1In the days when the judges ruled,a there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
3Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years,5both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
19So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20“Don’t call me Naomi,b ” she told them. “Call me Mara,c because the Almightyd has made my life very bitter. 21I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflictede me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
CHAPTER 4...
14The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!15He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Thoughts: "Naomi" means "pleasant" but when she got back home she asked that they change her name to "Mara" which means "bitter." She lost her husband and both sons. They had moved to Moab and Moab was in the midst of a famine. She had to come back home to her people, but she came back with nothing.
However, Ruth, her daughter-in-law stayed with her mother-in-law out of sheer mercy and kindness. Ruth ended up marrying Boaz and then had a son who became the grandfather of David the greatest king in Israelite history. The Lord changed Naomi from bitter to pleasant again. God can change things around. He is the lifter of our heads as He lifted Naomi's head.
However, Ruth, her daughter-in-law stayed with her mother-in-law out of sheer mercy and kindness. Ruth ended up marrying Boaz and then had a son who became the grandfather of David the greatest king in Israelite history. The Lord changed Naomi from bitter to pleasant again. God can change things around. He is the lifter of our heads as He lifted Naomi's head.
Prayer: Lord, in the tough times of life, help me to remember you are the lifter of my head.
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