RPG Adults
THE BLESSING OF THE HOME (11)
LORD’S DAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Ruth 4:11-22
1 Timothy 5:3-8
“…let them learn first
to shew piety at home, and
to requite their parents…”
THE BLESSING OF THE HOME (11)
The Bible is clear on the roles and duties that different members of the family have within the family setup. There are roles that parents play concerning their children, roles that are commanded by God through His Word. There are also roles that the children have concerning their parents, especially when the children grow up and the parents become aged. The women, as they came to bless the LORD, did note and observe that Naomi would need specific help and they identified the child as the one to offer that help.
“And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age…” (Ruth 4:15). The women foresaw a secure future for Naomi in the birth of this child. The uncertainty of the future was probably what brought Naomi pain and led her identify herself by the name Mara. As she bade her daughters-in-law leave her, she spoke as one without hope. She said, “if I should say, I have hope…and should also bear sons…the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.” Yet, Ruth had been married, and Naomi had a grandson. Naomi had one who would be a nourisher of her old age, one who would bear her responsibilities and, as Paul instructed the church through Timothy, “shew piety at home, and to requite” her. This was not just to be done out of charity, but it was doing what was just and dutiful. Having been born, trained, nourished, educated and raised from a helpless child, he grew into a mature, responsible and strong adult. He thus must be willing to bear the responsibility of caring for his aged parents who had spent and lost their energy, strength, and vitality of life, and had then turned to be dependent and in need of assistance and help.
The women, who spoke thus to Naomi, were comforting her, wishing her well with what was just, decent and proper. Or as Paul told the Roman believers: “that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
THOUGHT: God’s Word puts value in children honouring parents.
PRAYER: Father, may I live right to support my parents in their old age.