Neighbours all

Laura Digan August 17, 2023 4 4

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Ruth 1 (NRSVA)

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 and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites 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 one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there for about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons or 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 had consideration for 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!’

18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, ‘Is this Naomi?’ 20 She said to them,

‘Call me no longer Naomi,
    call me Mara,
    for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.
21 I went away full,
    but the Lord has brought me back empty;
why call me Naomi
    when the Lord has dealt harshly with me,
    and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?’

22 So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

I am a Lanarkshire lass. I grew up in Coatbridge and then lived just outside Airdrie for over 20 years. You might think that this is pathetic but I never thought I’d ever leave Lanarkshire. It is where my family are. I know the people and I fit in. It was a big wrench moving to Glasgow. But I moved because that was where God was calling me. And I am slowly getting used to it. Initially I felt alone and isolated. Thankfully I have a church full of wonderful friends who are helping me to settle and feel like I belong.

But what about the people who are having to leave their homes, their families, their friends, the countries because of situations outwith their control? The people who are seeking safety and security after losing everything in floods, famine, wild fire, water shortage caused by climate change. How do we help people, who have had to leave everything they know, to feel welcome? How do we help them rebuild their lives?

It has been estimated that by 2050 1.2 billion people could be displaced globally due to climate change and natural disasters.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus,

You taught us to love our neighbour

Help us to understand that we are all neighbours, local and global.

Let us be your face of welcome

Loving and caring for our brothers and sisters who have been displaced.

Challenge us into action so we can halt the effects of climate change upon our shared home before it gets too late.

Amen