We have been learning about the story of a woman named Ruth through our Sunday messages. Perhaps you have read through the book of Ruth before or maybe you had never even heard of it prior to this message series. Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to take a deeper dive into the narrative by reading through the book of Ruth for ourselves. Don’t panic, it is only four chapters. I encourage you to grab your Bible, a journal, and a pen to reflect on what God is teaching you through this section of scripture. Here is the format that we will follow:
Be Still: As you read, write out the Bible verse or verses that stick out to you most.
Abide: What truth can you learn? Are there any principles or commands present? What is the overall theme of the text?
Adore: What does the text reveal about God and His character?
Apply: How does this Scripture apply to your life today? How does the truth of God’s Word change your daily perspective? How can you live differently in light of this truth?
Pray: Pray God’s Word back to Him. Turn these thoughts into prayer. Ask the Lord to show you how to meditate on and apply this Scripture to your life.
Scripture: Ruth 1:1-5 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
For consideration as you reflect:
- Elimelek means “my God is King.” Naomi means “pleasant.” Mahlon & Kilion mean “sick and tired”. How do these definitions change the way that you interpret this passage?
- The end of verse five tells us the state of Naomi’s life—she was left without her two sons and husband. With that, how does this story start? What is the tone? What is the context that we are given before it unfolds?
