Background: The book is written with no name or clue to who the author is, and there is no direct indication of its date. The name Ruth is found in the Old Testament only in the book which is so entitled. The Book of Ruth details the history of the one decisive episode owing to which Ruth became an ancestress of David and of the royal house of Judah. The history lies in the period of the Judges (Ruth 1:1), at the close of a great famine in the land of Israel. Thus the life and history of Ruth are important in the eyes of the narrator because she forms a link in the ancestry of the greatest king of Israel. From a more modern point of view the narrative is a simply showing how the faithful loving service of Ruth to her mother-in-law met with its due reward. We are also given an glimpse of the ancient marriage customs of Israel, which in the time of the writer had long since become obsolete. The narrative is brief and told without affectation of style, and on that account will never lose its interest. It has preserved moreover the memory of an incident, the national significance of which may have passed away, but to which value will always be attached for its simplicity and natural grace.

The place which the Book of Ruth occupies in the order of the books of the English Bible is not that of the Hebrew Canon. The Hebrews divided the Old Testament into the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. Ruth is listed in the Hebrew Bible among the Writings, which is sometimes called "the psalms (Luke 24:44) in honor of its dominant book. Ruth is one of the five Rolls, which were ordered to be read in the synagogue on 5 special occasions or festivals during the year. Ruth was appointed to be read at the Feast of Weeks which was the second of the 5 special days. In Hebrew manuscripts, however, the order varies considerably. The Talmud, however, places it before the Book of Psalms. By the Greek translators the book was removed from the position which it held in the Hebrew Canon, and because it described events contemporaneous with the Judges, was attached as a kind of appendix to the latter work. This sequence was adopted in the Vulgate, and so has passed into all modern Bibles. Ruth is quite fittingly placed between Judges and 1 Samuel, because Ruth supplements the period of Judges with events in that era (1:1). Ruth also acts as an introduction to 1 Samuel in providing the lineage of David (4:18-22). (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

I. Choosing Not To Trust God (vv.1-5).

1. The decision to move (vv.1-2).

A. As the book opens we meet the family at their home in Bethlehem during the time of Judges.

1) Elimelech (i-lim'uh-lek); "my God is King"
2) Naomi (nay-oh'mee); "pleasant" or "lovely"
3) Mahlon (mah'lon); "puny" or "sickly"
4) Chilion (kil'ee-uhn); "pining" or "wasting away"

B. Life in the days of Judges.

1) Life wasn't easy during these days, and it was one of the lowest points in the history of Israel because of the divisions, cruelty, apostasy, civil war, and national disgrace. "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes," Judges 21:56b
2) The famine in the land was probably God's judgment upon His people because of their moral decay (1 Kings 16:30-17:1; 18:21, 37; 19:10).
3) During the period of Judges, worship of the Canaanite god Baal was common among the Israelites (Jud.2:11; 3:7; 8:33; 10:6, 10).

C. The land of Moab was only 50 miles away on the other side of the Dead Sea.

1) The Moabites were descendants of Lot from his incestuous union with his firstborn daughter (Gen.19:30-38).
2) The Moabites were the enemies of the Jews because of the way they had treated Israel during their pilgrim journey from Egypt to Canaan (Deut.23:3-6; Num.22-25).
3) During the time of Judges, Moab had invaded Israel and ruled over the people for 18 years (Jud.3:12-14).
4) They were a proud people (Isa.16:6) that God disdained (Ps.60:8).

D. The journey to Moab was supposed to be a temporary fix to the problem.

1) The term "Sojourn" is used in contrast with permanent abiding.
2) They only intended to stay as long as the famine lasted.
3) As sojourners, they would have no legal rights in the land of Moab.

2. The price of poor decisions (v.3).

A. Elimelech and Naomi had hoped to better themselves with their plans, but things only got worse.
B. Apparently Elimelech died after their arrival in Moab, leaving Naomi and her two sons.

1) As a widow, Naomi, had no voice in the community.
2) As a migrant she had no legal rights or family to help her.

3. One bad decision often leads to another (vv.4-5)

A. Marriage (v.4a)

1) The law did not forbid Israelites from marrying Moabites (Deut.7:1-3) but it did forbid them and their children entering into the congregation of the Lord until the 10th generation (Deut. 23:3; Neh.13:1-3).

A) The exclusiveness of Israel is rooted in their symbolism as God's people.
B) This exclusion was the result of God's cursing them for their cursing Israel (Gen.12:3; Deut.23:3-6).
C) Isaiah saw the day when this exclusiveness would be lifted for those who put their trust in the Lord (Isa.56:3-8).

2) The sons found wives among the Moabites.

A) Orpah (or'pah); this name is of doubtful meaning and the root refers to the "neck" "girl with a full mane," or "rain cloud," and is used of stiff-neckedness (Ex.32:9) and or apostasy (Jer.32:33).
B) Ruth; this name is from the root meaning "to shepherd," (which denotes companionship), and J. Vernon McGee says it means "personality."

B. Death (vv.4b-5a).

1) Near the close of the 10th year the two sons die.
2) Naomi's sorrows increase as she is left without anyone but two foreign daughter-in-laws.

C. Loneliness (v.5b)

1) Naomi had entered into a strange land for the sake of her husband and children, and now she had neither.
2) Now Naomi's thoughts would turn to the land of her fathers where as a widow, she would be entitled to the special protection of Jehovah's law (Ex.22:22; Deut.10:18; 14:28-29; 24:19-21; 26:12-13; 27:19).

Introduction: Last week in part-1, we saw that Elimelech and his family made some poor decisions that greatly impacted them all. By going 50 miles to the neighboring land of Moab, Elimelech and his family abandoned God's land and God's people for the land and people of the enemy. Elimelech and his sons died in a foreign land, leaving three widows who are now forced to make more choices that not only directly impact their lives, but millions of lives in the future.

II. The Three Choices (vv.6-18).

1. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem (vv.6-13).

A. Naomi's motive for her decision (v.6)

1) Naomi's motive for returning to Bethlehem was food, and not fellowship with God.
2) She is returning to her land, but not to her God (yet!).

B. Naomi's poor witness in her decision (vv.7-13)

1) Naomi tried to discourage her two daughters-in-laws from going back with her (vv.7-8a).
2) Naomi thanks them and wishes them well with finding another husband, but fails to wish them well with finding the true God (vv.8b-9).
3) Even after Orpah and Ruth insisted on returning with Naomi, she still is insistent upon them not going with her (vv.10-13).

A) The daughters-in-laws insist on going with her (v.10).
B) Naomi makes excuses why they shouldn't return with her (vv.11-12).

2. Orpah decided to stay where she was (v.14a).

A. While Orpah started out for Bethlehem, her trip was short-lived.
B. Orpah was easily convinced by Naomi and kissed her goodbye.

1) Orpah chose the easiest and most convenient course because she saw no advantage of returning with Naomi, or knowing Naomi's God.
2) Orpah passed out of the picture and into eternity.

3. Ruth's life changing decision of loyalty (vv.14b-18).

A. Ruth clung to Naomi (v.14b)
B. Ruth chose a new life, a new land, a new people and the true God (vv.15-17)

1) Despite Naomi's discouragement's, Ruth made the right decision (v.15)
2) Ruth showed a total commitment (vv.16-17)

C. Ruth's choice silenced Naomi (v.18).

III. Choosing Your Attitude (vv.19-22)

1. The effects of an attitude on others (v.19).

A. Naomi's return to Bethlehem with her Moabite daughter-in-law caused quite a stir among the women in the community.
B. The women's question "Is this Naomi?" shows that Naomi's experiences had an observable change on her.

1) Naomi had been away for over 10 years and the women of the town were shocked when they saw her.
2) This showed their stark amazement that Naomi, whose life had been so full and pleasant, was now bereft and bitter.

2. The effects of bitterness on ourselves (vv.20-21).

A. Naomi blamed her problems on God (v.20)

1) Naomi's sorrows had taken their toll on her appearance and personality.
2) Mara (mair' uh): "bitter," or as J. Vernon McGee puts it, "Gloomy Gus."

B. Naomi acknowledges that God wasn't pleased with the decisions that her family had made (v.21).

3. Opportunities to put away bitterness (v.22)

A. Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem during the time of the Barley harvest.
B. It was during the harvest time that the community expressed joy and praise to God for His goodness (springtime was a time of life and a new beginning).