Langley Presbyterian Church

Prayer of Illumination:

As we listen to Your living Word, let us hear Your voice. In hearing, may our lives be changed and Your world transformed. Speak to us, O Lord, Your servants are listening. In the name of Jesus, we pray.  Amen.

Thomas’ aunt’s family came to Canada about 20 years ago with big dreams — the Canadian Dream. With their two sons, they arrived with little more than hope and determination.

Like many immigrant families, they took on tough jobs — washing dishes in restaurants, cleaning stores as janitors, and picking blueberries under the scorching sun. They worked tirelessly to make a life in a new country.

But life has not been easy. About 10 years ago, she suffered the unimaginable heartbreak of losing her son in a car accident. Then, three years ago, her husband passed away after a battle with cancer.

After 20 years in Canada, she has decided it’s time to return to Korea. She plans to go back next spring, but her feelings are bittersweet. She never imagined she would return home poor and alone.

This story is not unique. I’ve met many immigrants who came to North America full of dreams, only to return to their homelands with broken hearts.

Some lost all their savings, others lost loved ones to illness or accidents. Some were betrayed by friends they trusted.

Others struggled with mental health challenges, unable to bear the weight of discrimination or the relentless grind of starting over.

These stories of shattered dreams and deep loss remind us of the family in today’s Scripture. Naomi and her family left Bethlehem, fleeing a severe famine, and sought a better life in Moab. Yet, their journey was marked by unthinkable agony and grief.

The passage begins, “In the days when the judges ruled.” This tells us that the story takes place during the time of the Judges, a period of great instability and turmoil for Israel.

The book of Judges, which immediately precedes the book of Ruth, closes with this somber statement: “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). It was a time marked by chaos, moral corruption, and spiritual rebellion in Israel’s history.

Amid this darkness, however, the book of Ruth offers a glimpse of God’s quiet yet astonishing work. It reminds us that even in the worst of times, God’s providence is at work, shaping redemptive purposes.

Verse 1 continues: “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land.” This famine in Bethlehem of Judah, speaks volumes about the historical and spiritual context.

In Deuteronomy 11, God warned Israel that disobedience and idolatry would provoke His anger, leading Him to withhold rain and cause the land to produce no crops. This famine may well have been a judgment upon Israel’s unfaithfulness.

It is ironic that Bethlehem, which means “house of bread,” was now in a famine, without bread. Amid this desperate situation, an Israelite family of four—Elimelech, Naomi, and their two sons—left their homeland in search of food and a better life.

They became refugees, moving to Moab, a neighboring land where people worshipped pagan gods that the Lord detested.

The Moabites, descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, had a complicated and often hostile relationship with Israel. Throughout their shared history, tension and conflict were the norm.

Despite this, Elimelech chose to take his family into this foreign and spiritually hostile territory, likely out of sheer desperation.

Interestingly, Elimelech’s name means “My God is King", yet his actions suggest otherwise. Instead of seeking God’s guidance, he moved his family to Moab, relying on his judgment in hopes of finding food.

This decision was not just a physical relocation but a spiritual departure from trusting God’s provision, placing his family in a vulnerable situation—physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Verse 2 introduces the rest of the family. Naomi, whose name means “pleasant,” was Elimelech’s wife. Their two sons were Mahlon, meaning “sickness” or “sickly,” and Chilion, meaning “wasting” or “failing.” These are unusual and somber names to give children; perhaps foreshadowing the hardships they would face.

Tragically, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow in a foreign land. Her sorrow was only somewhat eased by the presence of her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion.

As time passed, they married Moabite women—Orpah and Ruth. Orpah means “fawn” or “neck”; Ruth means “friendship," or "compassionate friend." Yet despite their marriages, neither son had children.

But tragedy upon tragedy. Naomi’s two sons also died. The losses were devastating for all three women, who were left destitute. The losses were staggering, especially for Naomi. She had buried not only her husband but also her two sons.

The grief of losing one child is unimaginable; losing both is devastating. Naomi must have wrestled with deep, unanswerable questions: “Why, God? Why has this happened?”

In the ancient world, being a childless widow was one of the most vulnerable and miserable positions anyone could face. There was no one to provide for them, no means of income, and no social safety nets.

Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth were now three widows in one household, with little hope for the future. Without economic stability or male protection, their situation seemed utterly hopeless.

Even in the depths of her despair, Naomi hears news that changes everything. The famine in Bethlehem is over—a glimmer of hope from her hometown. This good news stirs something within her, prompting a decision to return home.

Her return wasn’t merely a physical journey back to Bethlehem; it was also a spiritual journey—a return to the place and to the God where she truly belonged.

Naomi sets off with her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. Yet along the way, she urges them to go back to their own families. Having lived as an outsider, a refugee, and an immigrant in Moab, Naomi understood all too well the hardships they would face as foreign widows in Judah.

Perhaps she wanted to spare them the challenges of being gentile women in a land where they would be seen as outsiders. Naomi is willing to face her grief and journey alone so that Ruth and Orpah might have the chance at a better life.

In her blessing, Naomi uses the word “kindly.” The Hebrew word here is hesed, one of the most profound words in the Old Testament. Hesed symbolizes God’s covenant love—His steadfast, unfailing love and loyalty to His people.

By invoking this word, Naomi is offering them the greatest gift she knows: a prayer that they might experience the faithful, unchanging love of God.

Initially, both Ruth and Orpah refuse to leave Naomi. They declare their intention to stay with her, showing their love and loyalty. Yet Naomi insists again, urging them to return to their families. With heavy hearts, the three widows weep together.

Eventually, Orpah agrees to go back, making what was likely a difficult and painful decision. But Ruth’s response is striking. She clings to Naomi and utters these famous words:

“Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Ruth’s declaration is a deep act of faith and loyalty. She not only commits herself to Naomi but also, to Naomi’s God, choosing to follow Yahweh and become part of His covenant people.

The verb “cling” carries sacred significance in Israel’s history. Its most notable use appears in Genesis 2:24: “A man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

This word conveys a deeply intimate and powerful devotion—a commitment so strong that it signifies an unbreakable bond and an unwillingness to let go under any circumstances.

Ruth’s choice to cling to Naomi reflects this kind of wholehearted devotion. Despite facing a future that seemed hopeless—marked by widowhood, childlessness, and life as a foreigner in an unfamiliar land—Ruth takes Naomi’s hand and willingly steps into the darkness alongside her.

What could inspire such a radical commitment? It’s possible that Ruth was deeply moved by the faith she witnessed in Naomi. Naomi’s life had been filled with acute loss—her husband and both of her sons died while they were in a foreign land.

She struggled openly with bitterness and despair. Yet, in her grief, Ruth must have seen something in Naomi’s relationship with Yahweh that stood out from the gods of Moab.

Perhaps Ruth recognized in Naomi’s life a testimony of God’s sovereignty and mercy, even through suffering.

While Naomi herself was bitter and couldn’t yet see what God was doing, Ruth had come to trust in the Lord Almighty, whose faithfulness was unlike anything she had known.

The chapter ends with a glimmer of hope. Ruth and Naomi arrive in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. This is no coincidence—it’s a sign of God’s providence.

Though Naomi’s heart is still heavy with grief, the timing of their arrival foreshadows that better days are coming. God is at work, even when His hand is not immediately visible.

Ruth’s commitment led to amazing blessings—becoming part of the lineage of King David and ultimately of Jesus Christ, God’s greatest redemptive plan.

Next Sunday, we’ll delve deeper into God’s remarkable faithfulness to these ordinary widows amidst their tragedy and chaos.

But for today, let’s reflect on how that same faithfulness continues in our lives and this church.

Today, we celebrate Langley Presbyterian Church’s 46th Anniversary. Like Ruth and Naomi’s story, our journey as a church has had its seasons of plenty and its seasons of challenge.

There were times when this sanctuary was filled with the sounds of bustling Sunday school children, vibrant choirs, and joyful fellowship.

And there have been seasons of hardship—conflicts, uncertainty, and the pandemic that tested us in ways we never expected.

Yet here we are. Through it all, you have journeyed together in faith, trusting God’s provision, healing, and guidance.

And during every challenge, we’ve seen glimpses of renewal, moments of restoration, and signs that God is not done with us yet.

As we celebrate today, I pray that our hearts are filled with gratitude for what God has already done and with hope for what He is preparing for us.

May we have eyes to see the seeds He is planting now—seeds that will grow into future blessings, renewed purpose, and flourishing ministry.

Just as Ruth saw the mystery of God’s grace and kindness in Naomi’s life and declared, “Your God will be my God,” may our lives reflect that same grace to those around us.

May our families, friends, coworkers, and neighbors see in us the steadfast love of God and be moved to say, “I want your God to be my God.”

Friends, as we reflect on our past and step into the future, let us journey together in faith.

Like Naomi and Ruth, let us commit to walking side by side, supporting one another through every joy and every challenge.

Let us anticipate with confidence that the God who has brought us this far will continue to lead us with His unfailing love.

The best is yet to come. Amen.

Let us pray.

Faithful God, even in the midst of our bitter experiences, we trust that You are at work in ways we cannot yet see—bringing healing, hope, and renewal.

We believe that Your purpose is to transform our bitterness into blessedness.

Just as Ruth clung to Naomi, perhaps You are calling us to cling to You, trusting that Your time is coming, even when it feels far away.

May Ruth’s story inspire us to hold fast to Your faithfulness, confident that You are always with us, guiding us every step of the way, no matter how difficult the journey may seem.

Help us to walk together toward You each day, hand in hand as a community of faith.

In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.