Ruth 1 - Naomi's Family Goes to Moab | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Ruth 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Ruth 1 we find a story with a tragic start and a very happy ending. If you were to remove the title and add this as another 4 chapters to the book of Judges it would fit it fine, but would change the tenor of Judges to have a much happier ending. This book is positive and highlights how good comes out of the bad, whereas the book of Judges doesn’t feel positive and ends on quite a down point. But which part of Judges does it fit in?Judges span over 350 years from the death of Joshua in about 1381 BC to King Saul in about 1050 BC. Probably during the Judge period of Ehud or Shamgar because Boaz is the son of Rahab from the Jericho story in Joshua, but is now quite old. Ruth is from Moab. Moab was an enemy of Israel, who had oppressed them at the time they had entered into the land of Israel. Moabites were not welcome in the presence of God according to Deuteronomy 23:3.The moabites worshipped the god Chemosh who required child sacrifice. Why Elimelech’s family was in Moab is a good question. Many people at this time are henotheists, they don’t worship as polygamists, but they seem to accept that other gods exist that they don’t worship. Ruth seems to be like this here and that isn’t surprising.Rather what is surprising is that like Jacob at Bethel in Genesis 35, she chooses to follow God, with no evidence of any benefit to her. So many people choose to follow the Lord because of the perceived benefits they are going to receive, not least is salvation from Hell. How few people follow God because of dedication to doing good.The meaning of names is significant in this book. Naomi means pleasant, but Mara means bitter. Yet out of bitterness comes redemption, and this is a mirror for much later when Mary gives birth to Christ.