Hannah

— Hannah and Peninnah –

Scripture References: 1 Samuel 1-2

Her Situation:

Read 1 Samuel 1:1-8

Hannah’s husband was Elkanah.

Elkanah had two wives.

Elkanah was of the tribe of Levi.

Hannah means “gracious, graciousness, or favor”

Peninnah means “coral”

Elkana’s sin of polygamy brought pain and friction into his home.

Polygomy was common in the pagan cultures and among the people of God “every man did that which was right i the sight of his own eyes.”  Judges 17:6

It is probable that Hannah was his first wife and because she was barren he took another wife to bear him children.

God’s design for marriage is for one man and for one woman. Genesis 2:24 NASB “For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

“Hannah is one of the few women in the sacred Scriptures about whom nothing negative is reported.” -Elizabeth George

Hannah was the mother of Samuel. She also bore three other sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21).

In verse 3 we see Elkanah’s faithful dedication by making the yearly trip to Shiloh to keep the feast. He was leading his family in the ways of God. Unfortunately, the sin of two wives brought disorder and unrest.

(v. 5) We see Elkanah show more love to Hannah, however, this did not take away her pain of barrenness.

The word for “love” in the Hebrew is “ahab” and it means “to have affection for, to like”

Peninnah added to Hannah’s grief by provoking her with cruel words. This was because Peninnah was jealous.

When people are jealous of you it is often shown in anger. They will come at you with a anger meant to provoke.

Proverbs 21:19 NKJV “Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.”

Proverbs 29:22 NKJV “An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression.”

Proverbs 13:40 NKJV “A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.”

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.

Read Galatians 5:19-26.

As Christian women we need to beware of these things in our hearts and not be deceived by them. We need to rejoice with our sisters in Christ and with what God is doing in their lives.

“Jealousy, ‘the green-eyed monster that mocks the meat it feeds on,’ had taken possession of Peninnah, but not of Hannah.” -Herbert Lockyer

(Self Reflection) When are you at times a “Peninnah”? Do you have a Peninnah in your life?

“From Peninnah’s harsh treatment of Hannah we discover how a thoughtless, unloving word of ours can give sorrow to others. How necessary it is to guard our tongues! (James 3: 9,10).

(v.6) The word for “provoke” is “ka as” in the Hebrew. “A verb meaning to be angry, to provoke to anger. The causative sense of the verb occurs most often and frequently signifies idolatry provoking God to anger.” -The Complete Word Study Dictionary

Jealousy also stems from idolatry. Meaning, God is not enough in your life. You want more here on earth. Beware of demanding to the Lord that He meet the idolatrous craving in your life.

A key to overcoming jealousy and covetousness is surrender.

Luke 9:24 NASB “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”

(v. 7) You see it happening “in the church.” Like Hannah, we all have areas of barrenness in our lives. We are not to point out areas of barrenness in others.

God allows us to go through day-to-day difficulties so we would be reliant upon Him.

Hebrews 3:13 NASB “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

“encourage” in the Greek is “parakaleo” and means “to call near, invite, invoke”

We are called to “in-courage” others....to put courage in them!

(Self Reflection) What are your personal areas of “barrenness”?

Her Solution:

Read 1 Samuel 1:9-18

Nowhere in scripture do you see Hannah responding to Peninnah or lash out in anger. Hannah allowed the pressure of her problems to bring her to prayer.

Hannah had self-control with her mouth. Her first recorded words in scripture is her speaking in prayer.

(v. 10) “greatly distressed” literally means “bitter of soul” -What an example she is to us that her bitterness of soul expressed itself in prayer!

(v. 11) refer to the Nazarite Vow in Numbers 6:1-21

Like Hannah, we can pray this over our children, that they would be set apart for the purposes of God. We need to enter the battle in prayer over our children.

(v.12) She continued praying. Are you STILL praying for what is “bitterness of soul” in your life?

IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY PRAY. IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO SAY PRAY.

The Lord allows pressing in our lives so we can give birth to Samuels. Otherwise, we would simply go on our way.

(v. 14) Here we see the priest Eli making a wrong assumption. We need to learn not to be hasty in our conclusions and think the world is as we see it. We know very little about situations and people and we are not to make judgements like this. Let God be God!

Romans 4:14 NKJV “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.”

(v. 15) Hannah calmly and respectfully responded to Eli’s wrong accusation of her. She is not the “high and mighty” type!

Romans 12:3a NASB “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think.”

Proverbs 15:28 NASB “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

“I have poured out my soul”...the word for “poured” in the Hebrew is “shapak” and it means “to spill forth, gush out, pour, slip.”

Under certain circumstances we WILL, whether we want to or not, spill out. Let it be in prayer and not in hasty words!

GOD’S RULES FOR VIRTUOUS SPEECH: (taken from Elizabeth George)

1.     Speak with wisdom and kindness (Proverbs 31:26).

2.     Think before you speak (Proverbs 15:28).

3.     Learn to speak softly (Proverbs 15:1).

4.     Add sweetness to your speech (Proverbs 16:21).

5.     Be instructive when you speak (Proverbs 16:23).

6.     Err on the side of less (Proverbs 10:19).

(v. 18) Hannah believed God and was no longer sad even though she had yet to see change!

Hannah acted based on her vision of faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Her Devotion:

Read 1 Samuel 1:19-28

Samuel means “heard of God”

(v. 19) Here we see Hannah being a woman of worship.

Set aside time for personal worship and praise. There is power in singing songs to the Creator of the Universe.

(v. 20) Remember, God does things in due time. Be faithful with one day at a time! He will bring things about.

Hannah was a brave woman. She had bravery of heart.

Read 1 Samuel 2:18-21

God blessed Hannah with more children. Sometimes God doesn’t give us what we may want until we let go.

Life Lesson:

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Discussion Questions:

1.      Sarah, Rachel, and Rebekah were barren, just as Hannah had been. How did each of these women react to her trial?

2.      How did Eli err in his view of Hannah? What does that teach us?

3.      Describe Hannah’s character. How can Hannah’s story benefit us?

Ruth

—  Ruth  –

Scripture References: Deuteronomy 25:5-10; The Book of Ruth;  Matthew 1:5-6

Her Decision:

Read Ruth 1:1-18

(v. 8-15) Both of the daughters-in-law originally went. Orpah decided to go backwards. Ruth decided to go forwards.

Look over verses 16-18. What were the things that Ruth was determined about? How can you personally be determined by these same things in your walk with God?

“Ruth’s outstanding quality was a beauty of heart, a generosity of soul, a firm sense of duty, and a meekness which often goes hand in hand with decision.” -H. Morton

“Ruth proved to be a woman of decision. Though Naomi had said that she could offer her nothing a woman needs in Judah, Ruth firmly closed the door to her way of life, her family, and her gods and bravely faced a bleak and uncertain future by the side of her destitute mother-in-law.” -Frances Vander Velde

“She did not seek for self-pity neither did she manifest the bitterness that had gripped the heart of Naomi because of her sad lot. Amid the shadows Ruth maintained a poise and a serenity which even her mother-in-law must have coveted.” -Herbert Lockyer

John 14:27 NIV “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

We can go forward, like Ruth, into the unknown before us. We have the peace of God! He knows all things and through Him we can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

The story of Ruth is a story of God’s sovereignty.

God being “sovereign” means that He has supreme rank, power and authority over all things.

“The most comforting thing to a child of God is the sovereignty of God.” -Charles Spurgeon

Look at your life through the eyes of God’s sovereignty. Ask God to reveal to you ways He sovereignly has worked it out. By faith, look at the circumstances in your life and give an account for how God has been involved.

Psalm 103:19 NASB “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all.”

Our God is EL ELYON: God Most High

As believers we are to take our trials and circumstances and bring them to the Lord and allow Him to give us a positive and heavenly perspective on them. He will use these things to sanctify and purify us more into His image. Having this view we will make ourselves pliable to God for sanctification.

To “sanctify” means “to make holy, purify, consecrate”

Verses on sanctification:

Ephesians 1:4 NASB “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NASB “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

John 17:17 NASB “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.”

2 Corinthians 7:1 NASB “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Ruth means “friendship”

In a woman like Ruth, you find a friend. What is your personal favorite quality in a friend and why?

Her Faith That Works:

Read Ruth chapter 2 and 3

(ch 2:1) Boaz means “Standing in Strength”

Boaz is a picture of our kinsman redeemer, Jesus Christ. Ruth is a picture of the Bride of Christ; hungry, poor and in need.

(ch 2:2) Ruth stepped out in faith.

Habakkuk 2:4b NASB “But the righteous will live by his faith.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Faith and believing God is so important to Him! As women of God we should be interested in the things that He is interested in. Let this be our prayer.

“Ruth now became Naomi’s means of support. Each family usually had sufficient women to care for the complete needs of the household. There was no work for a woman outside of the home. The poor and the widow would have been destitute, indeed, if God had not provided for them (Lev. 19:9-10). To be a gleaner with the other poor was a humble task. Ruth was not afraid of work (Ruth 2:7) and gleaned from the break of day until the warm red sun left its last glow on the swaying barley and slowly dipped behind the low hills of Judah. “ -Frances Vander Velde

Ruth had a servant heart.

Ways to serve: (taken from Elizabeth George)

●      Service to others -Nurturing a servant’s heart beings with the decision to serve others -anyone and everyone. Jesus Himself models this heart attitude for us, for He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28)

●      Service to your husband -God’s Word is clear: “Whatever you do [including serving your husband] so it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).

●      Service to your children -As a familiar kitchen plaque reads, “Divine services rendered here three times a day!” It’s true that not only every meal prepared, but also every piece of clothing washed, every room tidied, every floor swept, every ride given is love in action.

●      Service to your church -Married or single, you can exercise your servant heart at your church. There are always meals to take to those in need, pew racks to stock, chairs to set up, and Sunday school classes to teach.

(v. 12) -Boaz recognized who Ruth trusted in when he said “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”

Boaz saw that by leaving Moab and taking the risk to go to Bethlehem among Jewish people with an old widow that she was walking by faith and trusting in the God of Israel.

“Being one who feared God, and one who cared for the poor, Boaz went among his reapers, spoke kindly to them and earned their benediction. Coming upon Ruth he was arrested by her staid and modest look. Although poorly clad there was dignity in her mien, a refinement giving her distinction, and Boaz is arrested by her beauty and personality. Making inquiries about her, Boaz learns of her sacrifice for Naomi, and of her conversion to the worship of Jehovah (2:6,7), and commands the reapers to purposefully drop extra sheaves for Ruth’s benefit. Boaz also bade Ruth to glean only in his field, and to stand fast by his female workers. He wanted to preserve her from coarse contact with men who might take advantage of such a poor woman, who was in his admiring eyes a superior one. She was not to eat with others but present herself at his feasts.” -Herbert Lockyer

(2:4) You see Boaz walking among everyone as Jesus “Emmanuel -God with us” walked among us, rich and poor alike.

(2:8) Just like Boaz didn’t want Ruth to wander off into another field, the Lord does not want us to wander away from Him where we can find ourselves in danger. His desire is that we stay among Him and His people.

(2:14) Ruth’s servant’s heart inspired Boaz to serve her! What a beautiful picture of honoring and serving one another. Boaz was a man who valued all people. The rich and the poor.

(2:15-16) Because she trusted in God, this man of God gave provision and protection to her.

BOAZ and RUTH

The ultimate CINDERELLA story!

“It’s not about finding the right man, but becoming the right woman.” -Jackie Kendall in Lady in Waiting

               This is heart of a godly woman!

(3:3) Like Ruth, spiritually speaking, as the Bride of Christ we are to wash ourselves with the water of the Word, be anointed with the Holy Spirit, and take of the garment of heaviness and put on the garment of praise.

(3:7) As Ruth laid at the feet of Boaz so are we to lay at the feet of Jesus.

(3:8) “There is nothing immodest or immoral about this. By her actions, Ruth was declaring to Boaz that she desired him to be a spiritual covering for her. ‘You are a near kinsman,’ said Ruth -’my redeemer, my goel, my only hope. Please cover me.’ Here’s the question: Would Boaz do it? Would this wealthy, strong individual stretch his robe to cover a Moabitish woman, a new kid on the block, the one who had no credibility, no credentials, nothing to offer him? What would he do?” -Jon Courson

Remember the mother of Boaz was Rahab.

(ch 3:11) “All the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.”

Ruth had a beautiful reputation! This is what captured the heart of Boaz. Character and virtue is beautiful and desirable to a man of God.

*Having a good reputation is a Biblical requirement for widows to be supported by the church. (1 Timothy 5:9-10)

Boaz called Ruth a “virtuous woman.” The Biblical portrait for a virtuous woman is found in Proverbs 31:10-31

Traits of a Proverbs 31 Woman:

verse 10       Noble                                                          verse 21                    Farsighted, looks ahead

verse 11       Trustworthy                                               verse 22     Crafty, creative, takes care of appearance

verse 12       Honors her husband                                 verse 23     Honors her husband publicly and by actions

verse 13       Hardworking                                              verse 24     Acquires skills                              

verse 14       Selective, makes wise choices                 verse 25     Fearless of the future, prepared

verse 15       Has a plan                                                  verse 26     Wise and speaks kindly

verse 16       Thrifty                                                         verse 27     Watchful, diligent homemaker

verse 17       Works willingly                                          verse 28     Praised by her family

verse 18       Makes profitable goods                           verse 29     Excels the mediocre

verse 19       Works hard                                                verse 30     She fears the Lord

verse 20       Generous                                                    verse 31     She earns reward and receives praise

The Law of Kinsman Redeemer

“A kinsman redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or in need. The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Gen 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9-25; 25:47-55). The kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative is illustrated most clearly in the book of Ruth, where the kinsman-redeemer is Boaz.” (Got Questions Ministries)

(3:14) Start off your day in the presence of Jesus!

Her Marriage:

Read Ruth 4:1-13: From rags to riches!

(4:1-4) The ten elders are a picture of the law. Which came before Jesus, our Redeemer.

Ruth, a Moabitess, picture of the church.  Boaz is a picture of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer.

We are washed with the Word and anointed with the Holy Spirit when we come to the feet of Jesus for redemption. We are redeemed as Jesus fulfilled the Law. Jesus spotted us first just like Boaz spotted Ruth and took note of her before she took note of him. We see the Holy Spirit working the whole thing out! Through the whole story there is unity and redemption for everyone.

Life Lesson:

Just as you came to Jesus at the foot of the cross to redeem you from all of your sin ...enter a marriage relationship with Him as His Bride. Ruth now had a daily relationship with her groom. Jesus has redeemed us at our initial salvation experience but His desire is to redeem us every single day!

Discussion Questions:

1.      What does the name Ruth mean? Compare it with the meaning of the word ruthless. Characterize Ruth.

2.      Was it love for God or for Naomi that determined Ruth’s choice?

3.      What are the main values shown in the book of Ruth?

Naomi

Naomi

Scripture References: The Book of Ruth

Her Start:

Read Ruth 1:1-13

“Naomi was fortunate in that her husband’s inheritance lay in the fertile fields of Bethlehem. From early history, the lush valley that sloped from the hilltop city to the north, south, and east had been so exceptionally productive that the city that overlooked the terraced expanse of grain and fruits was called the House of Bread. Now the unexpected happened. There was dire famine in the land! Elimelech’s fertile fields lay stripped and desolate. Poverty and hunger prevailed. Some believed that the famine was occasioned by an invasion of enemies who came like a multitude of locusts to destroy the land (Judges 6:1-6). Elimelech was desparate; he could not keep the wolf of hunger from the door.” -Frances Vander Velde

Naomi and Elimelech moved to Moab where they had plenty to eat.

Elimelech’s names means “God is King”

Naomi had two sons named Mahlon and Chilion.

“During the rule of the Judges, Israel suffered a serious famine which was deemed to be one of the punishments visited upon the people when they had sinned (Leviticus 26:14, 16)...In taking the initiative to go to Moab -a foreign country -from Bethlehem, Naomi’s husband stepped out of the will of God. If famine was a judgement upon the nation, Elimelech should have repented, tried to have helped his countrymen back to God, and prayed for the removal of the scourge (Psalm 34:9, 10, 17).” -Herbert Lockyer

Bethlehem means “House of Bread”

Jesus said “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). And He quotes in Matthew 4:4 “Man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” That word for “word” there in the Greek is “rhema.” It is the spoken, living word of God.

We will be blessed when we stay in the “House of Bread” which is God’s Word.

Psalm 1:2-3 NIV “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”
The grass only appears to be greener on the other side. Remember, grass eventually with wither and fade. It is but for a moment.

“Precious people, I don’t care who you are or how close to God you might be. You can bet your bottom dollar that there will come into your walk seasons of dryness and times of difficulty. The question is not whether times of famine will come. The question is: ‘Where will you go when they do?’” -Jon Courson

In what is known as the “Lord’s Prayer” Jesus teaches His disciples to pray “Give us this day our daily bread...” (Matthew 6:11). When a great need arises in our lives we need to pray and carefully consider our course of action. Physically, Elimelech and Naomi needed to survive, but did they consider the spiritual and moral effects this move would have on their lives? When they returned to Bethlehem people recognized Naomi. Those people had managed to survive. Why didn’t Elimelech and Naomi return to Bethlehem as soon as possible? Why did they stay so long?

When need arises in your life your first course of action should be to pray and ask God.

James 4:2 NASB says, “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.”

The enemy schemes against us to keep us from praying. When we stop praying, we stop obtaining what the Lord has for our lives. We stop walking in fellowship with the Father and start depending and relying on ourselves, our skills and abilities. We act and even serve God out of our natural selves rather than walking in the spirit.

James 1:5 NASB “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

God will ask us to do something that requires faith. (What God asks us to do always requires faith). We will instead look for something to do or pour ourselves into (even in service to God) that doesn’t require faith. Time spent in prayer and seeking the Lord will prevent us from living like this.

Hebrews 11:6 NASB “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

How do you hear God’s voice? How do you know God’s will? The discernment comes through the day-by-day time spent in prayer and God’s Word. It’s knowing the Author of the Bible that you are studying. It’s praying and talking to God as you are reading and studying His Word. It’s putting in a journal daily those scriptures and words from the Lord. It’s actively waiting on Him. Waiting on God is an actual process of seeking Him.

The Lord took Elimelech and Naomi became a widow.

Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite women Ruth and Orpah.

Orpah means “youthful” or “immature”

Ruth means “friendship”

Naomi’s sons, Mahlon and Chilion, both died.

The Lord broke off the ties that kept Naomi in Moab and these trials stirred her to return back to Bethlehem. Day-by-day, seek to stay in the will of God. Again, in the “Lord’s Prayer,” which is a daily prayer guide for us, we see “Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Every day keep your heart sensitive to God’s will, to His kingdom purposes, to His provision. It is not God’s desire that we are the captain of our ship and that we chart our course. We think we know what is good for us but we don’t.

“Keep the main things the main things.”

“Don’t major on the minors.”

Refrain from the temptation to minimize prayer and time spent in God’s presence and maximizing what “needs to get done” and what we “need to do”. We really need to filter all our activity through prayer. We need to learn to let God be the captain of our ship and the charter of our course.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NASB
“‘For I know the plants that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.’”

1. -God’s plans for us are good (for our welfare)
2. -We need to call on God and pray to Him
3. -He will listen to us
4. -If we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him

In other words, if we’re seeking the Lord just to get our way, or to get something from Him that we want to happen...He sees right through that. We are seeking our will to be done. The kind of seeking that allows us to find God involves surrender our will, desires and what we think is best for us.

Her New Name:

After her sons died, Naomi longed to go back to Bethlehem and was determined to go.

“This intrigues me because it was Naomi’s loss that led her to listen. Please keep this in mind: This story is not to show God punishing Naomi for wandering off into Moab. Her loss was not punitive -it was corrective. It’s purpose was to get her back on track -back to Bethlehem, the House of Bread; back to Judah, the Place of Praise.” -Jon Courson

“Certainly this was not how Naomi had expected her life to unfold, but she was learning to trust God more, to trust Him to work in her life through unexpected people, events and circumstances.” -Elizabeth George

Naomi and her daughters-in-law were bonded together by the affliction they had experienced. They now were all widows. Naomi encouraged them to stay and find husbands as she journeyed back to Bethlehem. Orpah stayed but Ruth decided to go with Naomi.

“Because Naomi was true to God in the stress and storm of life, a beautiful thing happened. She won Ruth for God, and no confession of love has ever surpassed that of Ruth, the daugher-in-law to her mother-in-law.” -Frances Vander Velde

Naomi means “my joy,” “my bliss” or “pleasantness of Jehovah”

In God’s grace, Ruth saw enough of God in Naomi’s life to still desire to stay with her and go where she went, and serve the God that she served. God sets it up so He receives the glory.

In verse 8 we see Naomi did not take her pain out on her daughters-in-law. Instead she was loving and spoke blessings over their lives.

Sometimes when we are going through a trial we can misdirect our anger or frustration to people in our lives. Pray to be like Naomi and instead speak blessings to them.

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

Proverbs 16:24 NASB “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

Read Ruth 1:14-22

Naomi asked them to call her Mara which means “bitter”

“Trials will either make you bitter or better.”

Naomi was honest. She was broken and she was open about it. She wasn’t trying to hide it, cover it, or act as if she had it all together.

Keys to overcoming or avoiding bitterness:

1. Give thanks - Ephesians 5:20 NASB “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father”
2. Pray without ceasing - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB “pray without ceasing”
3. Reach out to others - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NASB “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

In verse 13 we see Naomi declare that God’s hand was against her. God never told her this and it was simply not true. God has a good plan, a divine design. God transforms and restores. God is a God of redemption.

Verse 21 describes to us the life of a backslider. When you leave the “House of Bread” of God’s Word...you will always go out full and come back empty!

Read Ruth 2:1-2; 18-22

Naomi directed Ruth and a beautiful God-story unraveled. Naomi guided and instructed Ruth each step of the way. She offered wisdom and Naomi’s family ties in Bethlehem brought blessing and provision by God.

The Law of Kinsman Redeemer
“A kinsman redeemer is a male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or in need. The Hebrew term (go el) for kinsman redeemer designates one who delivers or rescues (Gen 48:16; Exodus 6:6) or redeems property or person (Leviticus 27:9-25; 25:47-55). The kinsman who redeems or vindicates a relative is illustrated most clearly in the book of Ruth, where the kinsman-redeemer is Boaz.” (Got Questions Ministries)

Naomi opened her mouth in praise in Ruth 2:20 “May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.”

Her Hope:

Read Ruth 4:14-17

The women blessed Naomi in Ruth 4:14-15 NASB “Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daugher-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.’”

Our God is a God of restoration!

Isaiah 40:31 ESV “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Psalm 145:15 NKJV “The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season.”

v. 16-17 “Naomi became the nurse for Obed. This may have been a formal act of adoption. The women of Bethlehem named the boy Obed which means ‘worshipper.’ Naomi accepted the name. She, the empty one, was now full. The bitter one was now blessed. Naomi had a son (actually a grandson but ‘son’ in Hebrew often means ‘decendant’).” -The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Life Lesson:

“You left full Naomi. You came back empty. And now God is blessing you once again. The women told Naomi that Ruth was better that seven sons, seven being the number of perfection. Their words were prophetic indeed for out of Ruth’s line would come forth not only King David, but the Perfect One -Jesus Christ. Naomi, this prodigal daughter of the Old Testament, came back to Bethlehem, where God rebuilt, rebirthed, restored, and renewed her. And that’s what He’ll do with us -if we’ll just come back to Him.” -Jon Courson


Discussion Questions:

1. Was it right for Naomi to say “the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20)?
2. What trial have you experienced in your life that has made you closer to the Lord? (the better not the bitter)
3. What did you glean most from Naomi’s life?
4. What lesson from Naomi’s life do you not want to miss in your life? (meaning what do you want to avoid)