Naomi
Ruth 1:1 “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.”
In this little book, we meet three ladies….Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah.
Naomi is the one we are going to talk about….
….she is an Israelite….she is a wife of a man of the tribe of Judah….she is a mother of two sons….
…….and she is in the middle of a famine in Israel.
This is about three to four hundred years after the Israelites have entered the Promised land, and their history has been one of….revival and turning away….revival and turning away.
Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Some followed the Lord wholeheartedly…..others led their families into idolatry with the people of the land….which often led God to correct them.
Often God has had to awaken His people to their sin, by sending an enemy…..or a calamity (famine or locust)….
Such a time was now….and Naomi and her family was in the middle of it. I believe that she knew God, and believed in Him as a God for the nation…..but not in the practical way of her own life….yet.
So when the famine came, her husband said, “Let us sojourn in Moab….till the famine has passed” (Ruth 1:1)
“Sojourn” means to “turn aside from the road, to stay as a guest”. They did not mean to stay long….just a year or so, till the famine was over.
But…Naomi’s husband dies…and….ten years pass!’
Ruth 1:3-4 “And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years.”
The sons decide to stay, and take wives in Moab.
(This was against God’s commandments, Israel was not to marry idolaters….and Moab’s gods were horrible.
When Israel first came into the Promised land, they could not kill, molest, or possess Moab’s land….for they were the children of Lot (Deuteronomy 2:9). But they were to not inter-marry with idolaters….)
And then, after ten years, the sons died there, too.
Everything had been taken from Naomi.
She was a poor widow, in a strange land….for it is clear….that she never felt at home in Moab.
She gathers her few belongings….then she and her daughters-in-law….begin to tread a path back to God, and her nation.
(This journey was about thirty to fifty miles, depending where she sojourned in Moab)
Till she reaches a crossroads. This is an important moment for all three ladies….and their relationship with the true God.
Ruth 1:8-9 “And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you,….
…Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice and wept.”
Saddened, but realizing she had nothing in Naomi or her God now,…..Orpah returns to her home and gods.
Ruth, on the other hand, takes a place as a daughter….both of Naomi—to care for her….and a daughter of the Living God.
Ruth 1:16 “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God:”
So Naomi continues on….backward….back to what she had left….
…..they thought Moab would be a reprieve from famine…
….instead it brought a “famine” of a different sort…
(And how many times we have thought to seek an “easier, less troubled way”…..when it was moving us away from God. Amos 8:11)
The thing about Naomi I wish to stress….is her desire to be among the people of God….
…she did not stay and die in a foreign land….but made the long trip home to Bethlehem.
It would have been by herself, an old woman, alone….for she determined to go back….to die there….in the promised land, with her God.
When Ruth accompanied her, this was a great kindness….but she realized she was responsible for this girl’s education, and future….for Ruth was going to stay by her, till death.
Naomi and Ruth come to Bethlehem…..and the whole city was moved with the sight of these two women….so weary…so beggarly….
Ruth 1:19-20 “….the city was moved…and they said, Is this Naomi?
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.”
When they came into Bethlehem, she saw many of the people that knew her….and she confessed willingly that…
….”The Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me”
Basically, she told them all God’s commands are true…..she had forsaken His Way….
….and though God does not afflict willingly…..yet the troubles He sent, were for her correction.
Therefore she is back…..back to her God and nation…..she has learned that His corrections will bring peace…..afterward.
Lamentations 3:32-33 “But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.
For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.”
Psalm 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word.”
Naomi’s return and confession……leads them to begin to be blessed by the Lord.
Naomi was home….with Ruth….but they had little. Blessedly, it was the barley harvest….and Ruth asked if she could go and glean in a field that would let her…
(In Israel, the reapers were not allowed to gather the corners of the field….leaving that to the poor…
….and if any sheaves fell….the gleaners could take them up.)
….and Naomi sent her…”Go, my daughter.” Naomi had fully embraced Ruth as her daughter-in-law…..but now she loves her as a daughter.
(The story of Ruth and Boaz is a wonderful one….”and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz”,….who was of their kindred.
There is no “happen-chance”….no accidental meetings….in God’s Plan.
And though Ruth was not “guided” to the field, yet God saw to it that it happened just as God had purposed)
But this message is about Naomi….
an old woman, having lost everything…..but not quite….
…..for she did not lose her heart’s love of the people of God….or her desire to dwell under the protection of her God.
Therefore….she did not stay and die in a foreign land….but made the long trip home to Bethlehem…..and became blessed for it.
This is what distinguishes true believers….
…..no matter how far we travel away from God….the heart still wants to draw near again.
When Naomi sees that Ruth has been provided for by a near kinsman…..she praises God…”Blessed be he of the Lord, Who hath not left off His kindness to the living…”
This provision continues for several months….through the barley harvest and through the wheat harvest….because of Ruth’s gleaning, by instruction from Naomi.
(How many times as Christians, we think if we can not take direct charge, or a personal action….our “talents” are not worth anything?
But, it is not so. Our prayers, and instruction to the younger generation is imperative!
How are they to know that God is God indeed….but by the prayers, testimony and instruction of godly people……us.
This was Naomi to Ruth….a heathen girl….brought to God, and instructed in His word….and blessed….because Naomi helped her. Jude 21-23)
Naomi senses a developing respect and love from Ruth for Boaz……so she “seeks a rest for this devoted “daughter”….
….she instructs her to speak to Boaz about the law of taking a near kinsman’s wife, when he was dead…..and marrying her.
Now at the beginning, Naomi could have gone to the field herself….once she knew that Boaz was a near kinsman.
She could have begged for herself, and Ruth a continuing supply of food….a kindness he probably would have done….
…..but she sees (blessed sight of faith)……that the Lord has worked in all of this….for Ruth….
…..and if it be His Will, He would see that Ruth was blessed for choosing God.
And that is what Naomi wants…..God’s blessing on her.
By Naomi’s instruction Ruth speaks to Boaz, and he agrees to see to the matter (he could have refused….after all she was a Moabite. But according to the Lord’s blessing, he agrees)
And by Naomi’s instruction, Ruth and Naomi sit still and waits for the Lord’s Will.
Ruth 3:18 “Then said she (Naomi), Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he hath finished the thing this day.”
When Boaz seeks out the other kinsman, who refuses to perform the duty…..then Boaz takes Ruth to be his wife:
Ruth 4:9-10 “And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s,….of the hand of Naomi.
Moreover Ruth the Moabitess,….I have purchased to be my wife, and raise the name of the dead upon his inheritance,….”
They are married, and when Ruth has a son….then the women of Bethlehem praise the Lord,….
…….for Naomi’s sake.
Ruth 4:14-15 “And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kindred, that his name may be famous in Israel.
And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter-in-law, which loveth thee,
which is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.”
Yes, Ruth had been a blessing to Naomi….but it would not have been so, if Naomi had stayed in Moab.
It was Naomi’s return to God, that brought about the blessing for so many….
…..for Ruth and Boaz’s son was grandfather to David….from whom the Lord Jesus was born.
When we return to God…..we are certainly brought back into a place of blessing.
Naomi could have reasoned….I am in Moab….my husband and sons died here….I will just stay…..I am too old to go back.
But she determined to return to Bethlehem…and her God….for He became very personal to her….with each step she took….each confession and instruction she told….God became her God, her Lord, her life.
None of us are too old……..if you have breath….you are not too old to return to God…even if you are in a “strange land”…..and our return might give “rest” to others.
(For there is only one “rest” that is above all others…Matthew 11:28-30….”rest” in Christ Jesus: whether in bringing one to Christ…..or back to Him….we can bring down God’s blessing.)
Naomi did, and became a blessing to all around her….a testimony for God’s goodness….after affliction.
Psalm 119:171-173 “My lips shall utter praise, when Thou hast taught me all Thy statues.
My tongue shall speak of Thy Word: for all Thy commandments are righteousness.
Let Thine hand help me; for I have chosen Thy precepts.”
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 