Subject Name/Ruth 1:19-22
Contents The book of Ruth is only four chapters. However, there is no one who does not know this book, regardless of age or sex, and there is no one who is not impressed by anyone who has encountered it. The reason for this is simply because of the beautiful and sacrificial love that mother-in-law Naomi and daughter-in-law Ruth create even in the midst of difficulties, and the brilliant and spiritual fruit of this love. This little book is one of the great works of literature, and the love story they weave becomes the twelve springs of Elim and the seventy palm trees in an age when love is dry as it is today.
With these emotions, there are names that make you think like a lightning bolt when you hear the "Book of Ruth". Not only the main characters Ruth and Naomi, but also Boaz, a faithful and thoughtful influential figure in Bethlehem, Obed named “Naomi bore” and his son Jesse, who were born after Boaz and Ruth. David, who became the king of the kingdom (Ruth 4:17-22), and our Lord Jesus Christ, who became the Lord of lords and King of kings one after another, are connected like a thread.
1. person's name
There are several things that represent a person. It is the person's words0 writing and deeds. Words contain a person's trivial thoughts to deep thoughts. The same goes for writing. This is one's promise and a token of responsibility. Actions are thoughts, outward expressions, and realizations. Therefore, these three represent a person's personality. However, there is one thing that represents people all at once by combining these words, writings, and actions. It's a name everyone has. A name is a person's words, writings, deeds, and character. A name is a person's history and everything. Words and writing can be modified, but the personality expressed in the name cannot be modified. Words and writings are finite, but the names engraved in the minds of others are infinite. God also commanded us not to take his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7) “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”
When she left her hometown, her name was Naomi. But when he returned to his hometown, he said, "(Ruth 1:20) Naomi said to them, "Do not call me Naomi, but call me Mara, for the Almighty has afflicted me exceedingly." What is my name?
2. My name is Mara
It was the period of the judges, when there was no king in the nation of Israel, and each man did what was right in his own eyes. “(Judges 21:25) At that time there was no king in Israel, so every man did what was right in his eyes.” “(Ruth 1:1) There was a famine in the land during the reign of the judges.” Naomi, along with her husband Elimelech, had to leave her hometown with her two sons, Marlon and Kirion. It was none other than Moab, the place where they left their favorite hometown, the Promised Land, to settle down in order to eat and live. However, the dream of living well was short-lived, and after 10 years of living abroad in Moab, all that was left were the two widowed widows and himself, who grew old alone at dusk. “(Ruth 1:5) Both Marlon and Kirion died, and the woman was left behind her two sons and her husband.” Literally empty hands. Her husband, whom she loved, and her two sickly sons have also left. Life was free. Because of that, my hometown came closer to me with more longing.
Bethlehem's hometown flickers before your eyes. Outside of Dong-gu, villagers are buzzing all over. Some of them are low-key. Standing in front of the whole village, Naomi found herself miserable. "Oh! My name, I am Marara, no longer the sweet Naomi, I am the bitter loser and the tormented one!"
3. What is my name?
Like Naomi, we all live in Moab today, but we are people who dream of becoming the promised land of Bethlehem tomorrow. Human strength alone cannot stand upright for even a moment. If you think you are standing, you have fallen. Just as Naomi, who is said to be sweet, turned into a bitter Mara, we cannot be sweet on our own. The more you try to have it, the poorer you become, and the more you try to catch it, the more it escapes. In the end, we will have a life of nothing. Such a place is Moab. This is because it is a land where God does not exist.
But there is a way. Naomi was able to return home because she had nothing. If she had had a lot of fortune, she would not have returned. In other words, we must sweep away the vain things of this land we seek and seek the kingdom and its righteousness first. (Matthew 6:33) “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” As the bitter waters of Marah turned into sweet water by a branch, Moses said to the Lord (Exodus 15:25). We cried out to the Lord, and the Lord directed him a tree, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet." Finally, through his cross we become one with Christ, our bitter name will be reborn as Naomi.
“Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, and on them who have hope in his mercy.”
apply
1. Do I not live my life going down to Moab today because my life is difficult?
2. Do I have the godly love of Naomi and the devoted love of Ruth?
3. How is the way from Mara to Naomi to be reborn again?