25In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)
**America does what is right in its own eyes. The standard of our life should be the Word of God.
1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. (Ruth 1:1-6)
2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. (Ruth 1:1-6)
-Creates the scene that there was an anarchy (no ruling king)
-“Bethelehem” was the house of bread
-“Judah” was the house of praise
-“Moab” was the house of ease
-Elimelech moved his family from the house of bread and praise to a house of “ease.”
-We see a picture of how they started out right and went wrong by leaving a place that was full to a place that was empty.
1Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
(Amos 6:1)
-Woe means to have apathy (or unconcerned)
-Apostasy to do things out of duty and follows apathy
-Before the famine in the land, there was a famine in Elimelech’s heart.
21I went out full and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? (Ruth 1:21)
-No need to justify going to Moab.
-He (Elimelech ) died in a barren land because he & Naomi got burned out and wanted an “easier option.”
-Cure is Revival
Other Verses to Consider:
10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
(John 10:10)
4Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. (Psalm 85:4, a plea to God)
14For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. (2 Corinthians 7:14)
**Notes from the Sermon by Preacher Paul Deal titled “Going Out Full; Coming Back Empty” on 02/21/2007
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