Ruth 1v6-22
The Journey (Part Four)
(Click here to listen to the second Ruth teaching)
Verse of the Week:
“I AM SELF-SUFFICIENT IN CHRIST’S SUFFICIENCY.” PHILIPPIANS 4:13 AMP
More Words from the Father:
Philippians 1-2:18
From my Heart:
Empty…or Full?
“I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty.” - Naomi (Ruth 1:21)
What’s this? Naomi complains to her friends that she left Bethlehem a decade or so ago with full coffers? She fled a famine full?
And now, with the House of Bread overflowing with food and a beautiful, loyal, committed daughter by her side she’s come back with nothing? Empty?
Naomi sounds like a lot of us.
“College is a tough time. So much work, so much pressure, a poor college student. If I could just finish…
then I’ll be happy.”
“No one is asking me out. Poor me, nobody loves me. If I could just find a husband…
then I’d be happy.”
“My husband just doesn’t understand me. If only I could get a different husband…
then I’d be happy.”
“Saving for a house is so hard. We both work fulltime, we’re exhausted and have nothing left over. If we could just buy a house of our own…
then I’d be happy.”
“This house is too small. We need more room, a bigger yard, a nicer neighborhood. If only we could buy a bigger house…
then I’d be happy.”
“All my friends are pregnant; a life growing inside of them. I want a baby. Then we’d be like a real family and…
then I’d be happy.”
“I hate being pregnant! My feet are swollen, my back aches, and I can’t sleep. If only I’d have this baby now…
then I’d be happy.”
“I’m up all night, I’m exhausted all the time and all I do is change diapers. If only my kids were in school…
then I’d be happy.”
“My kids drive me crazy! All I do is drive them from school to practice to lessons to games. I’m just a taxi driver with no time to myself. If only the kids could drive…
then I’d be happy.”
“My teenager is crazy! He drives too fast, leaves wrappers in the car and a mess in his room, and besides that, his music is too loud. If only he’d grow up…
then I’d be happy.”
“I live in an empty nest. It’s too quiet around here. I’m lonely and bored…
If only I could be happy.”
Does that sound like a litany you’ve heard before?
Always wishing we were in a better place…
a different season…
constantly complaining…
never happy with now.
The fact is, if you and I are completely and unreservedly surrendered to God, then
this now,
right here,
is our sweet spot.
Stinky diapers, crazy teenagers, less-than-ideal husband and all. And that, my dear friend, is just the way it is…
From my heart,
Diane
P.S. Check out the secret in Philippians 3:12, 13!
ETC.
Words
Hesed
No one word in the English language is capable of capturing the exact meaning of this Hebrew word, hesed. All renderings only approximate the original. Instead, translators ended up using a smorgasborg of words such as…
Kindness…
Mercy…
Loyalty…
Loving-kindness…
Loyal, steadfast, unfailing, love.
And yet this hesed is a crucial aspect of who God is and a part of His character which Satan most often lies about in order to dissuade us from the love of God. Psalm 136 is the “classic text for understanding the significance of this word.” In this passage it is used 26 times to proclaim God’s kindness.
Naomi had completely forgotten God’s hesed in the first part of our story. Instead, she felt that God was against her: afflicting her with harsh and punitive discipline (Ruth 1:13, 20, 21). Yet by chapter 3 of the book of Ruth we will see Naomi begin to thaw in her attitude towards God. She recognizes that it is the hesed of God that moves Boaz to gentle acts of generosity.
Watch for this theme of lovingkindness throughout the book of Ruth: on the part of Boaz, in Ruth toward Naomi, Naomi toward both Ruth and Orpah, and in Ruth toward Boaz.
Most of all, it is imperative that we recognize the daily hesed of God in our own lives…and that we be pouring the hesed leftovers into the lives of the people God puts in our path.
Words
Anthropomorphism
“For the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.” - Ruth 1:13
Naomi uses a familiar Hebrew colloquialism to explain her circumstances. Later in the story she will realize that her assessment is entirely wrong, but for now she’s convinced that God is very much against her.
This term is known as an anthropomorphism: a figure of speech which attributes human physical characteristics to God. In Scripture, God is described as having arms, hands, eyes, and ears. This can also include actions and feelings, i.e. “sleeping” (Psalm 121:4).