Sermon text: Ruth 1:1-22
- Celebration of Matt Muehlhausen.
- Elimelek and Naomi move from Bethlehem to Moab because of a famine
- Two sons
- In Moab, Elimelek dies
- Two sons marry local Moabite women (Orpah and Ruth)
- Two sons die 10 years later
- Just Naomi, Orpah and Ruth left
- Naomi hears from folks back in Bethlehem that God has now provided food
- Naomi is going to go back
- she must feel “about time” or “too late”
- As the 3 are on their way back Naomi tells the women to stay
- because they deserve kindness as they have been kind (selfless)
- they will be provided for (their benefit/gracious)
- both women WANT to stay with Naomi (attractive)
- Tell bad mother-in-law joke
- both women WANT to stay with Naomi (attractive)
- Naomi can’t provide for them
- Naomi feels “bitter” (her world had turned on her in Moab)
- Orpah stays in Moab, but “Ruth clung to her.” (1:14)
- Ruth was DETERMINED (READ 1:16-18)
- If I am hot, I keep shooting, if I am not hot, I shoot until I am hot
- The town is pumped to see Naomi
- They know her as “pleasant”
- Naomi not the same woman, now “bitter” (Mara)
- Naomi is going to go back