RUTH 1:1-5; NAMES

Week 1: Ruth 1:1-5
Day 1:
We will read these five verses every day, and then meditate on them, one a day. Ruth 1:1-5
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 dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion — Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took 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. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
Before zooming in on verse 1, write your prayer for God to meet you in His Word right where you are:

Verse 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 dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons What are the circumstances:

Which circumstances in your life comes to mind:

How did “a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah ” respond to the circumstances:

How are you responding to yours?

What is God showing you:

Day 2
Read again
Ruth 1:1-5
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 dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion — Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took 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. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. Today, meditate on Ruth 1:2
The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion — Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. What is the most repeated word in this verse?

Why do you think it is mentioned so much?

Each of these names have a meaning. Do you know what your own name means?

Revelation 2:17
17 “ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’ What would you like your new name to say about you?

2 Chronicles 2:4
4 Behold, I am building a temple for the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to Him, to burn before Him sweet incense, for the continual showbread, for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, on the New Moons, and on the set feasts of the Lord our God. This is an ordinance forever to Israel.1 Corinthians 6:19
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
As you meditate on 2. Chronicles 2:4 and 1. Corinthians 6:19, what is God showing you:

Day 3
Read again
Ruth 1:1-5
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 dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion — Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took 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. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

Write a prayer, inviting God to speak to you:

As painful as it is, read over verse 3 several times:
Ruth 1:3
Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.
Naomi and her sons were in a foreign country. What do you think Naomi lost when her husband died:

What in your life have you lost?

How did you deal with that?

Elimelech means “my God is King.” what do you think he would tell Naomi:

What do you think God is saying about the losses in your life?

Write a prayer inviting Him to be King over your loss, and Healer of any wounds still aching:

He died after unbearable torture, to rise again, to conquer all death ~ To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
– Isaiah 61:3

Day 4
Invite the Holy Spirit to minister to you through His living Word:

Read again
Ruth 1:1-5
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 dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion — Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took 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. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. Read several times Ruth 1:4
Now they took 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. Orpah means “gazelle” and Ruth means “friendship.”
What impression does this give you of these women?

In Deuteronomy 7:3 and 23:3, Ezra 9:2, and Nehemiah 13:23 God explicitly forbids marriage between Israelites and Moabites. Why do you think He does that?

Ruth is in the Old Testament, before Jesus made it possible for everyone to be part of His family. In the New Testament, this is our reality: Galatians 3:28-29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
However, there is still a warning concerning marriage and other close partnership, not longer based on race or nationality, but on faith. 2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
To be yoked together is an expression from farming where to oxen yoked together must pull in the same direction at the same speed. What happens when an believer is yoked with an unbeliever?

Are you in any way yoked to someone whose direction in life hinders or compromises yours?

Pray and ask God what to do about it:

Day 5
Before you read the Word, pour out your heart to your Father. What fills your heart and mind right now:

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Ask him to take it and handle it for you:

1 Peter 5:6-7
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He gvdds fstvyv hyb c65)5ymsvfcgfbbbdecares for you. Let’s return to Ruth:
Ruth 1:1-5
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 dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion — Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took 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. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
Before zooming in on today’s Word, let’s remember that “the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Ruth 1:5
Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
This is probably the most painful verse in the Book of Ruth. After today, we will see how God redeems impossible situations. But we must wrestle with this first. In your opinion, is there ever any rhyme or reason for suffering?

When sin first emerged the world in the garden of Eden, death came with it. It is a reality no one escapes, but some death is a consequence of personal sin. What would be an example of this:

Remember that marriages between Hebrew and Moabites were strictly forbidden under the law. About this verse, Jewish writers say that the early deaths of both the young men were divine judgments inflicted on them for those unlawful connections. Is there anything in your life that could lead to negative consequences:

What is God showing you to do about it:

Romans 8:37-39
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. See you in the candle light on Tuesday.