Focus verses:
Ruth 1:6-18
The story is that Naomi and Elimelech went to Moab with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, during a famine in Judah. And the sons took wives named Orpah and Ruth.
Translating the names into their respective meanings we get: “MyDelight and MyGodIsKing went to Moab with their two sons, Sickly and Pining, during a famine in Judah. And the sons took wives named Gazelle and Friendship.
During their stay in Moab, MyGodIsKing died. And later both Sickly and Pining died as well. So MyDelight and Gazelle and Friendship were left as widows.
MyDelight decided to return to Judah, the home of her God. Both Gazelle and Friendship started back with her, but MyDelight told them to return to their homes in Moab. Gazelle did go back home (to her old gods), but Friendship had tasted the world of MyDelight’s God and would not leave.
She loved MyDelight and the ways of MyDelight’s God. She would not leave MyDelight’s side.
When we cultivate a friendship with God, nothing can induce us to leave that friendship. We can leave all that we ever knew to be close to God. We cannot pine for what is behind us. We only go on with God.
Whatever is in our past that is not of God deserves to be left behind without regret, without remembrance.
Father, God,
Help us to go on with You, leaving all else behind. Let us not be pulled back into our old ways and old habits.
In Jesus most precious name.
Amen.
JUDITH ROBL is the founder of Reflected Light Ministries and speaks to women’s groups about prayer, forgiveness, and drawing closer to God. Trained as a secondary level English teacher, Judith has a heart for mentoring. She and her husband, Martin, have been married fifty years and have four children who have presented them with nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Her book, As Grandma Says, is a devotional gift book, incorporating her grandmother's adages with an appropriate scripture, a pertinent life lesson, and a word of prayer. Visit her at her website or on Facebook.
The story is that Naomi and Elimelech went to Moab with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, during a famine in Judah. And the sons took wives named Orpah and Ruth.
Translating the names into their respective meanings we get: “MyDelight and MyGodIsKing went to Moab with their two sons, Sickly and Pining, during a famine in Judah. And the sons took wives named Gazelle and Friendship.
During their stay in Moab, MyGodIsKing died. And later both Sickly and Pining died as well. So MyDelight and Gazelle and Friendship were left as widows.
MyDelight decided to return to Judah, the home of her God. Both Gazelle and Friendship started back with her, but MyDelight told them to return to their homes in Moab. Gazelle did go back home (to her old gods), but Friendship had tasted the world of MyDelight’s God and would not leave.
She loved MyDelight and the ways of MyDelight’s God. She would not leave MyDelight’s side.
When we cultivate a friendship with God, nothing can induce us to leave that friendship. We can leave all that we ever knew to be close to God. We cannot pine for what is behind us. We only go on with God.
Whatever is in our past that is not of God deserves to be left behind without regret, without remembrance.
Father, God,
Help us to go on with You, leaving all else behind. Let us not be pulled back into our old ways and old habits.
In Jesus most precious name.
Amen.
Her book, As Grandma Says, is a devotional gift book, incorporating her grandmother's adages with an appropriate scripture, a pertinent life lesson, and a word of prayer. Visit her at her website or on Facebook.
Thank you Judith for this delightful play on names. It serves to bring the old story of Naomi and Ruth to life. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shirley. I'm glad you found it interesting.
DeleteWhat a difference it makes to know the meaning of those Hebrew names. Thanks, Judith.
ReplyDeleteYes, Alice, knowing the meanings of the names brings a different perspective. When MyGodIsKing no longer exists in our lives, we have a real problem. Something has to change, drastically.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judith, for the reminder of the meaning of those names in this biblical account. So many good lessons here for sure.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the significance underlying Biblical names and their application to the historical account in the story. Thanks Judith also for the application for our faith today.
ReplyDelete