also bad where they moved. And then times got worse because Elimelech died. Now Naomi was left in a foreign land with only her two sons.
The two sons married Moabites. This was strictly against God's express will. God had said that a Moabite should not "enter the congregation of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 23:3).

5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

After about 10 years, the two sons died. This left Naomi and two daughters-in-law (Orpah and Ruth).

6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

Naomi heard news that God had blessed Israel once again, and she determined to return to her homeland. When she left, the two daughters-in-law were going to go with her.
What kind of woman do you surmise Naomi to be? Both her daughters-in-law determined to go with her rather than return to their own families. Naomi must have had exceptional character, and must have displayed a tremendous love.

8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

Naomi stopped and explained that the two daughters-in-law would be better off going home to their families (verse 8).
She also encouraged them to marry again (verse 9).
Still they resisted leaving her.
Naomi expressed sorrow that her circumstances had affected the daughters-in-law.
She explained that she had no more sons, and was too old to have any more.
((According to the laws of Deuteronomy 25:5-9, if a married brother died having no son, then the younger brother should take his wife and produce a son so that the family name could continue.))

14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 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: 17 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. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Orpah decided to go back to her family, but Ruth would not leave Naomi. Naomi tried once more to persuade her. But Ruth responded with some of the most piercing words of devotion and loyalty that were ever uttered.
These words (verses 16-17) have been repeated in thousands of marriages as "vows."
Ruth confessed the Lord God (Jehovah) as her God, thus denying the Moabite gods and traditions. She also expressed loyalty by leaving her family to go with Ruth.
Why would Ruth do this? Only one answer: She KNEW God and TRUSTED Him. She knew her place was with God's people regardless of the circumstances.
OH! How wonderful it would be if Christians of this day would feel that same loyalty to God's people -- the church!
When Naomi realized the fullness of Ruth's confession and the tenacity of her love, she never tried to persuade Ruth to return home again.

19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem-juday (Ephratah) just as the people were beginning to harvest the barley.
Some of the people recognized Naomi (barely) and inquired if it were really true that she had returned.
When the people called her by name, Naomi used the meaning of her name to protray the circumstances of her life.
Naomi means "the sweet one." But she confessed her bitterness toward God because she felt He had treated her with bitterness. YOU ever feel that way?
Do you sometimes wonder if God is not allowing TOO MUCH to happen to you?
We must remember that we BELONG to God. HE is Creator, we are servants.
God does not need our permission to treat us any way He desires. And if we TRUST Him, we should certainly believe that He is guiding the circumstances of our lives so that HE will receive the glory.
God has a love for us that is greater than we can even imagine. If things begin to happen to us that are difficult, we must TRUST him.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end."(Jeremiah 29:11)