Psalm 106:1-18; Ruth 1:1-14; 2 Cor. 1:1-11; Matt. 5:1-12
Did the family lack faith? Is that the reason they left Israel in the first place? There was a famine in the land and they left and went to the land of Moab. Recall that the Moabites were a race that began when Lot’s daughter slept with her father and conceived a child after leaving Sodom. The Moabites were considered a people whose inception was from an incestuous relationship that was based on the moral standards of Sodom. The prophet Balaam was a Moabite and the strategy he gave to his king to destroy the Israelites was to get their daughters to marry the Israelites’ sons and seduce them to their god. For Elimelech to choose to go to Moab to escape the famine doesn’t speak well of him. Now, however, all the men of the family are dead and Naomi hears that the famine has ended and prepares to return. Her daughters in law have left their mothers and fathers and become part of this family and cling to Naomi until she tells them that the reality is that she won’t be able to provide them new husbands for a very long time. Hearing this, Orpah decides to turn back. It is hard to tell from this passage whether the family lacked faith as Naomi speaks of the Lord and these women are prepared to go with her to her own land. It seems equally likely that they have heard enough about Naomi’s Lord that they are at least willing to give Him a hearing.
Jesus opens His teaching in an odd way. The blessings of the kingdom are for those who, in this life, don’t feel particularly blessed or at least don’t consider the blessings of this life to be the final answer. They aren’t seeking their portion in this life but have a true vision for the kingdom of God. They see this world as it is, fallen and in need of God’s hand to change it. The true blessings await. These sayings beg the question, what is the meaning of this life? Essentially you could break these sayings into two things that we learn about life, love God and love your neighbor. Those who are merciful, peacemakers, and those who seek after righteousness no matter the cost are those who are blessed. Self-seeking is never commended. The focus of our life is to be upward and outward.
Paul tells us the direction of our lives. We give thanks and bless God for who He is, what He has done for us, and what He is doing for us and then we take what we have received from Him and turn it out to others. We do what He has done for us, we comfort others with the comfort with which we have been comforted. The Spirit is to flow from God to us and out to others in His Name. That was the pattern Jesus’ life showed us, all the way to the end. In His suffering He continued to keep faith, and Paul did the same. We are called to be a people of faith no matter the circumstances of our lives, giving thanks to Him in all things.
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.
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