WordLive - Year OneExemple

Prepare: As in today’s passage we encounter people under huge stress, ask the Lord to meet with you in the pressures of your life.

Shining in the darkness
‘In the days when the judges ruled’ refers to an era of unprecedented challenge to faith in the one true God. Israel had come through years of upheaval and now struggled to settle in the land, facing significant economic, moral and social pressures. The book of Ruth shines into this darkness, telling the story of ordinary people facing ordinary events.

The inclusion of this tale in the Bible indicates that the lives of ordinary people are not insignificant to God. He knows every detail of our lives; he cares for us and numbers the hairs on our heads. Bereaved widows are known by name – their relationships with one another and their faithfulness to God in the face of huge pressures are inspiring.

Known by name
For the author of Ruth names are significant. In Hebrew culture to know a person’s name is to know their character: the name is the person. It was terrible to have your name destroyed; it left you as if you had never existed.

Elimelech means ‘My God is King’. Is there some rebuke here since he takes his family away from Bethlehem (‘house of bread’) to a foreign land for provision? Naomi means ‘pleasant, lovely, delightful’ and the poignant significance of this comes out as the story unfolds.

Respond: Remember that, whatever your circumstances, God knows your name and he has not forgotten you. Spend time in prayer bringing to him any worries or pressure you face today.

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-09-03