Sun.’s Devo - Life from Death

Read: Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22; John 4:4-42; Psalm 108:1-15; Proverbs 14:25
After the great battle with Benjamin, the people of Israel realized that they had sworn themselves into a box. They had pronounced a curse on anyone who gave their daughters to the sons of Benjamin and now that all of the women and children of Benjamin had been killed, there was no way to continue their tribe and the tribe of Benjamin would eventually die out. To remedy this they found one town, Jabesh Gilead who did not meet with them. Since they had to be punished for not meeting, they killed all the people that were not virgin women in Jabesh Gilead and gave the 300 virgins to the Benjamites. It still wasn’t enough so they remembered a festival in Shiloah where the virgins would come and dance in remembrance of Jepthah’s daughter who never got to marry. Since they couldn’t “give” their daughters to the Benjamites, the Benjamites would have to “take” them and that would be their solution. I’m sure if they had asked God what to do, he could have come up with a better plan but everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. So that was their plan and the tribe of Benjamin continued to be.
That is why there was a famine in the land in Ruth. Every time the people strayed from the Lord, the curses he promised fell on them and famine was one of the curses. Naomi and Abimelech with their two sons moved to the land of Moab to find food. While they were there Abimelech and their two sons who had married Moabite women, died. Ruth was left husbandless and childless but heard their was bread once again in Bethlehem so she decided to go home. She told her two daughter-in-laws to stay with their families and gave them her blessing to remarry as they chose. They both wanted to go with her, but only Ruth remained with her. Ruth gave her famous speech that is used in many weddings: ...”where you go I will go and your God will be our God.”
When they returned home, the whole city was stirred with excitement over them. Naomi quenched their excitement when she told them her state. She was bitter and empty. It was the beginning of barley season which means it was Passover season. Passover is about life coming out of death. Naomi was going to experience salvation of her soul.
The story of Ruth is the picture of Jesus going to the Gentile nation when his own rejected him and getting a bride from the Gentiles. Naomi is the picture of the Jew who abandons Israel in her time of discipline to a foreign land but she ushers in the bride. Ruth actually is Naomi’s salvation just like the Gentile will provoke the Jew to jealousy in the end and they will return to the Lord and God will take them back. God’s plan is always redemption for anyone who will come.
Lord, thank you for your great unending kindness and love for your people.