Falling in love with Jesus pt 4

by Leona Kidd

B.  THE JOURNEY – Chapter 1:1-22

Our story opens up during the time of the Judges.  The Israelites had turned to other gods, as a consequence of their sin God brought about a famine.

ELIMELECH (a lime a lech) and his wife NAOMI are from Bethlehemthe tribe of JUDAH with their two sons go toMoab to escape the famine.

Names were given that had meaning

Elimelech – God is my King

Naomi – Pleasant (becomes bitter then pleasant again – restoration)

Mahlon – Song

Chilion – Satisfaction

Bethlehem – House of Bread – meaning Word of God

Judah – Praise

John Courson – Applegate Fellolwship – “There is an intimate intricate correlation between the House of Bread which is the Word of God and Praise which ascends towards God.  David in Psalms 119 says, “I will praise thee O’Lord when I have learned thy statues.”  “A person who is learning about the ways of God and the character of God through the Word of God cannot help but to overflow in PRAISE to God.”

When we eat heavenly manna we experience earthly happiness (Psalms 1:1-3)

We can experience famine  – the Dry times in our life when we step away from the hearing the Word of the Lord.  (Amos 8:11) In our verse for this study – Psalms 63:1-5 “O God you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”

There will come into our walk seasons of dryness and times of difficulty.

Do you still feel that you are hearing from God, or in communion with Him.  Are you still experiencing your first love – the passion – the excitement of knowing Jesus personally.

THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER TIMES OF FAMINE WILL COME. 

THE QUESTION IS WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THEY DO.