Devastating Grief (The Gospel in the Book of Ruth) January 12, 2014

Ruth 1:1-5 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Book Theme: God’s providence and His redemptive plan told through an actual love story.

In Ruth we see a picture of our own story. “Each of us were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph.2:12) Outline 1. Extreme Evil (v. 1a) 2. Extreme Famine (v. 1b-2) 3. Extreme Loss (v. 3-5)

Extreme Evil (v. 1a) “When the judges ruled.” National spiritual unfaithfulness. Extreme famine (v. 1b-2) “there was a famine in the land” Biblical pattern of famines often advance God’s purposes and plans for his people. From the beginning of the book, we are reminded that ultimately God is the one who provides for our needs.

Ps. 136:25 - he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Matthew 6:31- 32 - Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 1 Cor. 10:31 – everything we do, including eating is to be to the glory of God James 1:17 – every good gift, even the gift of food is from God.

Extreme Loss (v. 3-5) 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. God has a way of turning tragedy into triumph, oftentimes even in the most basic if decisions that you and I make.

Ruth In A Nutshell Ruth is the story of a young Moabite widow who comes to know the covenant love of the one true God and the joy of belonging to his people through her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. As these two women experience incredibly difficult circumstances, we see evidence of God’s sovereign work at hand to redeem a people for himself.