Beaver 1

Emily Beaver

Ruth 1:1-18 NRSV (Elimelech’s Family Goes to Moab & Naomi and Her Moabite
Daughters-in-Law)

1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of
Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. 2 The
name of the man was Elimelech (Eh-lem-a-leck) and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names
of his two sons were Mahlon (Mah-lon) and Chilion (Chill-ion); they were Ephrathites(Ef-rah-
thites) from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But
Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite
wives; the name of the one was Orpah (Or-pah) and the name of the other Ruth. When they had
lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left
without her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had
heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. 7 So
she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they
went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,
“Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have
dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the
house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. 10 They said to her, “No,
we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters, why will
you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn
back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was
hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, 13 would you then wait until
they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far
more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.” 14 Then
they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 So she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return
after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said,
“Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.
17 Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!”
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18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Friends, pray with me.

Gracious God, I give you thanks. I give you thanks for the people gather today on this zoom call.
Thanks for their commitment to your word and their commitment to show up each week for each
other. I give you thanks for this sacred space here. A space that we may come to and be
vulnerable and learn. A space where we can explore your word and be lifted up by our peers.
Lord bless us today as preach your word. Bless this time, this sacred space, and these sacred
people. Amen.

I heard this space today is a time to explore and experiment so here I am to do just that.
The book of Ruth is unique. There are not many characters within the book and with the except
of Boaz, all these characters are not mentioned elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. When we read
Ruth, we a read a story about a family and the importance of familial relations. According to the
Rabbinic tradition the Hebrew word Chesed (cheh-sed) is a major theme throughout the book of
Ruth. Chesed refers to loyalty or faithfulness arising from commitment. Chesed can occur
between God and a human community or it can occur between members of a family. Chesed.

In the beginning of the Book of Ruth we hear of Naomi and her Moabite daughters-in-
law, Orpah and Ruth. After losing her husband and sons, Naomi shows compassion and concern
for her daughters-in-law even though she has no obligation toward them. Naomi is traveling
home to Bethlehem from Moab because she had heard, “that the Lord had considered his people
and given them food.” Ruth, now a vulnerable member of society after the loss of her husband, is
determined to follow Naomi. Ruth leaves behind her Moabite people and land to travel alongside
Naomi to Bethlehem.

I would call Ruth and Naomi “chosen family.” I had heard people use the term “chosen
family” but it was not until I reached college where I truly understood what it meant. When I
entered my freshman year at North Carolina State University I was terrified. I was moving from
the small town of Black Mountain, the place where I was born and raised, to the city of Raleigh
about four hours away. To put the two places in reference, NC State has about four times more
students than the total population of Black Mountain. I felt prepared and supported by the loving
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community I had grown up in, but the transition was still tough for me. Between navigating a
new city, a new school, and living on my own, I often struggled to make friends. I was in search
for a space, a community, that could make this massive place feel a bit more like home.

I will skip to the end of the story and tell you I found that community. I found friends
within the Presbyterian Campus Ministry group, friends who I would wholeheartedly call my
chosen family. These were friends who encouraged me, supported me, and pushed me to be the
best version of myself. These were friends who picked up the pieces and lifted me up when I
needed it the most. These friends had no obligation to me, but yet they became my family, and I
became theirs. Chesed.

I cannot help but admire Ruth when I read this passage. She shows such a fierce loyalty
to Naomi, a commitment to be her chosen family after Naomi had lost so much. Reflecting on
the past year I think about the things that have sustained me. The most lifegiving things for me
have been the relationships I have with my people. A theme of Chesed has help us together
through endless zoom class, phone conversations, and letters in the mail. We have each faced our
own new challenges over the past year, but because of the loving commitment we have for one
another no one has had to face these challenges along. Just as Ruth committed to Naomi, these
people have committed to being a part of my life. Through the less than normal past year these
people have continued to be a part of my life and remind me that I am loved, valued, and
appreciated.

If I am to try to wrap this whole sermon up, then let me leave you with this: find your
chosen family and hold tight to them. Call them, check on them, and lift them up. Just as Ruth
shows a fierce love and commitment to Naomi, may we also love and commit to those lifegiving
relationships that make us whole. May we live lives by Ruth’s example, fiercely committing to
the people who mean so much to us. And may we live lives encircled by those same chesed
relationships that remind us we are each beautiful children of God who are loved, valued, and
cherished.