Outline:
We want life to be normal, good and happy. 1:1-2
She saw the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise…
Too often we find ourselves with shattered dreams. 1:3-5
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away…
Blessed be the name of the Lord???
But shattered dreams can lead the way
to something better. 1:6
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
Jesus said I am the bread of life…I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever… John 6:35-58
Overview
Ruth 1:1-5 or 1:1-6 is a set-up for the rest of the story. Read it verse by verse, as if you were reading it for the first time, not knowing what comes next or how it ends. As you read it substitute the meaning of the names for the name itself:
· Elimelech – “my God is king” or “God is my king”
· Naomi – “pleasant” (life is good, a happy life in the suburbs?)
· Mahlon – weak/sick, Chilion – frail, pining (pronounce kill-eon)
· Bethlehem – house of bread
Some questions to consider with others:
1. What do you know about the time of the judges? How does that compare to our contemporary society.
2. Why is the contrast between Bethlehem and Moab so prevalent? (How is Bethlehem alluded to again in 1:6?) What would an Israelite in King David’s time think about their move.
3. Is there anything wrong with them moving to Moab? The group may want to debate this, after all both Abraham and Jacob moved to Egypt during a famine… This can open up a whole discussion as to how we use Bible examples to justify what we choose to do.
4. Try to identify with Naomi’s sorrow and aloneness in 1:5. The Hebrew word fro her sons changes back to a word normally used of children.
5. What do this couple expect to happen by moving to Moab versus how did it turn out? How do the names fit in now?
6. What hint of hope is there in 1:6. But really, from Naomi’s view, does it seem like much hope?
We are easily tempted to judge Naomi rather than identify with her, yet, inside our own hearts, don’t we have similar questions about God’s faithfulness when our life’s dreams are shattered? Try to get the group to share about times when they have experienced shattered dreams. What did it feel like? What helped? What didn’t? How does it still affect them? This is tender territory. Don’t be afraid to go here, but do it sensitively, knowing your group.
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Romans - Living in God's Great Work
The book of Roman's is perhaps the apostle's opus, Paul's great work about God's great work. God's great work through history is the restoration of humanity. Our series in the book of Romans will take us deeper into God's great work. As you follow the series, join the conversation by adding your comments below.
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2. Type you comments in the the Leave your Comment box.
3. Under "Choose an Identity" section underneath the comments box, select "Name/URL" and type in your name as you want it to appear after your comment.
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