From the archives: part of a series of posts Pastor Brett wrote several years ago, now republished here. -the webmaster
The book of Ruth can speak to us, as believers, in many different circumstances. But a primary source of encouragement comes through the examples in the book of how to endure and remain faithful to God, even in tough times.
There were difficult circumstances in two different instances. First, the story of Ruth took place during the times of the Judges in Israel. In the book of Judges, the portrait that is painted of the people of Israel is one of unfaithfulness.
The people repeatedly turn away from God. They do not turn to Him. They create idols for themselves, and then are finally delivered, later, by Judges.
But Ruth is the story of a faithful woman in faithless times. And a faithful woman who was not even an Israelite by birth, since Ruth was from Moab.
The other source of faithfulness from Ruth comes from her reaction to hard times. Her husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law all die. Ruth was a woman who was not born into the nation of Israel. She did not know the name of the Lord her whole life.
And yet she, more than even her mother-in-law, Naomi, had a faith in God. She had a faith in the Lord. This led her to be loyal to her mother-in-law as well. It is an example of faithfulness, despite the circumstances, that can encourage all of us.
So whether our difficult times come from the times that surround us, or whether they are in our own personal lives, we can be encouraged. There is a place to turn. There is a God who loves us. He cares. And we ought to remain faithful to Him whatever the difficulties we have.
Pastor Brett Myers
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