- May 8, 2023
- 4 min read

Lesson 669: Book of Ruth, Chapter 1

“ and Thy God...My God"

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RUTH CHAPTER 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. 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 wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; 13 would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord 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 unto her. Ruth decides to go with Naomi to Bethlehem 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 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: 17 where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Lesson No. 669 “ and Thy God...My God"

Book of Ruth, Chapter 1 04/07/202

1) Why did Elimelech (my God is King), Naomi his wife(pleasant) and two boys, a Jewish family leave Bethlehem (house of bread), move to Moab a gentile (pagan) land? (verses 1-2)

2) What happened to Elimelech and his two sons after they moved? (verses 3-5) Do you think God was pleased with Elimelech and his family? Deuteronomy 7: 1-14

3) After this tragedy (or consequence), what did Naomi have to say to her daughters-in-law? (verse 6-9) What was their response? (verse 11)

4) So what did Naomi say to the girls? (verses 12-13) What did they do? (verse 14) Naomi says Orpah was going back to who? Going back to worshiping Moabite gods!!! (verse 15) It's all about choices!

5) But what about Ruth? (verse 16) Who was Ruth making a commitment too? Only Naomi?

6) Off to Bethlehem (any thoughts as to why Bethlehem?) Was Naomi welcomed home? (verses 18-19)

7) How did Naomi (pleasant) fell about her experience in Moab? (verses 20-21) What does her new nick-name mean (bitter). What did she say about God and how He treated the family?

8) What about when Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem, what was going on? What could it mean? (verse 22) How about 'season of first fruits' which is believed to typify Christ's Resurrection!

9) So what does God have to do with this story, and why is this story important? What does God want us to do when we sin?

10) Is this a story of family having hard-times, or a story of folks (the spiritual leader of the family) making the wrong choices, God responding to sin, and God using consequences to love them back to himself and ‘home’?

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