(Christian Living Sermon) Denton 9/97, Dumas 3/99
Filename: Legacy of Orpah

THE LEGACY OF ORPAH

INTRODUCTION-- Probably the most famous women in the history of the world can be found in the pages of the Bible. In the minds of men, Mary the mother of Jesus ranks high, along with Sarah, and Rebekah, and Rachel. However, there are women whose names are less than well-known, who also leave us a legacy of spiritual example. One of these would be Orpah.

LESSON-- Turn to the book of Orpah in your Bibles, and follow as I read.

1. Orpah 1:1-18 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion- Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the other had a different name. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each to her mother's house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people." 11 But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go--for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!" 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Ruth kissed her mother-in-law, but Orpah clung to her. 15 And Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law Ruth has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister in-law." 16 But Orpah said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." 18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.
   
   1. Long before now you have realized that I have done a little name switching in reading this passage.
      
      1. No, I am not dyslexic.
         
      2. I have changed the names to make a point.
         
   2. Ruth is the one who returned with her mother-in-law, uttering those famous words of verses 16-17, and who becomes the mother of a line which brings David into the world....and eventually Jesus.
      
   3. But what if the roles had been reversed?
      
      1. Then the famous ancestral mother of David and Jesus would have been Orpah.
         
      2. Then Orpah's name would have been found in company with other notorius women, causing the first five verses of Matthew to read, "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Orpah......" (Matthew 1:1-5).
         
         1. Remember Tamar, the neglected childless widowed daughter in law of Judah, who tempted him in the guise of a prostitute, in order to conceive a child by him and take away her reproach?
            
         2. Remember Rahab, the prostitute who hid the spies of Joshua in the city of Jericho, and saved her whole family from the slaughter?
            
      3. Ruth would have been the forgotten woman, who pledged to go with Naomi, but instead returned to her mother's house, her false gods, and to obscurity.
         
2. A quirk of history could have replaced Ruth with Orpah, but then we would only have had a different name to attach to the story of her spirit of devotion and love and submission to the will of God.

1.Ruth was not the daughter in law who turned back to her false gods.
2.In her mother in law, in spite of her willingness to let both of her daughters in-law return to Moab, Ruth saw the example of a godly woman, and embraced the God who had fashioned Naomi's character.

a.A good influence over others as a role-model is a valuable trait, since it may be the path to salvation for those who are influenced.

b.There are other examples of such devotion.

(1)Elisha's devotion to Elijah, was unshakeable, and ended with Elisha inheriting his mentor's work as God's prophet. 2 Kings 2:1-6 "And it came to pass, when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me as far as Beth-el. And Elisha said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. 5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to the Jordan. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on."

(2)David's qualities inspired the loyalty of his former enemies, the Philistines of Gath. 2 Samuel 15:18-21 (When David had to flee Jerusalem during the rebellion of Absalom) "All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. 19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; return to thine own place. 20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee. 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be."

CONCLUSION-- The end result is that we have a book of the Bible that not only provides vital information on the genealogy of Jesus, but also teaches a strong lesson on loyalty, faithfulness, and devotion to God. The glorious name of Ruth, which means "friendship," is singled out for our remembrance and honor. See Ruth 4:9-17. So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."

IV.APPEAL: God recognized the usefulness of role-models: Hebrews 6:11-12 "And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end: 12 that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."