Ruth
Definition of Names in Ruth:
Elimelech
Naomi
Mahalon
Chilion
Orpah
Ruth
Mara
Boaz
Obed
God is king
Beautiful
Sickly
Wasting away
Back of neck
Companion
Bitter
Strength
a Servant who Worships
1. Running Away From God - Sinful Lifestyle
Elimelech is a hypocrite, his name means, ‘God is king’ but his actions show the opposite, he does not trust God to help him through the famine so he flees Israel to Moab, the enemies of God’s people. Like father like son, his sons become spiritually sick just like their father and all three die.
3. Rewarded with relationships
As Ruth gleans the fields and cares for Naomi, Boaz recognizes Ruth’s dedication to Naomi, Boaz gives her protection and blesses her well with the produce of the field. When asked by Ruth to be their redeemer, Boaz agrees and marries Ruth, buys the land back and they are blessed by God with a boy Obed.
2. Returning to God - Repent
Naomi being the faithful wife had to follow her husband, leaving the land and God whom she lovded, to stay with her family. She must be the most incredible mother-in-law in the world because after the men in her life die, she leaves to return to Israel, and both daughter-in-law’s want to remain by her side, probably because of her spiritual strength Romans 10:15.
Not wishing for the girls to follow her she tells them to return home, Orpah (back of neck) turns and stays in Moab. Ruth (companion) wants to make Naomi’s God her God and returns to take care of Naomi who changed her name to Mara (bitter) for her family has died.
The gospel of Ruth
Boaz represents the Christ like figure, the strength, able to deliver us all. Naomi represents the Jews, Ruth, the Gentiles, both are united together in the family of Boaz, as one family, one body. The outcome is Obed, a servant who worships, Christians!
Get out of your sinful ways, you’ve been gone from God too long! Repent before you die and those around perish as well. Come back to God, He will redeem you and place you in His family, the body of Christ, through the waters of baptism and your reward will be all the relationships the church has to offer. 1 John 5:13
“Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who w ill not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Luke 18:29-30