Naomi and Ruth (Part B)

She still going to be the jolly believer after this is going to be upholding the name of the Lord is she going to be delusional.

You live in reality as you hide behind a non-reality. Some people you they live in the non-reality they they look like they get away with like they enjoy the rest of us, but they look like to get away with reality.

We I guess I'm the only person dealing with reality right now but anyway we will see that Naomi is a survivor.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Ruth. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue his message called Naomi and Ruth as he teaches in Ruth chapter 1, when trouble comes into our lives we can do a couple of things we can endure it and try to escape it.

We try to use it. Probably an element of all those belong to it, but trying to use the pressure that comes in Alaska's it's a law of physics. That pressure makes things contract and so you know that the pressures on squeezing you was going to come out and of course that's why we like Paul and and and Jeremiah because we see these men being pressed and what comes out of them is beneficial to us. I want that their honesty and their perseverance verse two continues in the name of the man was Ahimelech the name of his wife, Naomi, the names of his two sons will mall on kill Jan Efrain Seitz of Bethlehem. Judah and they went to the country of Moab and remained there will hello, Ahimelech, and the names the meanings of the names and in this little book quite interesting. Ahimelech means God is my King mall on his first son.

And it's pronounced a little differently in the Hebrew but I don't speak Hebrew. So I'm pronounce it the way I look at it it it mall on means sickly. His brother's name kill Jan means wasting away, or failing not very good names to stick on your kids hi my name is sickly.

Naomi's name means joy so mom and dad grabbed the good names God is my King. Enjoy. But the boys get stuck with the they were probably born that way.

One commentator said they were probably named after the times they were born in, and I don't think something was a famine so much in time you were born. I think they were sickly and and just made through the birth. Naomi will try to rename herself. You know she gets to just dramatic moment.

Don't call me Naomi, pleasant, call me Mara did, or you can call me pleasant computer but anyway or who is the Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi goes back to her people. Her name means neck like of an animal, and the implication is stiffnecked, stubborn, and maybe I do know and she was that birth and soon after when the name heard just know she's a stubborn little thing Ruth friendship is the meaning of her name all as his name sounds a strong strength.

That's the thing with Boaz meet spring in our bedroom will be his son name means worshiper. So all the names if if if you know you go over them.

You do lose look upon the names you find that it does tell a story in and of itself. Well, as I mentioned the children named after the circumstances, so much so rich with history. Is this section here on these characters.

For example, these two boys are sickly and the living in Moab territory. That means they're not and there's no nice Jewish girls around so they marry these Moabite girls who will probably not. I don't want to say that unattractive but did not is like Esther and Abigail and Sarah with her there.

Their beauty is pointed out, and that is it just a true part of the story that these two women were more what we would say plain Jane's is just nothing outstanding about them, not necessarily again unattractive because of the Moabite men would not have been, you know, cooperate more about families would not of been cooperating with that with them on this and I think that comes to play some significance in the story when Ruth and Boaz begin when they meet and will will come to that in several chapters from now and I it I think it also makes the story down-to-earth because you know you just can't put your Hollywood tries to put the best socially appealing faces before us and with it, with no regard to reality and the Bible does not do that. It says they were in Bethlehem, Efrain Seitz, that's the ancient name for Bethlehem and they went to the country of Moab following the food again or he commented on that and when they got to the land of the Moabites, to some degree, they would have to assimilate the Moabites worship.

Their primary goblets can wash child sacrifice was associated with him very much so that in the book of Kings second Kings would come across the group out right but these were enemies of God's people, the Moabites, Moses had a deal with Ballin, who was asked by Ballack, the Moabite king become cursed. The Jews earbud had to deal with egg on you know he stabbed him in the knife was swallowed up as the yield was generally pretty heavy and the they were Moabites and you say wallet with this history of conflict between the two. Why why are the they moving going to Moab territory witnessing is how enemies were not going there. Well you just interesting enough people get over things even as nations, from time to time not always put from time to time. For example, just I think yesterday Israeli Air Force as a joint operation in Germany with the German Air Force while you know you can look back as were just little while ago Nazi Germany Germany was trying to exterminate the Jews. And yet, things change.

Here they are, as some allies and and is not been that long of a time so there is another true part of the story. You could say verse three then Ahimelech Naomi's husband died and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab. The name of one was ORPA and the name of the other was Ruth and they dwelt there about 10 years. Verse three just passes over and her husband died.

It leaves out all the pain, the sorrow that goes with that. Of course, if you ever gone through these things. You and you know what's what's involved in verse four. These are the two wives that married these two Jewish men 10 years and no children. I think because the men were sickly and we get that indication because Ruth does end up having a child with Boaz, but that 10 years away from home was Naomi's life.

They were when they left the promised land. They left the place of worship. When they left the place of worship, behind unique.

It's risky we see this today when Christians relocate, for whatever reason. Worship is not up primary and all is not essential.

Trouble is not far behind, but often we see Christians move away for job or school or whatever and they've they found they look for place to worship and then they go about it may take a little time to find the ideal place for the know it's very important and and they stay balanced when they don't left by themselves there consequences I think is a little bit of that here when they left the promised land.

They left Shiloh behind but we know that there were problems that Shiloh during the days of Eli and will be getting that when we get to Samuel.

Now we go in verse five, then both Molly Hahn and Keeley on also died. So the woman survived her two sons and her husband. No surprise, given their names that it seems to be a premature death.

Perhaps they died together.

Perhaps it was an accident.

Perhaps they were. He doesn't tell us what happened, but the here poor Naomi lost her husband and now her two boys and the depth of her sorrow I think goes deeper than the sorrow of Ruth and ORPA are looking at it that way and it looks like in the these tragedies says these two they happened, rapid succession, one after the other and it is a fact that life is this opening chapter shows us that it's difficult for Naomi outside the promised land. All she has these two Moabite women in and probably Moabite neighbors that are not you know vicious to her also nice neighbors there just because they're not Jews does not mean there were no other nice people on the world but they lost everything this family so the woman survived her two sons and her husband woman of great misfortune, how how is she going to land how what is going to happen to her. She still going to be the jolly believer after this, is she going to be upholding the name of the Lord is she going to be delusional. She will live in reality is she going to hide behind a non-reality.

Some people label they live in the non-reality they they look like they get away with it like they enjoy the rest of us, but they look like they get away with me again what reality will you.

I guess I'm the only person dealing with reality right now but anyway we will see that Naomi is a survivor verse six and then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab. She had heard in the country of Moab that Yahweh had visited his people by giving them bread, so probably to the caravans coming along. She now finds out that times and his relatives have changed in the crops are growing and she wants to go back home she's not making it well you I will to be a widow to be without a husband as a grown woman outside of your father's home at this time in history. It was not an easy ride.

It was hard on on multiple levels and that's why the Old Testament prophets very very serious about God's protection over the widows and the orphans of people just would take advantage of them and there were needs that they had in that society that they could not get not easily and so this was going to be a life of hardship for her for a long time to really tell it was pretty bleak going home, but that didn't mean things are just going to fall right in the place and somebody was going to give her a job in a Fortune 500 company because she's family and she was.

Not being blessed where she was here in the land of Moab that became clear.

And so she's looking to leave David King David. Years later, will send his parents to Moab and exile to protect them from bloodthirsty King Saul. And while the. Here are the roots of course with with Naomi in and Ruth and there's the connection because Ruth's mother and father are still alive get chapter to tell us that Boaz make a comment he could've gone back to your mother and father but you chose to stay with Naomi so that's an air of some more information about the character of Ruth and the link between Moab and and David's taking his parents there to protect them from Saul.

Now verse seven. Therefore she went out from the place where she was in her two daughters along with her and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. Naomi said to her two daughters in law go return each to her mother's house Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. This is now we getting into the dialogue and it is already yielding fruit for us when she says it says she's returning to the land of Judah. The sheet she pronounces a blessing on she's willing to let them go. She needs their companionship, or she would benefit greatly from their companionship so they had towards Judah and Naomi just is not right. I can't take these girls with me back home. They need to be free is still young, they can find husbands. I have nothing to offer them and Naomi is is ready to give them up and she's gone up. As I mentioned, pronounce a blessing to them. Go return each drum or the mother thus says the Lord Yahweh deal kindly with you as you have dealt with me in the dead that that's telling you about both women Ruth and ORPA that these were good girls. They were good to their mother and father-in-law. They were good to their husbands, their mother-in-law rather than trying to work good for my boys your resident junk.

She just you know they had this beautiful relationship. I hate that I had tell you no grandparents and metal you look ahead to chance. Don't go meddling that the kids raise their kid.

I mounted about life-and-death situations but not to just, you know, back off only by messing my mile was my castle and I want my son's home, to be his castle, and I don't want to go there neck like you notices extension to my home so I have my little rant about that and is plenty more is plenty more can I see that you and I see marriages and people meddling sticking in those initiatives. Get your marriage see it all the time is not right anyhow simulacrum guilty hope not like yeah you know is tough is are you wanted to get a zip your mouth shut and just let them run another note, is no more right now. Verse nine Yahweh grant that you may find rest each in the house of her husband so she kissed them and lifted up their voices and wept.

So she's praying for the future. Again another virtue to release them to answer a genuine blessing on them, knowing that it would really be nice to have them go with her to that 70 mile trickle trek around the Dead Sea and she's she's giving it up in them.

Emotions poured out because Ruth and her love touch their hearts is not like, yeah. Good riddance. I never liked you either as I get us right thing to do.

This is our poor they lifted up their voices. They would love each other.

The three widows. They love each other and it's it's clear but just by these words verse and just because ORPA chooses to go back doesn't mean she wasn't loving and and you know those point giving up on her image made the wrong choice will get to some of that verse 10. The sender surely we will return with you to your people. How noble is that nowhere going to go with you. They did not just you just jump on the first opportunity to be away from Naomi, but Naomi said turned back my daughters will you go with me on the sill sons in my womb, that they may be your husband's thesis is she supporting this logically, she's being logical here is to think about it. I know nothing to give you your people will give you more than I can give you.

She refers to them as her daughters in the text on her daughters in law just to go back my daughters-in-law in a term of endearment and and did you get again you see the starry night. Naomi rising up. You say you not these two girls and they never met a person like Naomi, not a woman like Naomi. That's where it what made it hard to leave as wireless and I'm not going there is nobody like you that I know I've never met.

I was born in the wrong religion was born in the wrong church and I found the right one and will let's go to verse 12, it was she says turned back my daughters so I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope. If I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons would you wait for them till they were grown. Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands know my daughter, for it grieves me very much for your sakes, that the hand of Yahweh has gone out against me. This is remarkable. She lays it out again as I've been saying I have nothing for you and I will let you do this to yourselves, she said it breaks my heart for your sakes of God is this broken my heart when she says turned back.

We look at that from pure eyes, and we should turn back to what apostasy I think she's giving the opportunity to ORPA as well as to Ruth.

You've met Yahweh you know Kim Moss and the rest are frauds.

You can come with me if you really want to.

I think that is in what she is saying because Ruth picks it up and incorporate just said snack and this guy from high school.

Maybe he's, you know. Anyway, it's a bleak outlook is dreadful.

Past and she's facing the music.

Should the facts are the facts and this is the voice of faith battered, not defeated, she still asking blessings on them in Yahweh's name. She is not come to the place of Job yet. Well, maybe you know she certainly is. She's going to get there, but that she's she's got some of that struggle happening and it's not uncommon in the Old Testament to blame God for what he allows. It's not incompetent in our lives. He allows in God and the emphasis yet in the end, it is me. We would do that and we trust that's what faith is all about that. Otherwise, his faith is a joke. Faith is just something to get something faith is supposed to mean no matter what happens to me in my heart, my feelings going to stick with the Lord. That's what faith is supposed to be lose some of that reality in the language of Scripture because the language of Scripture so beautiful and about other people. Sometimes, but it is supposed to be about us and so CSC suffered she has not turned her back on Yahweh. She had converted these girls to him.

Not likely. The two boys would've married these these women if they had retained their allegiance to their pagan gods and the I'm not ready to blame all of Naomi's troubles on moving to Moab. There were people in the promised land with troubles.

We just finished that and the two chapters of of judges to grieves my heart very much for your sakes he says here in verse 13 that the hand of Yahweh has gone out against me. There's a Frank and logical analysis of the situation. There is no way that you can come along a sale.

Come on, that's a bit much know it's really not enough to express the hurt that she had gone through in these two women went with it with her. So what did they do is they burst out into tears with her reminiscent of Jacob. After they had come back from Egypt is sons, not knowing that Joseph was venting them was filtering them. Joseph said you guys are brutes and I before I be nice to you.

I need to find out if you're still the monsters that threw me in the pit and so he runs them through this rigorous course I meeting with gun and he's got the whole I make a point that's what we don't wear eye makeup is making me mad anyway Jacob. They come back and they say you knows Simeon Jacobson. I never liked is my least favorite son anyone out there that what we get Genesis 42 Jacob the father said to them, you believe me Joseph is no more. Simeon is no more. You want to take Benjamin all these things are against me who complain him life, picking off his children and there is you know they will think that Simeon is in jail and I think I can bring Benjamin back just to get bread so he loses, you know, he has this moment all these things are against me. That's what Naomi is saying and that's what we have set some time to view live long enough you and you do something for God you going to going to have these moments.

It is not the language that we want to hear. But it is the reality that she is facing and who can criticize Jake up and who can criticize Naomi for this. She's returning to the land of God hurt by God, still believing still calling on his name in prayer. Otherwise we wouldn't have the story.

Verse 14 then they lifted up their voices and wept again there's that outburst of tears and ORPA kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her see the narrator. He says this is the mother-in-law and the daughters-in-law. But when Naomi speaks, it's not daughter-in-law. As I mentioned it's it's it's my daughter's ORPA yield. She said I can't argue with this. I'm going home which which meant she's going back to their pagan gods because you did in those days you just could not live in pagan environment and last unless you was some sort of super civilian a believer, but Ruth Bruce couldn't do it is noble!

So it says just five little words in English but Ruth clung to ORPA kissed her mother-in-law what would let go and move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of cross-reference is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com. There you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe, you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio on your favorite podcast app work. Just follow the links@crossreferenceradio.com that's all the time we have for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. As we continue to learn more from the book of Ruth right here on cross-reference