Truth for Today — Studies in Ruth, No 5,
Scripture: Ruth 1:3-5.
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2. The little we know of the women at this stage suggests attractiveness. Orpah = gazelle; Ruth = friendship. These women were likely very attractive physically and in personality. This is not the basis of a good marriage.
3. They were “women of Moab”. Num 25:1-5, indicates to us the morality of Moab and its women and the outcome of their yielding to their enticements.
Ruth subsequently became a godly woman, but she was originally a Moabitish woman.
4. Her sons paid the price of defiance. “And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them,” verse
5. Thus Ruth is left with nothing just like the prodigal.
Thus Naomi learned that of the deceitfulness of sin and the emptiness of the world’s apparent plenty. Enjoyment of earthly plenty is no token of God’s grace and mercy.
III. YET EVEN IN THE MIDST OF JUDGMENT MERCY IS TO BE SEEN.
Ruth was converted to the true faith. It was in the far country that the Prodigal is awakened. An awakening took place in Ruth’s heart and Naomi was not utterly bereft of her family. She became daughter-in-law to another trophy of grace. “And Salmon begat Boaz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse,” Matthew 1:5.