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The book of Ruth stands out against the backdrop of the book of Judges, which is when the story takes place. The theme of Judges could be summarized, “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

Many in Israel turned their back on God, drawn to the so-called gods of the world, gods of licentiousness and worldliness in every form. The result was predictable, trouble upon trouble until finally, in desperation, they called out to God for help, and every time, God would send a deliverer.

It is against that background that the book of Ruth comes to the forefront. Though many turned away from the God of Israel, God always has a remnant. There will always still be some, if only a few, who stay faithful and walk with character, and faith, and integrity. That’s the theme of this book.

There are many life lessons we saw when we studied the earlier chapters. The story takes place near Bethlehem. In Hebrew, it means ‘house of bread.’ But there was a famine in the land. There was no bread.

Elimelech, who lived in Bethlehem during the time of the famine made a poor decision. Without praying, without asking God, the man sold his land; land that was to be the inheritance of his children, crossed the Jordan and went to the land of Moab with his wife and two sons.

This is a life lesson; if times are difficult, stay faithful. Don’t leave the place of God’s provision; the grass is not greener on the other side of the Jordan. I’ve been there and I know it’s true.

In Moab, Elimelech soon discovered for himself the grass was not greener there. His sons married Moabite wives, he himself then died, and his two sons also died, leaving his wife Naomi bereft and grieving, with no provisions, no future, and no hope.

Naomi decided to go home; it had been 10 long and difficult years. She heard there was bread once again in Bethlehem. But first, she dismissed her daughters-in-law, telling them to go to their own people, to find new husbands and make a new life for themselves.

One of her daughters-in-law, Orpah, kissed Naomi in tears, and took her leave to build a new life for herself.

But Ruth, her other daughter-in-law, refused to be separated from Naomi, giving one of the greatest speeches in the Old Testament. “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.”

In Ruth, another life lesson is revealed. Heart and character matter. It’s the very thing God uses to build a beautiful life. It’s a principle of the scriptures.
Luke 6:36, 38, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful… Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

Character matters, heart matters, faith matters. God will use it to build in you a beautiful life. When Ruth gleans in the field of Boaz, he takes notice of her. “Whose young woman is this?” He asks. “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.”

Boaz then speaks kindly to Ruth, making sure she has water to quench her thirst and food and provisions. “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” She asked.

Boaz answered and said 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 people that you did not previously know. Now, may the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

Pastor Rich Jones
Pastor Matthew Dodd
Rich Jones Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel Worship Center
Calvary Chapel Hillsboro
Calvary Chapel Oregon
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