Opening:

Today, we begin a new sermon series on the book of Ruth, a story set against the backdrop of one of Israel's darkest chapters; the time of the Judges. As we saw in our last sermon series, this was an era marked by turmoil, disobedience, and moral decay, summed up by the haunting refrain: “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). It was a time when chaos and confusion seemed to reign, and the people of God had lost their way. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, the book of Ruth emerges as a surprising and beautiful story of hope. It is a story that shines a light in the shadows, reminding us that God’s faithfulness is never absent, even when it is hardest to see.

Scripture Reading: 

Ruth 1:1-22 (ESV)

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You today acknowledging the reality of darkness and loss that we sometimes face in our lives, just as Naomi and Ruth did. In seasons of want help us not to lose sight of Your sovereignty and grace. As we reflect on the story of Ruth and Naomi, open our hearts to see Your hand at work, even in the midst of trials. May we trust in Your faithfulness, knowing that You are always weaving a greater story of redemption. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The Reality of Darkness and Loss (Ruth 1:1-5)

The opening verses of the Book of Ruth set a somber scene: “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land” (Ruth 1:1, ESV). Picture this: the very ground that once overflowed with God’s blessing now cracked under a relentless sun, dry and barren. But this was more than a physical shortage of food; it was a mirror reflecting a spiritual drought in the hearts of God’s people. Israel, a nation chosen and richly blessed by the Almighty, had fallen into repeated cycles of disobedience and sin. 

Just as the rain ceased and crops withered, so did their devotion falter and their trust erode. The blessings that had once marked their land now seemed withdrawn, leaving behind a stark landscape of spiritual desolation. The people’s hunger wasn’t just for food; it was for something deeper, something that only God’s return to their hearts could satisfy. 

This famine was a powerful symbol of their spiritual state. Just as the parched earth cried out for rain, so did the souls of the people ache for renewal and connection with God. Their disobedience had brought not only physical hunger but a deep spiritual hunger. They were starving for their Creator, yet they continued searching in all the wrong places. The emptiness within them grew, a void that no grain or harvest could fill, for what they needed was not mere bread, but the very presence of God.

It is in this famine that we are introduced to Elimelech, a man whose name means “My God is King,” yet whose actions told a different story. He chose to leave Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” to seek sustenance in Moab, a place beyond God’s covenant. Here’s an important truth: when faced with hardship, how often do we, like Elimelech, pack up our trust in God and look to other sources for answers? We chase temporary solutions; money, relationships, status; believing they will fill the void. Elimelech thought he was making a smart decision for his family’s future, however Elimelech’s choice was a step away from faith and obedience, leading not to safety but to sorrow. How many times have we taken that same step, searching for relief in things that cannot truly satisfy?

The results were tragic. Instead of finding refuge, Elimelech’s family found ruin. Picture Naomi, his wife, now standing alone in a foreign land, heart pierced by grief, surrounded by echoes of what once was. Losing her husband and sons was not just personal tragedy; it was the loss of security, future, and hope. Can you hear the anguish in her words? “The hand of the LORD has gone out against me” (Ruth 1:13, ESV). It’s the cry of anyone who has ever felt forsaken in their suffering. And yet, even in Naomi’s despair, God’s hand was quietly at work. Even when hope seemed extinguished, His plan for redemption was already unfolding.

Faithful Love in the Midst of Suffering (Ruth 1:6-18)

But what does true love and loyalty look like in the face of loss? In Ruth 1:6-18, we witness one of the most moving expressions of sacrificial love in all of Scripture. Naomi, devastated by the loss of her husband and sons, stands as a figure of deep grief in a foreign land. Yet even in her pain, she displays a rare and selfless love. Her thoughts are not for her own future, but for her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you” (Ruth 1:8, ESV). Naomi’s blessing is remarkable, it’s an act of releasing, of letting go, even at great personal cost.

This selfless act sets the stage for a moment of decision. Orpah, with genuine affection, heeds Naomi’s words and returns to her homeland, a logical and practical choice. But Ruth, driven by something deeper, refuses to leave Naomi’s side. “Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16, ESV). This declaration is more than loyalty; it is an act of faith and love. Ruth, a Moabite and outsider, commits not just to Naomi but to Naomi’s God, stepping into a covenant that defies cultural boundaries.

Consider Ruth’s choice; it defies logic. A life in Bethlehem promised uncertainty and hardship, yet Ruth chose to follow, guided by an unwavering loyalty that prefigures the faith God desires from His people. Ruth embodies what it means to abandon spiritual emptiness and embrace God’s promise. It is much like the testimony of the church, each of us were called from idolatry to devotion. Just as Ruth clung to Naomi, leaving behind all that was familiar, the church is called to cling to Christ, leaving behind the past to follow Him.

Ruth’s loyalty is praiseworthy not just for its emotional weight but for its spiritual insight. She stood by Naomi when everything practical said to turn back. This constancy is a reflection of God’s own love; steadfast and sacrificial. From Ruth’s act of loyalty, God’s redemptive plan unfolded, leading to the birth of Christ from her lineage. A seemingly small decision in a moment of hardship became the seed for salvation history.

This story calls us to a deeper question: Would we dare to make such a choice when comfort calls us elsewhere? In the New Testament, Jesus calls His followers to a similar love; unwavering, sacrificial, and unconditional. We are invited to carry each other’s burdens and remain faithful even when the path is unclear. Ruth’s story challenges us to ask: Are we willing to love as Ruth loved? Will we trust in God’s covenant love when the cost feels daunting, echoing her words, “Where You go, I will go”?

God’s Grace at Work Through Outsiders (Ruth 1:19-22)

In Ruth 1:22, we find Naomi, whose name once meant “pleasant,” now identifying herself as Mara, meaning “bitterness.” Her name change reveals how deeply she believes that God’s hand has turned against her, leaving her life marked by loss. Standing beside her is Ruth, a Moabite who has left behind her homeland, her people, and her gods to accompany Naomi and place her trust in the God of Israel. Together, they return to Bethlehem, grief-stricken and empty. Yet, a small detail hints that a change is on the horizon: “They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest” (Ruth 1:22, ESV).

This detail is more than a narrative timestamp; it is a symbol of hope and God’s provision. The barley harvest signals that the season of famine is giving way to a time of renewal. Naomi, blinded by sorrow, cannot yet perceive that this moment marks the beginning of God’s redemptive work. She returns expecting nothing, yet God is already moving, quietly preparing the field of her restoration. 

How often do we, like Naomi, become overwhelmed by trials, convinced that God’s hand has brought only pain? Despair clouds our vision, making us unable to see the quiet work of providence in our lives. Yet, even in our darkest valleys, God is sowing seeds of grace that we cannot yet see. Naomi stepped into Bethlehem believing she was broken and empty, unaware that she was walking into the very place where God would begin a miraculous transformation. This is divine providence: God orchestrating redemption when all seems lost, guiding us even when we see only the shadows of loss.

This passage reveals a vital truth: God’s sovereignty is always at work, even in our seasons of greatest suffering. Naomi and Ruth’s return during the barley harvest is not coincidental; it is a divinely appointed beginning. Though Naomi remains unaware, God is already orchestrating her journey toward healing. This truth resonates with the assurance found in Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, ESV). Naomi’s bitter circumstances, painful as they were, did not fall outside of God’s plan. And so it is with us; our trials, though daunting, are often the prelude to God’s redemptive work.

An important lesson in this account is that God’s hand often moves not through grand gestures but through humble, faithful actions. Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi and her powerful declaration, “Where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16, ESV) sets in motion the entire course of restoration. Her quiet loyalty becomes the channel through which God’s blessing flows.

This loyalty is active, costly, and relentless. Ruth does not simply accompany Naomi; she binds her own uncertain future to Naomi’s. Through this steadfast love, God brings about Naomi’s redemption. We often look for God’s presence in extraordinary signs, yet He frequently works through everyday faithfulness and small acts of devotion. Ruth’s commitment foreshadows the sacrificial love of Christ, who, in a far greater way, bound Himself to humanity, even to the point of death.

As believers, we are called to embody this covenantal love. Just as Ruth clung to Naomi, we are called to cling to one another, sharing each other’s burdens and remaining loyal in love, especially when the path is difficult. In a world that often prizes convenience over commitment, Ruth’s devotion stands as a rare and radiant example of faithfulness. Our love for one another is not just a reflection of God’s love; it becomes the very vessel through which His grace reaches the world.

When we find ourselves in seasons of darkness and uncertainty, let us remember Naomi’s story. Though she felt crushed by her circumstances, God’s provision was already at work, quietly preparing a harvest of grace. And like Ruth, let us commit to steadfast, sacrificial love, trusting that our simple, faithful actions may become the seeds of God’s redemptive work. Our suffering, perseverance, and love are never wasted when entrusted to the God who weaves all things together for good.

Conclusion

As we bring this sermon to an end, let us remember that in Ruth’s faithful love for Naomi, we catch a powerful glimpse of Christ’s unwavering love for us. Ruth’s commitment wasn’t convenient; it persevered through uncertainty, sacrifice, and hardship, binding her to Naomi in an unbreakable bond. In the same way, Christ sought us out even when we were distant, enduring the agony of the cross so that we could be drawn close to God and experience His love firsthand.

Let us also remember that Ruth’s journey from being an outsider to embracing faith in the God of Israel reminds us of the transforming power of God’s grace. No one is beyond the reach of His redemption. Just as Ruth left behind her old life, stepping into the unknown to follow Naomi and the true God, we are invited to leave behind our sin, shame, and brokenness and trust fully in God’s plan of redemption. His grace doesn’t just forgive—it renews, giving us a new identity as part of His family.

If you feel distant from God or weighed down by loss and uncertainty, remember that Christ is calling you to Himself. He is the ultimate Redeemer who stepped into our brokenness, bore our sin, and laid down His life so that we could be reconciled to God. Through His sacrifice, we are offered forgiveness, hope, and a new beginning. Just as Ruth’s faith brought her into the story of God’s people, so too does faith in Christ bring us into His eternal family.

Ruth’s story ultimately points us to Jesus, who clings to us in our deepest need and paves the way when there seems to be none. His death and resurrection conquered sin and death, extending the promise of eternal life to us all. This is not just an ancient story; it’s a personal invitation. Christ’s love is steadfast and unyielding, reaching out to each of us. Will you respon are at work in our own lives, using our trials to accomplish Your perfect will. Help us to love others as Ruth loved Naomi—steadfastly, sacrificially, and with unwavering loyad to that love? Will you trust Him to be your Redeemer and source of hope? Like Ruth’s declaration, “Your God will be my God,” you, too, can turn to Jesus, who has already turned toward you with open arms, offering forgiveness, peace, and new life.

Even in the midst of hardship, God is at work, inviting you into His perfect plan. Through faith in Christ, you will find redemption, purpose, and a secure future. This is the heart of the gospel: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, bringing us into God’s family. Today can be the day you embrace this truth, the day you experience the steadfast, life-giving love of Christ. He gave everything so that you might truly live.

Closing Prayer:

Gracious God, as we close today, we thank You for the reminder that Your grace is at work, even when we cannot see it. Just as You turned Naomi’s bitterness into blessing and used Ruth’s faithfulness to bring forth redemption, we trust that Youlty. May our faithfulness to You and to each other be a reflection of Christ’s covenant love for us. Guide our steps, Lord, and give us the strength to trust in Your timing and provision, knowing that You are always working all things together for our good. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.