RUTH'S CHOICE (Ruth 1:14-22)
INTRODUCTION:
This morning we will continue the first chapter of Ruth, and this is where this book begins to feel like that breath of fresh air that I promised you after finishing the book of Judges. Last week we looked at all that led up to Naomi’s decision to leave Moab and return to Israel, specifically to her hometown of Bethlehem in Judah. She had heard that the LORD had visited Israel by giving them bread. In other words, the famine was over after she had spent about 10 years in Moab.
Before getting into our passage this morning I want to mention that it was very amazing that Elimelech chose to take his family to Moab because of how the Israelites felt about that nation and their people. Moabites were despised and hated by the Israelites and understandably so. This hatred of Moab by Israel seems to have come about because of five factors in Moab’s history. (1) The Moabites contemptible origins due to the incestuous relationship between Lot and his daughter. Remember after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s daughters feared that their father’s line would die out, and they got him drunk two different nights and they slept with him, and they both became pregnant, the oldest daughter’s son was named Moab and became the founder of the nation of Moab. The younger daughter’s son was named Ammon and became the founder of the Ammonites. (2) The Moabites resistance and refusal to allow Israel to pass through their territory into Canaan when they came up out of Egypt. (3) The Moabite women’s seduction of the Israelites and Israel’s punishment when Balaam could not curse them for Balak, king of Moab. (4) This brought about in Israel a constitutional exclusion of Moab from the assembly of the LORD. Deuteronomy 23:3-6 says, “No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the Lord; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the Lord, because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. Nevertheless, the Lord your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loves you. You shall never seek their peace or their prosperity all your days.” (Deuteronomy 23:3–6, NASB95)[1] (5) The recent oppression of Israel by Eglon the king of Moab who was later assassinated by Ehud in Judges 3. This combination of factors may explain why we see only one family leaving Bethlehem to seek refuge from the famine in the land of Moab. This also gives some background to the stigma that will surround Ruth as she returns with Naomi. What is even more remarkable is the whole-hearted acceptance of Ruth by Naomi, Boaz, and the people of Bethlehem. Let’s pray and then read our passage of Scripture for this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles to Ruth 1:15-22, we will continue chapter one this morning. Please stand, if you are able, in honor of the reading of God’s Word and follow along as I read.
Ruth 1:14-22,
“And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Then she said, ‘Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.’ But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.’ When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, ‘Is this Naomi?’ She said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?’ So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.” (Ruth 1:14–22, NASB95)[2]
RUTH’S ABANDONMENT (Ruth 1:14-18)
Last Sunday we left off where Naomi was urging her daughters-in-law to return to their families’ homes and to remarry in the land of Moab. At last, Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and returned to her people and her gods. But verse 14 tells us that Ruth clung to Naomi. Understand the very reasons that caused Orpah to return to people show us that Ruth has a very different attitude then Orpah. Naomi urges Ruth again to return and follow Orpah as she returns to her people and her gods, but it seems Naomi’s urging only strengthened Ruth’s resolve. What we find in Ruth’s response is really the theme of the book of Ruth, what Ruth says to Naomi shows us Ruth’s heart. Ruth declares the complete abandonment of her former life and all that was familiar to her in her native country and among her people. She was willing to give up all the attractions and possible advantages that staying had to offer. She, instead, committed herself to all the unknown and unimaginable consequences of uniting her destiny with that of Naomi. Listen again to what is written, “But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.’” (Ruth 1:16–17, NASB95)[3]
The simplicity and complete abandonment of these words must be admired and in them we see the heart of Ruth and her desire to care for her mother-in-law who has lost everyone dear to her. Our admiration of what Ruth has proposed must grow even more because we would not look for this abandonment and humility in one belonging to a people so morally corrupted as the Moabites. Already we begin to see that God has chosen Ruth for a special use, and as such our admiration must not be directed at Ruth, but to the One Who fashioned her for His own purposes, and Who, at the proper time, raised her up for the accomplishing of His purpose.
It is the LORD Who works in those whom He has chosen, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Ruth was a Gentile, who the Apostle Paul described in Ephesians 2:12 as those who were “… excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12b, NASB95)[4] But praise God, He is the God of the Gentiles also as Paul declared in Romans 3:29, “Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also…” (Romans 3:29, NASB95)[5] Here is one of the times in which God was pleased to give us a glimpse of the coming days of grace, as Paul states in Romans 9:23-24, “And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.” (Romans 9:23–24, NASB95)[6] As we will see in the coming weeks, and get just a glimpse of this morning, Ruth was a vessel of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory and her humility and the grace and mercy she showed toward Naomi are but the qualities of character with which God was pleased to develop in her. In this we see God’s power as well as His grace, which is shown to all who come, as Ruth did, to trust her care to Him. When Ruth humbled herself, took the lowly place of a servant, then she found grace, and this will always be the experience of those who follow her example.
RUTH’S RESOLVE (Ruth 1:17-18)
Ruth’s reply to Naomi’s urgings is amazing also for the completeness with which she committed herself to the step she was about to take. When we examine her reply a little more closely, we find in it six promises, which taken together, go as far as Ruth’s outlook into the future could reach.
Ruth first said, “…for where you go, I will go.” (Ruth 1:16b, NASB95)[7] Throughout life we are presented, at every point, many paths that might be taken; and each of us would naturally want to keep for ourselves the complete freedom to choose what path we should take. But Ruth here renounces all freedom of choice, and commits herself to a path which may lead to someplace she does not know, and the way she is to take from beginning to end will be decided by someone besides herself. This should be the same for the person who acknowledges Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we should be committed to follow Him as committed as Ruth was to follow Naomi. How blessed we are if we have our path in life chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone can guide in the paths of righteousness, as a good shepherd going before us leading the way.
Second, Ruth said, “…and where you lodge, I will lodge.” (Ruth 1:16c, NASB95)[8] Ruth does not stipulate as to what kind of lodging or where the lodging needed to be located. The desire of her heart was to always be with the one to whom she had committed herself. As we will see she is true to this statement even after being noticed by Boaz and told to work with his maidens, those who were closer to her age than Naomi. She continued to dwell with her mother-in-law through all the harvest. As disciples of Jesus Christ our heart’s desire should be to dwell with Him, and He has promised that one day that will be a physical reality. Jesus told His disciples in John 14: “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1–3, NASB95)[9] That eternal home is what we long for, when Jesus comes to take us to be with Him. This is also a present reality, because just a few verses later in John 14:23 we read, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.’” (John 14:23, NASB95)[10] We can have fellowship now with our Lord and Savior as He dwells with us. The very same One Who was there in eternity past, the One Who is the Creator and Sustainer of all is the same One Who will come to His disciples and make His dwelling place with us. Does it matter where that place might be, whether on the earth or in heaven? What is it that gives our eternal home its blessedness? It is not the beauties of heaven or the new heavens and earth or the new Jerusalem that are described for us in Scripture. No, what matters, what gives our eternal home its blessedness is the fact that Jesus is there. He said, “…where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3b, NASB95)[11]
Third, Ruth states, “Your people shall be my people…” (Ruth 1:16d, NASB95)[12] Orpah had returned to her people, but here Ruth makes a decision which means separation. This word is full of meaning for God’s people, for they are, of all things, a separated people. At least, that is God’s thought for them. When He first spoke to Abraham, He told him to separate himself from his father’s house. This is what we read in Genesis 12:1, “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you;’” (Genesis 12:1, NASB95)[13] The LORD could do nothing else with Abraham until that separation was made. Ruth in making this statement realized what was involved, she had to forget her own people, and she committed herself for all time to a people of whom she knew nothing. This is later recalled in Ruth’s favor. Boaz recognizes this truth and commends Ruth when he says to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.” (Ruth 2:11, NASB95)[14] This should be the same for all who receive Christ. Our salvation means the severing of our associations with the people of the world, and the unqualified and once for all acceptance of a people that we did not know before. Being separated from the world through salvation means acceptance into God’s family.
We are not told what kind of testimony Elimelech or Naomi or their two sons had in Moab, but there was something in their manner of life, and maybe especially that of Naomi that Ruth was willing to accept Naomi’s people and make them her own. Is our own testimony such that those who see us recognize that we are different, and do they see the One, in our lives and our manner of living, to Whom we are committed to and separated unto. Is our testimony such that people around us, by what they see in us, would be willing to say, “Your people shall be my people?” If we are not showing forth in our lives the praises of Him Who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, then we are both bringing dishonor on His name and are putting a stumbling-block in the way of some who might be otherwise seeking and finding peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Fourth, Ruth declared, “…and your God, my God.” (Ruth 1:16e, NASB95)[15] Ruth in declaring this was saying that she was willing to turn her back on the religion and the gods that she had grown up worshiping. Again, we see her deciding to separate herself not only from her people but her culture and her religion as well. Ruth was willing to turn her back upon her religious beliefs and put her trust in the God of Israel to be her God in this new life she was about to embark on. It means a lot for the human heart to part with all its gods, all in which it had put its trust in, and to say to the Lord Jesus Christ, “You are my God.” For the one who puts his faith in Christ, he can declare with Peter the words of 1 Peter 1:3-9, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3–9, NASB95)[16]
Fifth, Ruth stated, “Where you die, I will die…” (Ruth 1:17a, NASB95)[17] In other words, Ruth was making a life-long choice. She did not consider going for a time and making a trial of the land of Judah and of Naomi’s people and her God. She made a choice that was permanent, that could not be reversed with no thought of ever returning to the land of Moab. With this same commitment we should come to Jesus Christ. Luke 9:62 says, “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:62, NASB95)[18] In other words, surrender all or nothing. Ruth gave no backward look; she was resolved to go with Naomi into the land of Judah. She did this with no knowledge of the riches of grace and the glorious future that awaited her there. Let us take this as our example and declare with Paul when speaking of attaining to the resurrection of the dead in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13–14, NASB95)[19]
These words of Ruth, “where you die, I will die,” have another truth for us. To know that in Christ’s death, we who have believed in Him have died, and to glory in His cross and declare with Paul the words of Galatians 6:14, “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14, NASB95)[20] As those who have been crucified with Christ never forget the words of Paul in Romans 6:10-11, “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:10–11, NASB95)[21]
Sixth, Ruth declared not only that she would die where Naomi died, but also declared, “…and there I will be buried.” (Ruth 1:17b, NASB95)[22] Ruth’s commitment to Naomi did not end even with death. The full expression of what was in her heart required her to speak also of a common burying place. And beyond that her thoughts could not go. The union of the believer with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior, also speaks of a common burial, one might say. This is what baptism expresses in a figure or a picture. Paul stated it this way in Romans 6:4, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death...” (Romans 6:4a, NASB95). But for us who have trusted in Christ for salvation it is given to us to look beyond death and the grave into the unending ages of eternity, and there we see no separation from Him, to Whom we have committed ourselves. Ruth’s sixfold commitment extended as far as her thought could reach, to this sixfold commitment we who are in Christ can add a seventh, “made alive together with Christ” as Paul states in Ephesians 2:4-5, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…” (Ephesians 2:4–5, NASB95)[23] Or as Paul declared to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9–10, NASB95)[24] We will be with the Lord forever and ever.
CONCLUSION:
All of this is anticipated in the call of the Gospel; and it is good to go over point by point, the six statements of Ruth’s commitment, making each of them our own, glorified, however, by the glorious One on Whom we commit ourselves and then adding the seventh statement which pictures the Lord Jesus Christ as our satisfying and eternal portion. For He is mine, and I am His, forever and forever.
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[15]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[16]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[17]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[18]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[19]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. Emphasis mine.
[20]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[21]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[22]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[23]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995. Emphasis mine.
[24]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.