Ruth - Voice of the Outsider

Scripture - Ruth 1

Rev Andy Braunston

Sermon

Prejudice

Sadly prejudice and discrimination are never far from us in our society. We pride ourselves on living in a tolerant society, yet every week we hear of examples of racism and discrimination. Last week the founder of the British National Party died and, whilst he now has to answer for his views and actions in life - as one day we will all have to do - his legacy in our country is one of hated and division. We read the papers to see police officers sending racist jokes to each other, we know that women are paid less for their work than men, and we still see the many examples of discrimination and prejudice against so many of our own communities. It seems that despite all our progress on becoming a more inclusive and tolerant society, there will always be those who are outsiders.

The Time of Ruth

Now if this is true for us now, how much worse were things in the time of Ruth. People in the ancient near east, then as now, did not get on that well. We read time and time again in the Bible of wars between the nations around Israel. In better times people may have migrated into each other's countries but such migrants were always seen as outsiders and foreigners. Ruth, as a young woman and a widow would have been rather powerless in her society. In the eyes of most Jewish people she wouldn't have had much going for her because apart from being a widow, she was a pagan. Her prospects in a male dominated society, as a single woman, recently bereaved, with no one to look after her and being a stranger from a foreign country would have been bleak indeed.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Naomi, her mother in law, had second thoughts about taking her back to the land of Israel with her. Naomi knew their life would be hard and that her daughter in laws had better chances amongst their own people and relations. She tells them, therefore, to go back. Both protest, but Orpah sees sense and returns to her own people and we don't hear from her again. Ruth, however, makes her unforgettable promise:

"where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried."

Ruth was under no obligation to do this but something had happened in their relationship which meant they had strong bonds of love which mean that Ruth acted in a surprising and wonderful way.

Ruth - An Example of Devotion

The book of Ruth and Ruth's own example have much to teach us concerning radical commitment to our friends, fellowship and family.

Ruth was prepared to leave her land and all that she felt comfortable with in order to support Naomi who had become her friend. Ruth was prepared to accept the changes in her other friends and way of life because of this radical commitment - a commitment which seems to have involved her accepting God. Those words "your God will be my God" indicate she has come to believe in the God of the Jewish people. Ruth has, as many of us have done, redefined or broadened her notions of family. She was Naomi's daughter in law but her husband was dead and the bonds that had formerly held them together had broken. Yet she broadened her concept of family in order to stay with Naomi. We don't know what her previous experience of family was. We know from our own experience that many of us have friends who are closer to us than our biological families, so close that we see our friends as our family. Ruth provides a model for this radical level of commitment.

However, to a Jew of the time and to generations of Jewish readers later on Ruth's story is about more than this. The key point to a Jewish reader is that Ruth is an outsider, a foreigner, a Gentile, a second class citizen. She was one who was outside of the Law and, presumably, outside of God's purposes. Yet here she is not receiving from the Jewish people but giving. She displays a faithfulness that would put most others to shame.

Like the gospel incidents of the Syrophoencian woman or the Centurion who came to Jesus for help, and like the parable of the Good Samaritan, this is a story recorded expressly to challenge the reader, and to remind us that God's love and purpose extended beyond artificial divides, embracing all. Not only does God value every individual for who they are, but God can speak through them too! No person, no culture, no creed, is beyond God. Often we find God were we least expect to.

And so……

Are we ready to listen and learn from outsiders, those beyond our immediate circle of family, friends, work, church, society, country, colour or even of faith? Are we ready to be stretched, our comfortable preconceptions undermined, our prejudices challenged? Are we ready to consider new ideas, different points of view and fresh insights? In the book of Ruth we glimpse a willingness to listen to the voice of the outsider, recognising it as the voice of God. Are we willing to do the same?

Amen.

This sermon was first preached in the Metropolitan Community Church of Manchester. Click here for further information.