Honorable Mentions: #2- Orpah
This summer we are paying homage to some characters that God has conferred exceptional biblical merit but has not given top honors. The lessons will come from the lives of: Melchizedek, Dinah, Orpah, King Agag, Pharez & Zarah, Phinehas, Caleb, Benaiah, a
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Our summer series for the months of July & August is Honorable Mentions. The dictionary defines Honorable Mention as: "An award or recognition given to someone or something that does not make it to a higher standing but is worth mentioning in an honorable way."
We are looking at a number of lesser known characters in the Old Testament. Through this study we can better understand the nature of God, the character of mankind, and the contrast between a person whose God & Heaven is above and a person whose god & heaven is this earth.
Last week we looked at Melchizedek. His role in scripture was to be a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah, who was and is, Jesus. Mel's story taught us a number of vital lessons regarding obedience, helping others, and honoring God with our faith, courage, and giving.
Have you ever "almost" done something?
The word almost means: slightly short of, not quite, mostly, or very nearly but not exactly or entirely.
Popular poet and writer Nikita Gill has written these words about "almost":
"The saddest word in the whole world is the word almost. He was almost in love. She almost waited. She was almost good for him. He almost lived. He almost stopped her. They almost made it."
The word almost means: slightly short of, not quite, mostly, or very nearly but not exactly or entirely.
Popular poet and writer Nikita Gill has written these words about "almost":
"The saddest word in the whole world is the word almost. He was almost in love. She almost waited. She was almost good for him. He almost lived. He almost stopped her. They almost made it."
Think of some of the "almost" experiences we've had in our lives.
In the Bible there are countless examples, stories, and passages that talk about the idea found in our word, "almost".
Mark 10:21-23
Acts 26:28 [NKJV]
In the Bible there are countless examples, stories, and passages that talk about the idea found in our word, "almost".
Mark 10:21-23
Acts 26:28 [NKJV]
Mark 10:21-23
BSB
21 Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me. ”
22 But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
22 But the man was saddened by these words and went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
BSB
Acts 26:28
BSB
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Can you persuade me in such a short time to become a Christian?”
BSB
This morning we are looking at a Bible character whose life could be summed up by the word "almost" and our text is Ruth 1:1-22.
The character is Orpah (Or'pa) which means "neck" and can imply "a proud and stubborn neck" or "a person who turns their head away."
The character is Orpah (Or'pa) which means "neck" and can imply "a proud and stubborn neck" or "a person who turns their head away."
Ruth 1:1-22
BSB
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.
2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
3 Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
4 who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,
5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.
6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.
7 Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah.
8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me.
9 May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud
10 and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
13 would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
14 Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”
16 But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
19 So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20 “Do not call me Naomi, ” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”
22 So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
3 Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
4 who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,
5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.
6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.
7 Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah.
8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me.
9 May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud
10 and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
13 would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
14 Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”
16 But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.
19 So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20 “Do not call me Naomi, ” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”
22 So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
BSB
Orpah is one of so many "almosts" throughout history. People who had the potential for greatness, people of promise, people so close to becoming a Christian - but who chose to stop short and settle for less.
Orpah made some bad choices:
-She was exposed to the truth, but chose to deny it.
-She was close to faith, but opted to never make it personal.
-She was on her way to the Promised Land, but decided to do what was easy and comfortable.
Orpah made some bad choices:
-She was exposed to the truth, but chose to deny it.
-She was close to faith, but opted to never make it personal.
-She was on her way to the Promised Land, but decided to do what was easy and comfortable.
At first both girls said they would go with Naomi, but that decision is reversed in v. 14. Orpah says good-bye to return to her people and her gods. Ruth put her faith in God and made a commitment to the Lord and His people. Orpah chose what was comfortable, convenient, and close.
Here are a few truths/lessons we can glean from the life of Orpah:
1. God ALLOWS tough times to test and develop our faith.
Ruth 1:1a
1. God ALLOWS tough times to test and develop our faith.
Ruth 1:1a
Ruth 1:1
BSB
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.
BSB
2. God BRINGS people into our lives for a reason.
Ruth 1:1b-2
Ruth 1:1b-2
Ruth 1:1-2
BSB
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. And a certain man from Bethlehem in Judah, with his wife and two sons, went to reside in the land of Moab.
2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
BSB
3. God SETS a time limit for everyone's life.
Ruth 1:3-5
Ruth 1:3-5
Ruth 1:3-5
BSB
3 Then Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons,
4 who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,
5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.
4 who took Moabite women as their wives, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. And after they had lived in Moab about ten years,
5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and without her husband.
BSB
4. God REMINDS us that He is in control of the events of life.
Ruth 1:6
Ruth 1:6
Ruth 1:6
BSB
6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had attended to His people by providing them with food, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to leave the land of Moab.
BSB
5. God WANTS us to know that there is always a road.
Ruth 1:7-15
Ruth 1:7-15
Ruth 1:7-15
BSB
7 Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah.
8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me.
9 May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud
10 and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
13 would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
14 Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”
8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you loving devotion, as you have shown to your dead and to me.
9 May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud
10 and said, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb to become your husbands?
12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons,
13 would you wait for them to grow up? Would you refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.”
14 Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; follow her back home.”
BSB
6. God REVEALS our future and blesses us as we walk in faith.
Ruth 1:19-22
Ruth 1:19-22
Ruth 1:19-22
BSB
19 So Naomi and Ruth traveled until they came to Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women of the city exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?”
20 “Do not call me Naomi, ” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”
22 So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
20 “Do not call me Naomi, ” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”
22 So Naomi returned from the land of Moab with her daughter-in-law Ruth the Moabitess. And they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
BSB
7. God KNOWS the decisions we make today will lead to the future destiny for someone.
Ruth 4:16-17
Ruth 4:16-17
Ruth 4:16-17
BSB
16 And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him.
17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
BSB
Birthdays and Anniversaries:
Sunday, July 11 - Anita Henline, Savannah Foster, Teresa Tucker, Dan & Diana Childs
Monday, July 12 - Gary Nelson, Maddyson Denton, Noah Meehan, Bernie & Ruth Hickey
Tuesday, July 13 - Joe Mater, Mike Mater
Thursday, July 15 - Stacy Schilz
Friday, July 16 - Erik & Tarah Godbey
Saturday, July 17 - Gavin Booher, Claude & Sherry Snider, Dustin & Tori Jones
Sunday, July 11 - Anita Henline, Savannah Foster, Teresa Tucker, Dan & Diana Childs
Monday, July 12 - Gary Nelson, Maddyson Denton, Noah Meehan, Bernie & Ruth Hickey
Tuesday, July 13 - Joe Mater, Mike Mater
Thursday, July 15 - Stacy Schilz
Friday, July 16 - Erik & Tarah Godbey
Saturday, July 17 - Gavin Booher, Claude & Sherry Snider, Dustin & Tori Jones
