HOPE: Have you ever lost hope? The book of Proverbs 13:12 says,"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life". Hope has been described as "confident expectation." We might say this was Naomi's attitude on her wedding day. Her expectations for the future were bright, confident and hopeful. But, a lot has happened since then and - as we have seen in the last few posts - Naomi's hope has certainly been deferred and her heart made sick.
Naomi gives us a hint of her deferred hope in Ruth 1:12-13 when she urges her daughters-in-law to return back from following her. She says, "I am too old to have a husband. If I should say that I have hope that tonight I would have a husband and give birth to sons, would you wait for them until they are grown? Would you keep yourselves from having husbands until then? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me." We can all feel the lost hope in Naomi in this chapter as she expresses her grief.
People however, cannot live without hope. Lost hope makes the heart sick as well as the countenance sad. This is perhaps one of the reasons hope is mentioned so often in the Scriptures. Paul said that the three things that would remain are faith, hope and love (First Corinthians 13:13) - and while love may be the greatest, hope is certainly one of the three important things. He also tells us in Romans 15:4 that, "whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope." Paul ends this chapter by saying in verse 13, "now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." It is the LORD'S will that His people abound in hope.
There are times however, in our lives when that hope is deferred - just like it was in the life of Naomi - and we must pass though great affliction. But, hope deferred is not hope denied. It can be renewed! And, as we read the story of Naomi, we see her hope renewed in Ruth Chapter 2, by the introduction of the near relative or kinsman redeemer.
This is where all true hope (or true expectation) is renewed - by the introduction of the One who loved us and gave His life for us - our Kinsman Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was our kinsman in that He was made flesh (like us) and for us. He took upon himself the form of a man (human) and lived among us. He was tempted with our sins (yet without sinning himself). He is also well acquainted with our sorrows and can be touched with the feelings of our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus understands our situations and is compassionate toward them. But, as a Kinsman Redeemer, He not only understands and is compassionate, He is also ABLE to alter the situation and work on our behalf. As our Kinsman, He is able to help us by being related to us, but as our Redeemer, He is able to help us by power and by purchase.
These two women had lost everything, even the power to make a living or provide for their necessary daily food. They needed help, favor and provision. They also needed someone who could "buy back" or redeem that which Naomi had lost during the long years she had wandered from her God and from the land of blessing. They needed a kinsman redeemer. In Ruth Chapter 2, they are introduced to one who is able to alter their situation. We will see the character of this near relative unfold for us in the posts to come but for now let us dwell on the hope that is renewed for them.
Naomi's hope was being renewed by the gift of Ruth and Ruth's willingness to find work to provide food for them. She says to Naomi, "let me go and glean among the ears of grain in a field of an owner in whose sight I may find favor" (or grace). We could expound for hours on the character of Ruth shown in her willingness to help Naomi instead of seeking a husband for herself, or pursuing her own desires and aspirations. Truly, Ruth's "faith is being shown by her works" (James 2:21-26). She had formerly turned to God from idols to worship Him and she now serves Him by her service to others, specifically, her mother-in-law. Surely, Naomi is beginning to see what a blessing God has provided for her in giving her Ruth, as she had earlier seen His blessing to her in His providence by returning her to the land during the abundant harvest of barley.
The hope for Ruth is being renewed by the fact that the LORD had provided a way for the poor and the stranger to be cared for in Israel - and Ruth is both poor and a stranger. According to Leviticus 19:9-11, 33-37, the LORD had told his people that when they reaped their harvest they were not to glean all the grain but leave the corners of the fields and leave the fallen fruit that fell on its own for the poor and the stranger to come and glean. The poor and the stranger were to be provided for by God's people but they were to be industrious enough to work for it. And, we see this willingness in Ruth. She does not sit down in despair or give up in discouragement. She seeks active work to provide for herself and Naomi.
Perhaps the blessings of God are bringing renewed hope to Naomi and she is being reminded of the greatness and goodness of her God as she watches the events unfold around her. Hope is springing up in her again and she is only too happy now to help Ruth in a quest that Ruth does not even understand but which will unfold in the chapters to come. As we look at these two women, it is heartwarming to see the care each one has for the other - Ruth, as she seeks work to provide for each of them, and Naomi, as she encourages and later instructs Ruth in the things of God and the customs of His people. In it all however, the biggest surprise will be for Naomi.
Where are you today? Is your hope deferred? Is your heart sick? Is your countenance sad? Maybe the hopes of your wedding day have been altered or the plans after your graduation did not come to fruition, but as you lay them at the feet of Jesus, he is able and willing to renew those hopes and to do far more for you than you can ever imagine.
According to the words of the Apostle Paul, it is the LORD'S desire that you be filled with hope. That hope begins with the introduction of your Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus Christ. See His willingness to be made like you in becoming human; to leave all by leaving the fellowship of a loving Heavenly Father and to spend all to purchase you back for Himself. Look at the blessings He has provided for you in caring for your everyday needs and even providing many of your desires.
So put your hope in HIM today. Believe He is both willing and able to renew you and your hope. Trust him for your present and your future. He is proving faithful in the life of Naomi - and he will prove faithful in your life. "Oh, Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is loving kindness, and with Him is abundant REDEMPTION. And, He will REDEEM Israel from all his iniquities." (Psalm 130:7-8). He will redeem you today as you place your trust in HIM. Put your HOPE in HIM alone.
Naomi gives us a hint of her deferred hope in Ruth 1:12-13 when she urges her daughters-in-law to return back from following her. She says, "I am too old to have a husband. If I should say that I have hope that tonight I would have a husband and give birth to sons, would you wait for them until they are grown? Would you keep yourselves from having husbands until then? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me." We can all feel the lost hope in Naomi in this chapter as she expresses her grief.
People however, cannot live without hope. Lost hope makes the heart sick as well as the countenance sad. This is perhaps one of the reasons hope is mentioned so often in the Scriptures. Paul said that the three things that would remain are faith, hope and love (First Corinthians 13:13) - and while love may be the greatest, hope is certainly one of the three important things. He also tells us in Romans 15:4 that, "whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope." Paul ends this chapter by saying in verse 13, "now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." It is the LORD'S will that His people abound in hope.
There are times however, in our lives when that hope is deferred - just like it was in the life of Naomi - and we must pass though great affliction. But, hope deferred is not hope denied. It can be renewed! And, as we read the story of Naomi, we see her hope renewed in Ruth Chapter 2, by the introduction of the near relative or kinsman redeemer.
This is where all true hope (or true expectation) is renewed - by the introduction of the One who loved us and gave His life for us - our Kinsman Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was our kinsman in that He was made flesh (like us) and for us. He took upon himself the form of a man (human) and lived among us. He was tempted with our sins (yet without sinning himself). He is also well acquainted with our sorrows and can be touched with the feelings of our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus understands our situations and is compassionate toward them. But, as a Kinsman Redeemer, He not only understands and is compassionate, He is also ABLE to alter the situation and work on our behalf. As our Kinsman, He is able to help us by being related to us, but as our Redeemer, He is able to help us by power and by purchase.
These two women had lost everything, even the power to make a living or provide for their necessary daily food. They needed help, favor and provision. They also needed someone who could "buy back" or redeem that which Naomi had lost during the long years she had wandered from her God and from the land of blessing. They needed a kinsman redeemer. In Ruth Chapter 2, they are introduced to one who is able to alter their situation. We will see the character of this near relative unfold for us in the posts to come but for now let us dwell on the hope that is renewed for them.
Naomi's hope was being renewed by the gift of Ruth and Ruth's willingness to find work to provide food for them. She says to Naomi, "let me go and glean among the ears of grain in a field of an owner in whose sight I may find favor" (or grace). We could expound for hours on the character of Ruth shown in her willingness to help Naomi instead of seeking a husband for herself, or pursuing her own desires and aspirations. Truly, Ruth's "faith is being shown by her works" (James 2:21-26). She had formerly turned to God from idols to worship Him and she now serves Him by her service to others, specifically, her mother-in-law. Surely, Naomi is beginning to see what a blessing God has provided for her in giving her Ruth, as she had earlier seen His blessing to her in His providence by returning her to the land during the abundant harvest of barley.
The hope for Ruth is being renewed by the fact that the LORD had provided a way for the poor and the stranger to be cared for in Israel - and Ruth is both poor and a stranger. According to Leviticus 19:9-11, 33-37, the LORD had told his people that when they reaped their harvest they were not to glean all the grain but leave the corners of the fields and leave the fallen fruit that fell on its own for the poor and the stranger to come and glean. The poor and the stranger were to be provided for by God's people but they were to be industrious enough to work for it. And, we see this willingness in Ruth. She does not sit down in despair or give up in discouragement. She seeks active work to provide for herself and Naomi.
Perhaps the blessings of God are bringing renewed hope to Naomi and she is being reminded of the greatness and goodness of her God as she watches the events unfold around her. Hope is springing up in her again and she is only too happy now to help Ruth in a quest that Ruth does not even understand but which will unfold in the chapters to come. As we look at these two women, it is heartwarming to see the care each one has for the other - Ruth, as she seeks work to provide for each of them, and Naomi, as she encourages and later instructs Ruth in the things of God and the customs of His people. In it all however, the biggest surprise will be for Naomi.
Maybe it would have been wonderful for Naomi to have had that little house in the subdivision of Bethlehem; for her two sons to have lived, married Jewish women who would have born children and grandchildren. And, no doubt, it would have been wonderful for her to have grown old and enjoy a full life with Elimelech. But as we will see, God had a greater plan and though He had to defer her hope, He will not only renew and restore but eventually reward that hope to be far greater than her expectations on her wedding day.
Where are you today? Is your hope deferred? Is your heart sick? Is your countenance sad? Maybe the hopes of your wedding day have been altered or the plans after your graduation did not come to fruition, but as you lay them at the feet of Jesus, he is able and willing to renew those hopes and to do far more for you than you can ever imagine.
According to the words of the Apostle Paul, it is the LORD'S desire that you be filled with hope. That hope begins with the introduction of your Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus Christ. See His willingness to be made like you in becoming human; to leave all by leaving the fellowship of a loving Heavenly Father and to spend all to purchase you back for Himself. Look at the blessings He has provided for you in caring for your everyday needs and even providing many of your desires.
So put your hope in HIM today. Believe He is both willing and able to renew you and your hope. Trust him for your present and your future. He is proving faithful in the life of Naomi - and he will prove faithful in your life. "Oh, Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is loving kindness, and with Him is abundant REDEMPTION. And, He will REDEEM Israel from all his iniquities." (Psalm 130:7-8). He will redeem you today as you place your trust in HIM. Put your HOPE in HIM alone.
My Hope is in the LORD who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.
For me He died, for me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.
For me He died, for me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.
Much thanks from Debbie to Sherry Humpries for her great proofing and editing - a real GOD-SEND!!!Thank you Sherry!!!!
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