Let us turn to the chapter that
we've just read in the book of Ruth. Ruth chapter 1. And I want us to consider two confessions. First of all, in verses 16 and
17, we have the confession of Ruth. I'm sure it's a well-known
portion. We'll come to that presently. But then also I hope we might
subsequently be able to consider the words of Naomi also Naomi's
confession that follows as it were in verse 20 where she says
unto those in Bethlehem call me not Naomi call me Mara for
the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out
full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty. Why then
call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me,
and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" There we have the words
then of Naomi, but this morning I want us to go back and to consider
more particularly the words of Ruth, as we have them here in
verses 16 and seventeen. Ruth says to Naomi, Entreat me
not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee, for
whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will
lodge. Thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God. Where thou diest will I die,
and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more
also. if aught but death part thee
and me." In many ways we see it as a remarkable confession
of faith and we think of the words of the Apostle to the Romans,
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou
shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. How important it is that believers
make that public confession, acknowledging their trust in
the Lord God, even in Jehovah Jesus. And that, of course, is
a significance and the importance really of believers baptism that
open profession of faith but looking this morning at what
we're told here concerning this remarkable woman Ruth and what
we have here in her confession of faith this book it's an historic book it's recording
events that occurred we're told precisely when these things happened
in the opening words it came to pass in the days when the
judges ruled that there was a famine in the land so it follows immediately
after that book that records the days of the judges it's set
in an historical context and yet It is also full of gospel. Remarkable gospel types are to
be found here. We can think of Boaz. Boaz and
Ruth, I suppose, are the principal characters in the book. And Boaz,
we see as that one who is the kinsman, the redeemer, there
in chapter 3 at verse 8 following. We have those words chapter 3
verse 9, thou art a nearkinsman. And the law of the Jews, the law of Israel concerned
the duties of that one who was the nearkinsman, the kinsman
redeemer. and in all of that of course
we see Boaz as a type of the Lord Jesus Christ is at him by
William Gadsby 519 concerning Boaz and Boaz the type of Christ Jesus my Boaz
is my strength and portion to His word of grace, the precious
fields where I, a gleaning, go. Oh, what a heavenly field, what
handfuls it contains, what strength and comfort gleaners get to recompense
their pains. It is, in that sense, a book
that sets before us the Lord Jesus Christ, because He is that
one who is truly the great kinsman, redeemer, the words that are
used in reference to Boaz there in chapter 3 at verse 8 following
where he is spoken of as the kinsman it's the same word that
we also have in the book of Job where Job makes his confession
I know that my Redeemer liveth and he shall stand at the latter
day upon the earth my redeemer, my kinsman, my kinsman redeemer. It's exactly the same word that
is used in reference to Boaz and his relationship to Naomi
and to Ruth and to that particular family. Boaz then is clearly
a typical character, a type of Christ and Ruth is also a typical
character, and she is a type of the true believer. Do we not
see something of that with regards to the confession that she is
making here? She says to Naomi, Entreat me
not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee, for
whither thou goest I will go. and where thou lodgest I will
lodge thy people shall be my people and thy God my God where
thou diest will I die and there will I be buried the Lord do
so to me and more also if aught but death part thee and me it
is a great confession of her faith and how we see her as one
who previously is clinging to Naomi. She will not let her go,
though Orpah kisses her mother-in-law and returns to Moab, we are told,
the end of verse 14, but Ruth cleave unto her. Her faith is a cleaving faith.
And isn't that in many respects the faith that we see in Jacob?
when we read of Jacob's experience here at Peniel in Genesis chapter
32 how he clings to the angel how he is determined he will
not let the angel go and the language that we have there in
that 32nd chapter where we have the record of the wrestling between
the angel and Jacob Verse 25, when he saw that he
prevailed not against him. That is the angel. He touched the hollow of his
thigh. And the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint as he
wrestled with him. And he said, the angel said,
let me go for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee
go except thou bless me. Oh, he's wrestling with the angel.
but then the angel incapacitates him and he's not able to wrestle
anymore and he has to give over wrestling but he won't give over
altogether he still clings to the angel and the angel there
the angel of the Lord it's the Lord Jesus Christ who came and
appeared to him well it's the same sort of clinging and cleaving
that we have here in the case of Ruth she will not let her
mother-in-law go she is determined to continue with her and yet
in many ways the way in which Naomi speaks to her she seems
to be rejecting her she urges her to go back time and again
verse 8 she says go return In verse 11, turn again, she says. She repeats that in verse 12,
turn again. Behold thy sister-in-law is gone
back, she says. In verse 15, gone back unto her
people and unto her God. Return thou after thy sister-in-law. Naomi, in a sense, is discouraging
her. Saying so many negative things
to her. And yet here we see something of the reality of her faith.
Nothing will put Ruth off. She will go with Naomi. She is determined to go with
her. And it tells us something, does it not, about the faith
of God's people. God's children never forsake
a faithful ministry. That ministry that in many ways
sets before them what they are, reminds them of their sins. and
all those things that seem to be an hindrance to them. We're
told by the Lord Jesus, he that doeth truth cometh to the lights,
that his deeds may be made manifest at the right of God. He doesn't
forsake the light. Paul tells Titus in his ministry
to rebuke them sharply. He says that they may be sound
in the faith. Or where there is that negative
aspect to the ministry, it doesn't put the people of God off. It has been well observed that
where the child of God gets his woundings, it's there that he'll
also find his healings. And this is what we see here.
Nothing can put this woman off. She will go with her mother-in-law. Oh, entreat me not, she says.
Entreat me not to leave thee. or to return from following after
them. There is such a blessed determination. She is so steadfast that she
wants to follow Naomi even as they return to Bethlehem, Judah. Or the psalmist says, my soul
follows hard after them. Isn't that one of the evidences
of that faith that is a real faith and a determined faith?
He that shall endure unto the end, says Christ the same, shall
be saved. Well, let us come to look at
what is being said here in the words that I've announced as
our text, verses 16 and 17. And this morning, I really want
to try to say something with regards to faith's attitude to
the world, how there is a turning from the world and the ways of
the world. Ruth says, Entreat me not to
leave thee, or to return from following after thee. For whither
thou goest, I will go, and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy
people shall be my people, and thy gods my gods. Where thou diest, will I die.
and there will I be buried." A confession of faith, a ratitude
then to the world. And first of all we see here
that there is a forsaking, a forsaking of the world. It must be so.
John says, love not the world, not the things that are in the
world. All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust
of the eyes, the pride of life is not of the Father but is of
the world. and the world and its lust vanish away and when
God has awakened the soul of the sinner does he not have this
attitude that we see in Ruth when she utters those words,
entreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after
thee or she will go she will not return to Moab as Orpah had
done. No, she will go with her mother-in-law. Now what is the path that she
is now determined to go on? Well, it's a spiritual path.
It's a spiritual path. Some say that previously Naomi
had been disobedient at the beginning of the chapter when with her
husband Elimelech they departed out of the lands they left the
land of promise they left Bethlehem Judah and went to sojourn in
the country of Moab some would say it's an act of of unbelief
they should have continued where God had set the bounds of their
habitation well whatever the case it was obvious that they
must go to Moab had they never gone to Moab there would have
been no Ruth being brought out of Moab that she might return
with Naomi to Bethlehem Judah to that house of bread but we
see what sad circumstances before Naomi as she departs from Bethlehem
Judah she loses her husband she becomes a widow and then she
also sees her two sons taken by death also. Verse 3 of Imlek, Naomi's husband
died and she was left and her two sons. Verse 5 and Marlon
and Kylion also both died both of them and the woman was left
of her two sons and her husband. But now she is returning to Bethlehem. And this surely is indisputably
an act of faith. This is a spiritual act. She
arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the
country of Moab. Whatever be the reason in the
first place for her departure, it was because there was famine
and they were looking for food. Was she disobedient? Well, whatever
the case there now she has received good news that the Lord had visited
his people in giving them bread, it says. She arose with her daughters-in-law
that she might return from the country of Moab because that
was the news that she had heard there that God had remembered
his people and made such provision for them. it's a spiritual act
on her part. And what is she doing? Well,
she's aware of the Lord and the Lord's dealings here, how the
Lord had visited his people. Oh, she was a widow indeed and
remember what the Apostle says with regards to the widow indeed.
1 Timothy 5.5, she that is a widow
indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in supplication
and prayers day and night. And surely this is the case with
Naomi now. She is a prayerful woman. Ruth
must have seen something of Naomi's religion, something of her faith
in God. She must have known something
of the character of Naomi's trust in God as she is returning to
the land of Judah because she says here in her confession thy
gods my gods where thou lodgest I will lodge thy people shall
be my people and thy God my God or she could recognize that Naomi
truly had had a God she was a spiritually minded woman and the path they
are walking in is therefore a spiritual path they are doing that that
is right before God and yet at the same time it is very much
a sorrowful path a sorrowful path all that had before them
Naomi there in the country of Moab how she felt these things
and she says as much in that confession that she makes later
at verse 20 remember call me not Naomi Which means pleasant. Call me Mara. Which means bitter. For the Almighty hath dealt very
bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord
hath brought me home again empty. Why then call you me Naomi, seeing
the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted
me? Oh, it was bitterness that she
really felt in her soul. even as she comes back now with
with Ruth and Ruth such an encouragement to her as she so clings and cleaves
to her but all the experience that this woman Ruth is going
to find herself in not an easy path the most trying
and difficult path we can think of the experience of the children
of Israel when they came out of Egypt and the bitter waters
at Myra that we have recorded there in the 23rd chapter of
the book in the 15th chapter of the book of Exodus remember
in their journeyings they came to that place they came to Myra
it says at the end of chapter 15 and they could not drink of
the waters of Myra for they were bitter Therefore the name of
it was called Marah. And the people murmured against
Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the
Lord, and the Lord showed him a tray, which when he had cast
into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There he made for
them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them. But
all our gods sweetened the bitter waters. And how were the bitter
waters sweetened? Why, it was through that tree
that was cast into the waters. The heart says, oh, our cup seems
filled with gall, there's something sacred sweetens all. And what
is it that sweetens the bitter waters for the child of God?
It's that It's that truth. It's the cross of the Lord Jesus
Christ. It's the fellowship of Christ's
sufferings. As Paul says to the Philippians, the fellowship of his sufferings
being my conformable unto his death but how can those things
be known only through the power of his resurrection and it is
interesting that there in Philippians 3.10 he puts that in the first
place the power of his resurrection and then the fellowship of his
sufferings and the conformity to his death. It's only when
the Lord comes to his people in the midst of all their suffering.
But here is a path, you see, that is a most trying path, a
sorrowful path as Naomi returns with her daughter-in-law Ruth
to Bethlehem, Judah. all what we see in this woman
then she will cling and she will cleave to Naomi in spite of all
that has befallen her and God's hand having gone out so against
her do we not see in this something of the spirit of Moses
here is Ruth forsaking her own people turning her back upon
the ways of Moab and the false gods of Moab and going amongst
those who are the people of God and that was the experience of
Moses remember we're told quite clearly where he appears in the
11th chapter of the Hebrews, that great catalogue of those
of faith from the Old Testament. Moses clearly numbered amongst
them with regards to how he forsakes all the treasures of Egypt. We read of how by faith Moses,
when he was come to Jerusalem, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter. choosing rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for
a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches and
the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense
of reward." It's the same here with regards to Ruth. She sees
something of the situation of Naomi, all the suffering she's
had to endure, and yet discerning something of her faith as she's
returning now and Ruth will go with her and Ruth will be with
her and as it was with Ruth so it was with Moses he forsakes
Egypt and what is it that makes his way for him is the presence
of God even there in Exodus 33 Remember after the children of
Israel had sinned so grievously in the matter of the golden calf.
Whilst Moses was there in the mount with God and Aaron had
made the calf and they'd used it in an act of so-called worship
but it was really idolatry and God angry with them and sends
Moses down from the mount with the tables in his hands and the
tables of the covenant are broken there at the foot of the mount
and then God will disinherit them and take Moses and make
a people out of Moses but Moses pleads for the children of Israel
and what is his prayer? He wants God to go with him if
thy presence go not with me carry us not up hence Oh, it's the
presence of God. This is what Ruth seems able
to discern. And so she can speak to Ruth
of thy God. Thy God be my God, she says. Thy God be my God. Whatever the
trial, whatever the trouble that she is having or will have to
endure, She will forsake the ways of the world. And this is
the call, is it not, of all those who are followers of the Lord
Jesus Christ. True faith must forsake self-interest. The Lord says, Whosoever be of
you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. And here with Ruth there is a
forsaking. the forsaking of all that she
ever had as she determines to go with Naomi again look at the
language the teaching of the Lord Jesus there in the 16th
chapter of Matthew's gospel in Matthew chapter 16 and verse
24 then said Jesus unto his disciples if any man will come after me
let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me for
whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will
lose his life for my sake shall find it for what is a man profited
if he shall go in the whole world and lose his own soul or what
shall a man give in exchange for his soul Are we those who
are concerned primarily for the needs of our never-dying souls?
Well, surely this was the case with this blessed woman. She
is ready to forsake all that she had ever known in the country
of the Moabites. And she will identify herself
with Naomi and with the children of Israel. She forsakes all her
worldly relations. What a sacrifice this is. Thy
people, she says, shall be my people. These are her true kindreds.
This is now her real spiritual family. Those that she is going
to be amongst there in Bethlehem. again the words of the Lord Jesus
if any man come to me and hate not his father and mother and
wife and children and brethren and sisters yea and his own life
also he cannot be my disciple he cannot be my disciple how
the Lord must have that principle place in the lives of his children
and it's strange isn't it? it's one of those evidences of
the grace of God it's one of those things whereby we can deduce
our assurance John says we know that we have passed from death
unto life if we love the brethren there is the mark of the grace
of God there is love for the brethren love for one's spiritual
family and this is what we see in Ruth thy people shall be my
people." However trying, however sorrowful the path, these are
her true kindred. Oh, there is a forsaking there.
There's a forsaking of all that ever she had known previously. There's a forsaking of the world
and the ways of the world. We're not to be conformed to
this world, says the Apostle, but transformed by the renewing
of our mind proving what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God and this is God's will for this woman she will then follow Ruth and
what does that mean? it means that she's a pilgrim
she's a pilgrim in this world she has no permanent dwelling
where thou lodgest I will lodge, she says. Whither thou goest, I will go.
Where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Now, where was it that this woman
Naomi was to lodge? She had left Bethlehem, Judah,
and she had gone to sojourn in the country of Moab, we're told,
in the opening verse. and now she has left Moab to
return unto Bethlehem. Verse 6 She arose with her daughters,
her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country
of Moab. For she had heard in the country of Moab how the LORD
had visited his people in giving them bread. wherefore she went
forth out of the place where she was and her two daughters-in-law
with her and they went on the way to return unto the land of
Judah. In a sense it's evident that
she's without any home now and yet Ruth still goes with her. Twice there in verse 16 we have
that word where thou lodgest I will lodge. And the word that's
used here is suggestive of a temporary dwelling place. There's nothing
permanent here. It's the language of the nomad
who has to move from place to place. All these women, you see,
they were trying to say they had the same faith as Abraham. Abraham, who is the father of
all them that believe. And again, we're told something
of Abraham's faith there in that 11th chapter of the epistle to
the Hebrews. What do we read concerning the
faith of Abraham? Verse 8, By faith Abraham, when
he was called to go out, into a place which he should after
receive for an inheritance obeyed. And he went out not knowing whither
he went. By faith he sojourned in the
land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles
with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder
and maker is God. And again we read later, of all
the faithful, at verse 13, these all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were
persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they
were strangers. and pilgrims on the earth for
they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country
and truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they
came out they might have had opportunity to return but now
they desire a better country that isn't heavenly wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared
for them a city And then he goes on by faith Abraham. Oh this
is the faith of Abraham. This is that faith that is true
faith, saving faith. She is a daughter of Abraham. Oh she is not a natural daughter
of Abraham. She is a Moabitish woman. And the Moabites were really
cut off from the congregation of the Lord. But here is one
who has a very real fight in the God of Abraham. She determines to go with her
mother-in-law. Or she's one of those again spoken
of there at the end of that 11th chapter of the epistle to the
Hebrews. They wandered, it says, in deserts
and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. She's
not just a follower of the faith of Abram, this is really a follower
of the Lord Jesus Christ. For what are we told of the Lord's
own ministry here upon the earth? Remember what he himself says
during the course of his ministry, the foxes have holes and the
birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere
to lay his head. He was a stranger. and a pilgrim
in the earth and this is the case also with this woman and
it comes out here in the faith that she confesses why does she
follow Naomi so determinedly? because she is a woman of faith
she sees beyond present circumstances and situations or the Apostle again says we
look not at the things which are seen but at the things which
are not seen the things which are seen are temporal the unseen
things are the eternal things and this is the faith of this
woman it's a very real faith that we see in Ruth and this
is why she is such a remarkable character there seem to be so
much against her why she is uniting herself to a woman who has known
so much of trial and trouble and difficulty so bereft in her
own life and yet evidently Naomi is still a woman who looked to
the Lord that's why she is making this journey, she had heard she
had heard what the Lord had done, he had visited his people, he
had given them bread and she will go to that place where she
can find bread and not just physical bread but also that that will
ultimately lead to the restoring of her own soul you see the Lord God is is death
to no man again think of the words of the Lord that we have
in the gospel so many times the Lord speaks to this subject that
we're trying to address this morning there in Mark chapter
10 in Mark chapter 10 at verse 29 Jesus answered and said verily
I say unto you there is no man that hath left house or brethren
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands
for my sake and the gospel. But he shall receive a hundredfold
now in this time houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers,
and children, and lands with persecutions, and in the world
to come eternal life. there is the promise of the Lord
he's not debted to any man and what a wonderful example we have
here in this woman of what it means to be living
that life of faith what a confession we have here of her faith well
God willing we'll come back to consider something more of this
portion of scripture this evening whereo said, Entreat me not to
leave thee, or to return from following after thee. For whither
thou goest I will go, where thou lodgest I will lodge, thy people
shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest will
I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more
also, if ought but death, part thee and me. And when she saw
that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left
speaking unto her. Well, the Lord willing will come
back to consider something more of the confession. The Lord be
pleased then to bless these truths to us.