Sunday, August 30, 2000   

The book of Ruth is also a book of Rest. God wants Gentiles to find rest in Him. Naomi was so interested in Ruth that she wanted her to find rest (Ruth 1:9; 3:1). There is only one place to find rest for our souls and that is at the feet of Jesus our greater Boaz. Ruth found rest at the feet of Boaz; we find rest at the feet of Jesus. Friend, if you will come humbly to the nail pierced feet of Jesus, He will place a robe of righteousness over you and receive you: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out' (John 6:37b).

The first five verses of Ruth chapter one tell us about a godly family leaving Bethlehem.

I. VERSE 1, FAMINE IN BETHLEHEM

      A. The Period. "When the judges ruled." The book of Ruth is the connecting link between Judges and I Samuel, and introduces us to David in Ruth 4:17.

           1 . Judge 21:25 says: "in those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

                a. Each man was a law unto himself.

                b. Men declared: "We are our own bosses, and we will do our own thing."

                c. When the laws of God are laid aside, we get in bad trouble.

                d. We live in a time today when people justify their sin and do not fear God.

                e. This was a time of corruption, scandal, and compromise. Think of the scandal of Samson, one of Israel's judges.

           2. During this period of compromise and corruption, we have the story of Ruth, a story of love. This story is:

                a. Light in the midst of darkness.

                b. Salvation on the black backdrop of sin.

      B. The Peril: famine - a physical famine. They had no rain, so there was physical famine; no spiritual rain means spiritual famine.

      C. The Place: Bethlehem-Judah.

           1. Jesus Christ, the bread of heaven, would not have been born in Bethlehem if the events of this book of Ruth had not taken place. When we sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem," we need to remember that the Christmas story started way back in the book of Ruth.

           2. Bethlehem means "house of bread," and Judah means “praise”.

      a. This was a wonderful place to live- the house of bread and praise.

                b. God has a house of bread and praise today. It is the church (Ephesians 3:21).

      D. The other place: Moab is the place a little family from Bethlehem Judah moved to.

           1. A certain man, Elimelech, moves his family from the house of bread and praise down to Moab.

                a. In Psalm 108:9, God says: "Moab is my washpot” or we could say: "Moab is my garbage dump."

                b. Moab was a country of outcasts. They had a sordid, sinful beginning.

           2. Here we have a family, a man, wife, and two sons leaving the house of bread and praise and moving over to the land of Moab to eat out of the garbage can.

                a. This is they story of the prodigal family.

                b. This is the story of a family that left the place of fellowship, praise, and feasting on the things of God for the world. Don't leave God's place for the world.

                c. They went to sojourn there. They didn't mean to stay very long, but they did (Verse 2).

                d. Before you move for greener pastures there are some things you need to consider:

                     1) Is there a scriptural church to attend?

                     2) What kind of school is there for my children?

                     3) What type of social changes will I be required to make?

           3. Elimelech didn't believe God could take care of him and his family in the house of bread, so he moved off to Moab. Remember, "My God shall supply all your needs...”

II. VERSE 2, THE PRODIGAL FAMILY

      A. In this verse, we get acquainted with the prodigal family.

           1. Elimelech, this is the dad and his name means, "my God is king."

                a. Here is a man with a very meaningful name.

                b. Elimelech's name was a testimony. Every Hebrew knew that Elimelech meant: "My God is king."

                c. Elimelech didn't live up to his name. Instead of trusting God, he ran off to Moab. Some of you are tempted to run; don't do it.

           2. Naomi, that's mom's name. Naomi means, "The pleasant one.”

                a. This indicates she had a happy outlook on life.

                b. She had a cheery personality. When she left Bethlehem-Judah, she was happy- but later shall be bitter (1:19-21).

           3. Mahlon and Chilion were the two sons.

                a. Mahlon means sick, unhealthy.

                b. Chilion means pining, or puny.

                c. This is a picture of the spiritual condition of the family.

           4. Notice with me the last part of verse two. "And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there."

                a. They not only went to Moab: they made their home there. Some have left church for Moab and are still there.

                b. Although the prodigal son got into the pigpen, he finally came to himself and said: "I will advise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18).

                c. The family of Elimelech stayed in the pigpen too long, and God did to them what He does to all of His children who run off to a far country. He whipped them, and yes, He'll whip you. The Father of the prodigal received him with open arms (I John 1:9). The prodigal got his whipping in the far country, and that’s where you'll get yours.

      B. Verses 3-5, The Funerals

           1. Verse 3, Elimelech dies and is buried in Moab. Buried in a pagan land, possibly with a pagan ceremony.

                a. He died away from the things of God.

                b. He died in a worldly place.

                c. This prodigal never got back to the house of bread. He left his wife and two sons in a pagan land.

                d. Elimelech didn't plan it this way. Some of you won't plan it this way either. He just wanted an easier way of life, and he thought he would find it in Moab.

           2. Verse 4, After the death of Elimelech his two sons married pagan girls from Moab. By doing this, they broke the Mosaic law.

                a. By leaving Bethlehem-Judah, the house of bread and praise, they got out of fellowship with God in a far country.

                b. When you get out of fellowship with God, you are in danger of apostasy. Some choose a church for youth activities, not the bread of life.

                c. The girls that the boys married were Orpah and Ruth.

                          1) Orpah means "deer or fawn," indicating she was athletic.

                          2) Ruth means beauty and personality.

                          a) Ruth is the girl who is destined to be in the ancestral line of Christ.

                               b) This is a most unlikely thing, but it happened. It was very unlikely that I would be a joint-heir with Christ, but it happened.

           3. Verse 5, Now Naomi is left in Moab with three graves and a broken heart. This is the price paid for staying in Moab.

                a. The prodigal family, like the prodigal son, got their whipping in a far country.

                b. This is a dark cloud without a silver lining. It is a dark night without a star. Don't allow this to happen to you.

CONCLUSION: In these few verses, we have come from Bethlehem's bread to the land of bitterness and emptiness. All of us are going to die. Do you want to die in Bethlehem-Judah or in Moab?