伯利恒素有“粮食之乡”的美誉，却遭遇全城饥荒的窘境。于是，像昔日因为饥荒离开应许之地的亚伯拉罕一样（创世记 12:10-20），以利米勒也带着家眷迁移到摩押地去寄居。可是，过了不久，以利米勒死了。两个已经成家的儿子也相继去世，留下无依无靠的拿俄米和两个摩押媳归。
以利米勒这个名字的意思是“我的神是王”。神究竟会怎样帮助这些在忧伤和饥饿中的人呢？祂的计划是，犹大的伯利恒将会出生一位仁义并忠于耶和华的君王大卫。然而，在士师时代，各人任意而行，那时犹大并没有君王。
神的子民有耶和华作他们的君王，祂丰厚地赐与他们，忠诚不变地对待他们（申命记 28:1-14）。反过来，如果以色列民背叛神，神也会不留情面地惩罚他们（申命记 28:15-24）。就像当时的伯利恒遭遇大饥荒，而孤身一人的拿俄米远离家乡，也失去了丈夫和儿子的供养。
拿俄米接下来的生活会怎样呢？会有人来帮助她吗？请不要忘记，她丈夫的名字寓意着“我的神是王”！纵然神的子民反覆无常，神仍然会叫万事“互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处”（参看罗马书 8:28）。
主啊，我们因随己意行以致心灵空虚，求祢藉着祢的灵充满我们的心。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
路得记 1: 1-5 Ruth 1:1-5
1当士师秉政的时候，国中遭遇饥荒。在犹大的伯利恒，有一个人带着妻子和两个儿子往摩押地去寄居。
2这人名叫以利米勒，他的妻名叫拿俄米；他两个儿子，一个名叫玛伦，一个名叫基连，都是犹大伯利恒的以法他人。他们到了摩押地，就住在那里。
3后来拿俄米的丈夫以利米勒死了，剩下妇人和她两个儿子。
4这两个儿子娶了摩押女子为妻，一个名叫俄珥巴，一个名叫路得，在那里住了约有十年。
5玛伦和基连二人也死了，剩下拿俄米，没有丈夫，也没有儿子。
O Hungry Town Of Bethlehem
In Bethlehem, which means “house of bread,” cupboards were bare. So, like Abraham, who left the promised land to escape a famine (Gen. 12:10-20), Elimelek moved his family to another land. They migrated to Moab. But before long, Elimelek died, and then his two sons, who had married, died also—leaving Naomi and her Moabite daughters-in-law with no support.
What would the God of Elimelek—whose name means “My God is King”—do about this grief and hunger? In the future, Bethlehem of Judah would provide Israel with a good and faithful king, David. But in the time of the judges, when everyone did what was right in their own eyes, there was no king in Judah.
Still, God’s people had the Lord as their King, who had been providing them with everything, and he was faithful in blessing (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). But if Israel turned its back on him, God would also be faithful in punishment (Deuteronomy 28:15-24). That’s why Bethlehem was empty and Naomi was living far from home, now alone without a husband or sons to provide for her.
What would happen to Naomi? Who would help her? Remember the name of her husband: “My God is King”! In all things, God, who is faithful despite his people’s waywardness, “works for the good of those who love him” (see Romans 8:28).
By your Spirit, Lord, fill the hearts we have emptied by doing what is right in our own eyes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
