Studies in Ruth
Naomi’s Testimony (Ruth 1:11)
In this series we are going to study through the book of Ruth. This will not be an exhaustive or verse by verse study but instead we will be looking at different themes from each of the chapters as well as the story itself. When they appear, we will study some of the types that are found in the book as well give details and explanations for things found with in this book.
Overview of the Ruth:
The book of Ruth is often called a book of redemption and rightfully so with the fact that Boaz redeems both the land of Elimelech’s as well as Ruth the Moabitess. In this book Elimelech a man of Bethlehem-judah takes his family, wife and two son, to sojourn in Moab as the result of a famine. Elimelech dies in Moab and his sons both marry women of Moab. Both of the son then die which leaves their mother, Naomi, alone with two daughter-in-law’s in a strange land. Upon hearing that God has blessed Israel with bread Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem while Orpah stays behind in Moab. Once again in Bethlehem Ruth takes position as a widow and provides for her and Naomi according to the Law. God directs her to the field of Boaz, who is a kinsman redeemer. In the end Boaz follow the Law and redeems them both. He is married to Ruth to raise up seed according to the Law and their child becomes the grandfather of David which puts her in the linage of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-6).
The Testimony of Naomi (Ruth 1:11)
As stated above Ruth and Boaz are the main characters of the book, but here we will look at the testimony of Naomi. Naomi is also a central character but I think she is often overlooked or when considered on considered from a negative view. In this lesson we will focus on some of the things we can learn from Naomi’s testimony.
We see Naomi’s Testimony in verse 11, note the phrase “why will ye go with me”. At first both Ruth and Orpah are following Naomi, but when she explains how there is no hope of them getting husbands, Orpah returns but Ruth follows. There must have been something either in Naomi’s testimony or life that made Ruth willing to follow her with such a grim outlook.
1) She was going the right direction (verse 6)
- Whether Naomi was complicit in going to Moab or whether she was following the authority of her husband I do not know but as least when she hears that God has visited Israel with bread she knows to go back.
- Everyone is following someone one, the question is where are they going (Proverbs 2:16-20).
- David said “I follow the thing that good is” (Psalm 38:20)
2) She represented God (verse 16)
- To Ruth Naomi represented a different God than the one her people had and in her great statement she claims that Naomi’s God would be her God.
- I wonder if it was all about what Ruth had seen and heard regarding the God of Israel while living in the time of the Judges or if maybe she had seen something different in the life of Naomi as a result of her husband dying.
- Paul said that he bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus (Galatians 6:17). While for Paul this was true in both the physical as well as the Spiritual sense, I wonder if anyone see the marks of the Lord Jesus in us. Note also Acts 4:13.
3) Wanted the best for others (verse 9)
- Note that Naomi is seeking rest for both girls, we will look at the subject of marriage and rest in another lesson. Naomi’s seeking best for others is also shown in the details of Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 2:1-2 ; 3:1-3,18). Naomi I think would have known about Boaz but she let the Lord direct in their meeting. Once things were in motion Naomi guided Ruth very wisely concerning the matter.
- This is recommended to us by Paul in Philippians 2:1-4.
4) She stayed with God even through bitterness (verses 19-21)
- It is true that Naomi considered herself afflicted of God and that she wanted her named changed to a word which meant bitterness. But through all these things she kept coming back to God and pointing Ruth to follow the Law.
- Bitterness is a terrible thing in the life a saved person (Hebrews 12:15), she was able to recover from that by putting herself into Ruth.
- Maybe there is a good lesson for all of us in this point, as a result of loss (a husband and two sons) Naomi overcomes her bitterness by focusing on the lives of others and in the end is rewarded herself (Ruth 4:14-17)