1. Remembering Ruth Setting: Days when the Judges Governed 1:1-5
Sampling of what when on: Jdgs 3:7-14
General principle by which men lived: Jdgs 17:6; 21:25
Marriage to Moabites forbidden 1 Kgs 11:1-2; Ez 9:1-4
Famine in land due to sin: Dt 28:17, 22-24
Naomi loses husband and both sons during 10 yrs in Moab
Something to keep in mind:
Family identified as Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah
cp. Micah 5:2

2. Chapter One: A Lesson in Love and Bitterness
Remembering Ruth
Chapter One: A Lesson in Love and Bitterness

3. Opportunity to Return to Judah 1:6-15
Remembering Ruth
Opportunity to Return to Judah 1:6-15
God visited His people as they cried out to Him- cp. Judges
Naomi wants to go home; urges daughter-in-laws to stay
Orpah is persuaded to stay
Ruth will not be persuaded

4. Remembering Ruth Love of Ruth 1:16-18
Her statement of love sometimes used as vows in a wedding
because she expressed the love God would have in marriage.
There is a promise to resist all pressures to break the relationship.
There is a commitment to the other person for life.
There is an abandonment of all previous allegiances.
There is awareness that God is witness to all of the promises we make.

5. Especially Worth Noting in Ruth’s Vow to Naomi:
Remembering Ruth
What about the extent of our devotion and commitment-
to our spouse?, to family members? (widows/widowers?), to our spiritual family?
– whatever happens, I will be there for you as long as I live!
Especially Worth Noting in Ruth’s Vow to Naomi:
Ruth turned her back not only on her country, but also her gods in order to serve Jehovah, making her a proselyte.

6. Remembering Ruth Bitterness of Naomi 1:13, 19-21
She did not live up to her name- “Pleasant”
Call me “Mara”- “Bitter”
Bitter not just at life, but at God over death of husband & sons
Believed that the Lord was against her
Accused Almighty of dealing very bitterly and afflicting her
No credit to the Lord for the “full”, but blame for the “empty”
Did she really come back “empty”? She came back with Ruth!

7. Remembering Ruth Bitterness of Naomi 1:13, 19-21
Compare Romans 8:28-30, 31-32, 38-39
God works in our lives for our ultimate good, even through pain and suffering.
His dealings are always in our own best eternal interest.
His purpose in affliction is not to hurt, but to help.
No matter what happens, the Lord is not against us, but for us!
No situation or created being can separate us from His love!

8. Remembering Ruth Let us imitate the love of Ruth
Let us keep far from us the bitterness
of Naomi