Pastor Martin Chappell - July 10, 2022
Character by Choice
Ruth 1:14-18
July 10, 2022
Ruth 1:14-18 CSB
14 Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped talking to her.
Ruth’s decision was one of the most important decisions of her life, vv. 14-15.
- The decision to go with Naomi was not easy.
- Respect for Naomi: Naomi told Ruth three times to return to Moab.
- Peer pressure: Orpah decided to return.
- What led Ruth to make such a drastic decision?
- Love for Naomi: “clung” is the same description of marriage in Genesis 2:24.
24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.
- Love for God: Ruth had obviously converted from pagan gods to the God of Israel.
- This single decision of Ruth led to the birth of Jesus.
- Truth to consider: decisions today may greatly affect tomorrow.
Ruth’s words reveal both her love for Naomi and her faith in God, vv. 16-17.
16 But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.
- Ruth was willing to accept any living condition: Wherever you go/wherever you live.
- As a destitute widow she did not expect her situation to change.
- Loyalty to Naomi and God was more important than personal comfort.
- Ruth was ready to accept a new identity: your people/your God.
- Israel was known as the people of God.
- In committing to Naomi’s people, Ruth was also committing to God.
- This reflects a genuine decision to convert from the gods of Moab.
- She was trusting in God’s hesed love to provide all she would need.
- Jewish law would keep her as an outsider all of her life, Deuteronomy 23:3-4.
3 No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the Lord’s assembly; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, may ever enter the Lord’s assembly. 4 This is because they did not meet you with food and water on the journey after you came out of Egypt, and because Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim was hired to curse you.
- Ruth’s story is similar to Rahab’s in responding to God, Joshua 2:10-11.
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.
- Ruth acted on her decision with absolute commitment and loyalty, v. 17.
17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.
- She had no intention of ever returning to her old life.
- She swore a solemn oath to confirm the strength of her decision.
Live It Out
- Truths to consider from Ruth’s story.
- Ruth endured the same tragedies as Naomi but did not blame God.
- Despite little idea of what the future held, Ruth chose to trust God and follow Naomi.
- Ruth proved she had genuine faith by her actions.
- Living by good spiritual and moral character is our choice.
- Will we follow God when we have little information to go on?
- Will we trust God when things are going wrong?
- Will we honor our commitments regardless of the cost?
Recent Comments