“May the Lord grant that you may
find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they
lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “No, but we will surely
return with you to your people." But Naomi said, "Return, my
daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may
be your husbands?”
There
was a custom in the Israel in Biblical times that intended to carry on the
family name and honor, if a man died before his first son was conceived. A
close male family member would have been given to his wife as a husband, to be
the surrogate father. This custom is explained in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. There
are other examples of this in the Bible: Tamar and the daughters of Lot. It
continues to play an important role later in the story of Ruth as a reoccurring
theme of redemption, see Ruth 4:5.
Rest
– Naomi meant for them to find a second husband. Culturally they would be at “unrest”
without a husband to care for and protect them. She wanted the best for Ruth
and Orpah and she did not envision that she could provide for their needs. Naomi
felt these Moabite women were still in need of Moabite men to fulfill their
lives. In the Old Testament this “rest” is a Hebrew word that denotes a resting
place or quietness, like the comforting rest in 1 Kings 8:56, “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to
His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed
of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.” The
quiet waters of Psalm 23:2 also give us the feeling of the rest that Naomi
wanted for Ruth and Orpah. “He makes me
lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” Now still in
her state of grief she argues with her daughters-in-law telling them to go
back, but in their love and respect for Naomi, they want to go to Bethlehem
with her.
Spiritually
have you ever argued with God—telling Him that you don’t want what He thinks is
best for you? In Israel there are wadi, dry river beds, that can become
dangerous torrential rivers after a rainstorm. Those are not the safe, calm,
quiet waters that are written about in Psalm 23. For sheep there is safety in
drinking from quiet water, knowing that if they fall in, they won’t be carried
away by a swift current. I crave the “rest” of Psalm 23 and can see myself
following Jesus to the quiet waters. Spiritually I desire that quietness, the
rest that Jesus offers us. With the hurried pace and stress of our everyday
lives, I’m sure that you need Jesus’ peace and rest also. Just ask Him. He has
promised that whatever we ask for in His name, will be given to us. “Until now you have asked for nothing in My
name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.” John
16:24.
Lord, give us Your peace, rest,
and joy. We ask these things in Your name. Amen.
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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