• What is going on in these verses?
  • This book describes the heart-wrenching story of a suffering woman. Naomi (נָעֳמִ֜י, LXX Νωεμίν, meaning my pleasantness or the like), like Job, was a follower of God who endured a bombardment of crises (death of her husband and sons and famine) that left her looking at God from rock bottom. God answered Naomi’s despair through Ruth; Naomi’s foreign-born daughter-in-law displayed God’s sacrificial love that goes far beyond the limits of ordinary human love. Ruth, a Moabite woman, proves to be a model of faithfulness in Israel during the period of the judges. Ruth reminds us that even during the darkest circumstances when doubts about God overwhelm us, God’s love for us is definite.
  • There was a shortage of food in Moab. Naomi heard that food was available in Judah, her homeland. She decided to return. She told her daughters-in-law that they don’t need to go with her. Orpah kissed her goodbye, but Ruth decided to stay loyally with her and to remain with her, even though it means that the chance of remarriage is possibly very little. Upon Naomi’s return, the people of Bethlehem were so dismayed at her wearied and worn-out appearance that they hardly recognized her.

• What is God’s word saying?
  • This teaches me about sacrificial love and loyalty in terms of human relationships, as well as being faithful in dark hard times. Also, God’s love for us is definite.
  • These things are tough to exhibit in today’s day and age with what’s going on in the world. However, as God’s word teaches, anything is possible with God.
  • This story is a parallel, for me, to God’s relationship with us.
  • I need to trust God and sacrifice all the stuff around me and be loyal and faithful to Him and love only Him.
  • I need to be an example of Ruth. In that, also be the example of Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Father God, thank You for giving us Jesus as our Savior and being the ultimate love sacrifice. I pray that I can be the example of Ruth as I am the example of Jesus. I’m comforted by the certainty of Your love. Show me and use me, I’m all Yours, Yahweh. I lift up the readers here to this same fact. In Jesus’ name, amen.