June 1, 2015

“Then Naomi said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave you or to return 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 G*d my G*d.” Ruth 1:15-16

“Here in chapter 1, of course, is the most famous passage in Ruth: “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (1:16). The bitterness of Naomi is not the whole of the story. Ruth’s loyalty, Ruth’s love for her mother-in-law holds the promise of something more, as does the final verse of this chapter: “They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest” (1:22). Naomi is empty (1:21), but faithful Ruth is right beside her, and the harvest is coming.” Commentary on Ruth 1:1–4:22 from the Working Preacher website, by Kathryn Schifferdecker, August 10, 2014

Naomi is empty. I think this is a wonderful way to talk about the situation in which Naomi finds herself. She has lost her husband, and lost her two sons, who would have been the only source of security she could depend upon. Her plea to her daughter-in-laws Ruth and Orpah is for their sake — not for hers. If the daughters had any chance to live without much of a struggle, they could return to their homeland and find husbands who would be their security. If they go with Naomi, they travel to a foreign land where their hope for survival would be minimal at best. So, even in the empty situation that Naomi finds herself, she is ministering to her daughter-in-laws – out of her emptiness she is trying to fill their lives.

Orpah goes home. Ruth on the other hand seeks to help fill Naomi’s life — and possibly her own — trusting in a G*d with whom she now trusts her life: “your people shall be my people, and your G*d my G*d.” The rest of the story is played out in Naomi’s home. Ruth’s trust is rewarded — G*d provides.

G*d is ready to fill the emptiness of our lives — all of us. We come to Jesus with open hearts, and he will fill them to where we will be over-flowing with love, grace and mercy.

Pastor Dave