Ruth’s Repentance – Ruth 1

Expository study of Ruth chapter 1 (Mother’s Day 2024) with the emphasis on Ruth’s conversion from pagan idolatry to the One True God of Israel.

Ruth is one of two Books in the Bible named after women, the other being the Book of Esther. William Macdonald writes, “It is noteworthy that of the two books in the Bible named after women, one was a Jewish girl who married a prominent Gentile (Esther and King Ahasuerus) and the other was a Gentile woman who married a prominent Hebrew (Ruth and Boaz). Another significant thing these two women have in common is that both were part of God’s redemptive history. God used Esther to save His people from physical destruction and He used Ruth as an important link in the messianic line, first to David, and ultimately to Christ, who would save His people from their sins.”

It is commonly believed that that the prophet Samuel is the author of the Book. This makes sense as he was the last of the judges and the events recorded in Ruth took place during that time period (Vs. 1). Ruth became David’s great grandmother and ultimately the ancestress of Messiah.

The events recorded in Ruth took place during the time of the Judges (Vs. 1). The period of the Judges was a time of moral and spiritual decline in Israel. The Book of Ruth is a precious reminder that faith can flourish in families even in times of great apostasy.

Typology: The Book presents a beautiful type of Christ with Ruth, a Gentile, becoming the Bride of a Bethlehemite who redeemed her to himself. Boaz as the kinsman redeemer pictures Christ as our redeemer.

Suggested Outline

• Ruth’s Repentance (Chap. 1)
• Ruth’s Romance (Chap. 2-3)
• Ruth’s Redemption (Chap. 4:1-12)
• Ruth’s Reward (Chap. 4:13-22)

In this first message we look at Ruth’s Repentance (conversion) from pagan idolatry to the One True God of Israel.

The Context of Ruth’s Conversion (Vs. 1-5)

These verses provide the setting/background to the story that unfolds in the Book of Ruth. In these verses we see the events that brought Ruth into contact with Elimelech’s family.

The Resort to Moab (Vs. 1-2)

Note the words ‘sojourn’ (Vs. 1) and ‘continued’ (Vs. 2). Elimelech made a choice to leave Bethlehem (house of bread) to try and find solace in Moab (enemy territory). Why did Elimelech move his family to Moab? What motivated him to make this decision? There were two motivating factors.

1. The famine in Canaan (Vs. 1a). The famine in the land was likely an act of judgment upon the children of Israel for their sin. The productivity and prosperity of the land for the Israelites was connected to their spiritual condition. (See Deut. 28 – blessings and cursings). The famine represented a test of faith for Elimelech. Times were tough. Elimelech’s moved revealed a lack of faith in God. The weakness of his faith is further highlighted by the fact he left while he was still “full” (1:21). He moved because he didn’t want to lose anything but in so doing he lost almost everything! There are challenging times in the Christian life and the temptation to flee is common. This family tried to fun from trouble but ended up finding trouble followed them all the way.
2. The façade of Moab (Vs. 1b-2). Moab appeared to offer what the promised land did not at this time. Further, it was close by (about 32- 48 km). But in reality, Moab and the Moabites were no friends of God’s chosen people. Consider the following facts about Moab:
   1. It was the result of the incestuous sin of Lot with his oldest daughter (Gen. 19:30-38).
   2. Moab refused to let Israel travel through their land (Judges 11:17) and would not help Israel (Deut. 23:4).
   3. Moab hired the prophet Balaam to curse Israel (Num. 22-24), and then some Moabite women seduced many of the Israelite men. The result was 24,000 Israelites being slain in God’s judgment that followed.
   4. After Israel moved to the Promised Land, Moab oppressed the Israelites for eighteen years (Judges 3:12-30).
   5. In reality, Moab was a dangerous place for Elimelech and his family. Remember! The world that crucified the Saviour is no friend of the Christian and has nothing to offer you in your time of testing. Moab represents the world in contrast to the walk of faith in the will of God. It is better to live in Bethlehem in a time of famine than to live in Moab in a time of plenty.
3. Note: We see multiple examples in the Bible to warn us that leaving the place of God’s will to try and find nourishment and sustenance in the world never works out well for the child of God.
   1. Abraham and Egypt (Gen. 12).
   2. Lot and Sodom (Gen. 13, 14, 19)
   3. Abraham and Gerar (Philistines) (Gen. 20)
   4. Isaac and Gerar (Philistines) (Gen. 26)
   5. David and Gath (Philistines) (1 Sam. 27)
4. Challenge: Stay faithful in the place of God’s will and trust God to sustain and keep you through your trial. Heads of homes need to be men of faith lest they lead their families astray. Elimelech led his family to Moab.

The Results in Moab (Vs. 3-5)

Moab turned out to be a mirage. The Moab sojourn was characterized by:

1. Death – Elimelech dies shortly after their arrival in Moab (Vs. 3) and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion also die after about ten years (Vs. 4). The world will not help you flourish in your faith, it will suck the life out of you spiritually. Backsliding is dangerous spiritually. It can even be dangerous physically!
2. Barrenness – no offspring were born to either of Elimelech’s sons in Moab. A backslidden life is a life characterized by fruitlessness. The world and its ways will not produce anything of spiritual value in your life.
3. Challenge: Fathers be careful where you lead your wife and children!

The Catalyst for Ruth’s Conversion (Vs. 6-15)

Look at the events that brought Ruth to the most critical decision of her life. This was a turbulent time of Ruth’s life but it was ultimately used of God to propel her in the direction of God’s perfect will for her life.

Her Husband’s Death (Vs. 5).

This would have been a difficult trial for Ruth. The impression we get of Ruth’s character from the Book is that she was a very loyal and loving lady.

Her Mother in law’s Decision (Vs. 6-13)

1. Naomi hears good news from her homeland that God had blessed His people with bread and decides to return to Bethlehem (Vs. 6). She had left the house of bread (Bethlehem) to seek bread in Moab. That having failed, she now returns to back to the true house of bread.
2. Naomi departs from where she was living in Moab and her two daughters travel with her initially (Vs. 7)
3. Naomi then issues an appeal to her two daughters in law to return to their homeland in Moab (Vs. 8-13). Naomi was clearly motivated by a desire for her daughters in law to find a place of rest and happiness with a new husband and home. One thing that stands out in the life of Naomi is that she was a selfless woman. This was an emotion filled moment (Vs. 9b) as there was genuine attachment between Naomi and her daughters in law. This challenge from Naomi meant that Ruth had to really think through what her decision would be and to count the cost of that decision.

Her Sister in law’s Direction (Vs. 14-15)

1. Orpah chooses to return to Moab and kisses Naomi goodbye (Vs. 14). They all weep again! What a picture. Two Moabite women standing on the border of the land of Moab and the land of God’s chosen people. Which way would they go?! What eternal ramifications there were in this momentous decision. Orpah’s decision to return to Moab must have tugged at Ruth’s heart but somehow Ruth knew in her heart it was the wrong choice.
2. Naomi points out to Ruth that her sister-in-law had gone back to her people and her gods (Vs. 15). Naomi’s reference to the “gods” of Moab highlights that this decision was not just about where they were going to live. It was a choice between the pagan gods of Moab and the One True God of Israel.

The Choice in Ruth’s Conversion (Vs. 16-18)

This choice was:

A Sincere Choice – ‘clave’ (Vs. 14b).

1. The word ‘clave’ here is the same word used in Genesis 2:24 concerning a man cleaving to his wife.
2. Ruth was passionate about this choice she was making to go God’s way. This passion is revealed not just in her action of cleaving to Naomi but in her heart stirring speech that follows (Vs. 16-17)

A Saving Choice (Vs. 16-17)

Ruth’s choice had eternal ramifications. It involved:

1. Repentance – Ruth made a definite choice to turn her back on the false gods of Moab. She “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9). Repentance is required for salvation. Are you willing to turn to Christ in faith from sin and your own way? “…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21)
2. Faith – Ruth made a definite choice to make the God of Israel her God. This involved faith. There were so many unknowns for Ruth. Israel was a foreign place for her but she knew that she wanted to know the same God her mother-in-law knew. Clearly Naomi had told Ruth about the God of Israel over the decade they had been together as Ruth uses God’s Name Jehovah (Vs. 17b). But know she had to make a personal choice to make the True God her God.

A Steadfast Choice (Vs. 18)

Naomi saw that Ruth was “steadfastly minded” about this matter. Her decision was final. The Hebrew word is translated multiple times “good courage”, “courageous” and “strong/strengthen”. So, she was making a strong, courageous, definite choice for the truth.

1. It takes courage to choose salvation.
2. It takes courage to choose the true and the right when the world (Moab) is pulling you in a different direction.
3. We need some Christian women like Ruth today who are “steadfastly minded” for the Word of God, not only for what it teaches about salvation but also what it teaches about marriage and the family. If you are double minded or halfhearted about the truth, the world will suck you into its vortex.

The Consequences of Ruth’s Conversion

We will continue the study of Ruth in our next lesson but the blessings that came out of this decision are recorded in the rest of the Book. How lavishly God bestowed His grace and goodness upon this converted Moabitess.

• The Blessing of a godly Husband

The Blessing of a godly Heritage

1. Ruth’s son Obed would become a part of the Messianic line. He was king David’s grandfather. That means Boaz and Ruth were the great grandparents of the famous King David.
2. Ruth became the ancestress of the Lord Jesus Christ. Her name is mentioned in Christ’s genealogy. Matthew 1:5-6 – “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias.”
3. Note: It is fascinating to note the four women mentioned in Christ’s lineage – Tamar the adulteress who conceived to her father-in-law Judah (Vs. 3; Genesis 38), Rahab the harlot of Jericho (Vs. 5) Ruth the Moabitess (Vs. 5) and Bathsheba the wife of Urias who committed adultery with king David (Vs. 6). What a lineage of God’s grace!

Conclusion

Will you turn to Christ in faith this Mother’s Day?

Sermon 1 of 4 in Ruth Series

Sermon Audio Id: 511242358198021