The Famine, Naomi in Moab (1:1-5)

CHAPTER 1

1 And it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man went from Bethlehem-Judah, to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them Moabitish wives; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the second Ruth: and they abode there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also, both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.

Preparation to Leave for Judah, Ruth and Orpah Separate (1:6-18)

6 And she arose, she and her daughters-in-law, and returned from the fields of Moab; for she had heard in the fields of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people to give them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she had been, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each to her mother’s house. Jehovah deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 Jehovah grant you that ye may find rest, each in the house of her husband. And she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice and wept. 10 And they said to her, We will certainly return with thee to thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Return, my daughters: why will ye go with me? Are there yet sons in my womb, that they could be your husbands? 12 Return, my daughters, go; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, should I even have a husband to-night, and should I also bear sons, 13 would ye wait on that account till they were grown? Would ye stay on that account from having husbands? No, my daughters, for I am in much more bitterness than you; for the hand of Jehovah is gone out against me. 14 And they lifted up their voice and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave to her. 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back to her people and to her gods: return after thy sister-in-law. 16 And Ruth said, Do not intreat me to leave thee, 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; 17 where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried. Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part me and thee! 18 And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking to her.

The Journey and Arrival at Bethlehem (1:19-22)

19 And they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they came to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said to them, Call me not Naomi — call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and Jehovah has brought me home again empty. Why do ye call me Naomi, seeing Jehovah has brought me low, and the Almighty has afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the fields of Moab; and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the barley-harvest.

Repentance in the Life of Naomi. Confession and forgiveness are acts, but repentance and restoration are processes. We can see the process of repentance in a number of examples in scripture. The prodigal son, Judah, David, and Naomi are all examples. The Red Heifer offering gives is the process of restoration to communion following defilement, and it is also applicable. Let’s consider the steps of repentance in the life of Naomi in Ruth 1. Before any step was taken, someone told Naomi that God had visited His people. She heard something! It was just the beginning of harvest, but faith lays hold of blessing, even though it be a very small thing.

She “arose” (v.6). We must begin the process by rising up into action. Do we want to remain in our miserable condition of sin, or do we want to do something about it? We have to act.
She “went forth” (v.7). Naomi made a clean break with Moab. We cannot make progress if we continue on with the sin. We must put separation between ourselves and that which is not honoring to God.
She said, “It greiveth me much” (v.13). Naomi realized that her actions brought death and sorrow to others.
She said, “Call me Mara” (v.20) – There was real genuine brokenness.
She said, “I went out full” – Naomi made a full and frank confession of her wrong. No blaming others.
She said, “The hath testified against me” – She justified God about everything that had happened in her life.
She said, “The Lord hath brought me home” – Naomi recognized that it was God working in her soul.
She returned to “Bethlehem” – She returned to the point of departure.

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