Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
Welcome back … 🙂
Welcome back … 🙂
Ephratha was the ancient name of Bethlehem.
Never caught that before.
I find it interesting that Naomi said this to her peeps when she got home,
She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
“I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
Ephratha was the ancient name of Bethlehem.
Never caught that before.
I find it interesting that Naomi said this to her peeps when she got home,
She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
“I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
Sorry, got the day wrong. I will start tommorrow.
Sorry, got the day wrong. I will start tommorrow.
Naomi outburst reminds me of David. He was always unafraid of speaking out exactly how he felt. God can handle our outbursts of anger, frustration, depression whatever. I think that’s what prompted God to say that David was a man after God’s own heart. I think God loved his honesty.
I also think God wants us honest so much that sometimes he puts us into these sort of “Naomi” situations in order that we get real and honest. God would rather have us being “real” than having us being “right”.
Naomi outburst reminds me of David. He was always unafraid of speaking out exactly how he felt. God can handle our outbursts of anger, frustration, depression whatever. I think that’s what prompted God to say that David was a man after God’s own heart. I think God loved his honesty.
I also think God wants us honest so much that sometimes he puts us into these sort of “Naomi” situations in order that we get real and honest. God would rather have us being “real” than having us being “right”.
“real rather than right.” what a wonderful, succinct way of putting it. susan, i think you have just coined a phrase that people who are a part of the “emerging” movment have not been able to eloquate in years of writing thousands of pages. kudos. in fact, i enjoy it so much, i hope you do not mind if i steal it for my tagline on my blog for a while?
i’ve been trying hard to mine some sort of “super-spiritual nugget” from this chapter, but only one thing stands out. so here it is.
i find it interesting that ruth wanted to stay with her mother-in-law. obviously, naomi is not the stereotypical mother-in-law who is a cnostant headache and bother. but more than that, i wonder if ruth doesn’t want to be close to the mother of her now deceased husband. as a way of keeping his memory alive just a bit longer.
“real rather than right.” what a wonderful, succinct way of putting it. susan, i think you have just coined a phrase that people who are a part of the “emerging” movment have not been able to eloquate in years of writing thousands of pages. kudos. in fact, i enjoy it so much, i hope you do not mind if i steal it for my tagline on my blog for a while?
i’ve been trying hard to mine some sort of “super-spiritual nugget” from this chapter, but only one thing stands out. so here it is.
i find it interesting that ruth wanted to stay with her mother-in-law. obviously, naomi is not the stereotypical mother-in-law who is a cnostant headache and bother. but more than that, i wonder if ruth doesn’t want to be close to the mother of her now deceased husband. as a way of keeping his memory alive just a bit longer.
Ephratha…
that’s what jesus said when he put his fingers in the deaf man’s ears, isn’t it?
Ephratha…
that’s what jesus said when he put his fingers in the deaf man’s ears, isn’t it?
Wendy, I must be using a different version what verse is Ephratha in?
Jon, I’m glad you like the phrase, “real rather than right”. I would like to claim authorship of it but I actually read it somewhere else, possibly Neil Anderson. That’s the trouble I read so much I forget where I read things. Anyway I stole it of someone so feel free to steal off me!
I would like to suggest a spiritual reason for Ruth going with Naomi. I use to think it odd that Ruth would choose to be with a “bitter” woman but Naomi wasn’t always bitter. In fact she said she left Bethlehem “full” v.21. Nearly every conversation Naomi has it is like she can’t help but mention the Lord, v.8, 9, 13, 20-21even in v.6 she heard the Lord had come to the aid of his people. I would like to think Ruth was attracted to Naomi’s faith in a Sovereign God and she wanted Naomi’s God to be her God v.16.
Wendy, I must be using a different version what verse is Ephratha in?
Jon, I’m glad you like the phrase, “real rather than right”. I would like to claim authorship of it but I actually read it somewhere else, possibly Neil Anderson. That’s the trouble I read so much I forget where I read things. Anyway I stole it of someone so feel free to steal off me!
I would like to suggest a spiritual reason for Ruth going with Naomi. I use to think it odd that Ruth would choose to be with a “bitter” woman but Naomi wasn’t always bitter. In fact she said she left Bethlehem “full” v.21. Nearly every conversation Naomi has it is like she can’t help but mention the Lord, v.8, 9, 13, 20-21even in v.6 she heard the Lord had come to the aid of his people. I would like to think Ruth was attracted to Naomi’s faith in a Sovereign God and she wanted Naomi’s God to be her God v.16.
2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name 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.
Ephrathites caught my eye so I went investigating …it will come up again in Ruth 4.
It is used a few times in the OT.
I particularly like this one in Micah 5:2.
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Too little to be among the clans of Judah,From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
VERY CLOSE, Jon
“Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”
2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name 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.
Ephrathites caught my eye so I went investigating …it will come up again in Ruth 4.
It is used a few times in the OT.
I particularly like this one in Micah 5:2.
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Too little to be among the clans of Judah,From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
VERY CLOSE, Jon
“Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”
I was reminded of a story I heard about Oprah Winfrey. Apparently she was supposed to be named Orpah but her name was spelled wrong on her birth certificate so she became Oprah.
I don’t know why you would name your child, Orpah. I don’t think she didn’t anything particularly bad but she does come out looking like she made the wrong choice.
I was reminded of a story I heard about Oprah Winfrey. Apparently she was supposed to be named Orpah but her name was spelled wrong on her birth certificate so she became Oprah.
I don’t know why you would name your child, Orpah. I don’t think she didn’t anything particularly bad but she does come out looking like she made the wrong choice.
Orpah … Oprah
Orpah … Oprah
You know that may have been a God inspired error.
Oprah sounds full and marshmallowy.
I quite like it.
Orpah … Oprah
Orpah … Oprah
You know that may have been a God inspired error.
Oprah sounds full and marshmallowy.
I quite like it.
It is interesting that Naomi (and no doubt most people) thought the best thing that could happen to a woman is that she finds v.9 rest in the home of a husband.
I’m glad God doesn’t think like that!
It is interesting that Naomi (and no doubt most people) thought the best thing that could happen to a woman is that she finds v.9 rest in the home of a husband.
I’m glad God doesn’t think like that!
1:20-21“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 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.”
Maybe Naomi didn't want to leave Bethlehem in the first place. Perhaps she was just being submissive to her husband which is why she is annoyed that God has afflicted her when it wasn't her fault.
God can handle our disappointments and complaints when our faith in his sovereignty is still there.
1:20-21“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 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.”
Maybe Naomi didn't want to leave Bethlehem in the first place. Perhaps she was just being submissive to her husband which is why she is annoyed that God has afflicted her when it wasn't her fault.
God can handle our disappointments and complaints when our faith in his sovereignty is still there.