In The Midst Of The Mess: A Study of Ruth Week 1: The Mess Message Summary: A famine, three deaths, a bitter woman, and the chaos of the judges. This is the world that begins the book of Ruth. Yet the depressing first chapter ends with a glimmer of hope, the familiar name of Bethlehem, a hint of blessings to come. Our world can feel like a mess too. Natural disasters, school shootings, shrinking churches, personal tragedy, bitter and broken families, and more. Yet the God who works all things for the good is working in our time too. Believe that and you will, like Ruth, be blessed. ✦ Ruth 1:1-2 — In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. ✦ Judges 21:25 — In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. ✦ Ruth 1:3-5 — Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. ✦ Ruth 1:6,7 — When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. ✦ Ruth 1:8-10 — Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” ✦ Ruth 1:11-14 — But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. ✦ Ruth 1:15-18 — “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. ✦ Ruth 1:19-22 — So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” 22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. Ruth Truth’s - Chapter 1 ✦ Take away #1 — When you’re in the middle of the mess, community is a must! ✦ Take away #2 — When faced with a major choice, follow God’s voice. ✦ Take away #3 — When life leaves you bitter, God promises to work it for better. ✦ Romans 8:28 — And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Planting Jesus Roots GATHER — As you plan your summer schedule, there may be weekends where you are on vacation or unable to gather in person. If you can’t be here in person, remember we have three different 922 livestream options every weekend on our 922 Youtube pages. GROUP — Discuss the following questions with a close friend: What does it feel like to be alone? How did that play out in this story? How do you see God blessing individuals through their family? How has God blessed you through your own family? GROW — Read Romans 8:28 & Hebrews 13:5. How is it evident that “God is working for the good of” Ruth and Naomi in chapter 1? List the evidence that God hasn’t “left or forsaken” Naomi in chapter 1. Where have you seen it in your life? GIVE — Generosity can be contagious when you involve others. Pick a project, person, or cause and see how many friends and family will join you in supporting it this summer. GO — Pick someone you know who doesn’t go to church to invest in them this summer. When the time is right, invite them to church. Homework: Ruth 2