Ruthu na EstaRuth and Esther — Sehemu ya 2Unit 2

Tafadhali anza kwa maombi, ukimwomba Mungu auchunguze moyo wako na akufundishe katika mafunzo haya ya leo.Please open with prayer that God examines your heart and teaches you through the course of this study today.

Maelezo ya Darasa la 2:Class 2 Notes:

Sura ya 1: Wiki iliyopita tulianza na muhtasari wa kitabu cha Ruthu na tukaangalia mistari 2 ya kwanza ya Ruthu. Leo tutashughulikia sehemu iliyobaki ya sura ya 1.Chapter 1: Last week we began with an overview of the book of Ruth and looked at the first 2 verses of Ruth. Today we will cover the rest of chapter 1.

Mambo Tuliyoyachunguza:Observations:

1. Tayari tumejadili maana za majina ya wahusika mbalimbali, pamoja na umuhimu wa Moabu na Bethlehemu kama mazingira ya hadithi yetu.1. We’ve already discussed the meanings of the names of the various characters as well as the significance of Moab and Bethlehem as the setting for our story.

2. Sasa mume wa Naomi anakufa kwanza. Angalia kwamba Elimeleki anakufa, kisha baada ya kifo chake wana wawili wanaoa wanawake Wamoabu na wanakaa huko miaka 10. Ni wazi kwamba wamejichanganya na kuuchukua utamaduni wa Wamoabu.2. Now Naomi’s husband dies first. Notice Elimelech dies, then after his death the two sons marry Moabites and they remain there 10 years. Clearly they have assimilated into the Moabite culture.

3. Jina la Orpa maana yake ni mwenye shingo ngumu, mkaidi.3. Orpah’s name means stiff-necked, stubborn.

4. Jina la Ruthu: maana yake ni urafiki, mwenzi.4. Ruth’s name: means friendship, companion.

5. “Kisha,” wana wawili wa Naomi wanakufa naye anabaki katika hali ya hatari kiuchumi: mjane mwenye wakwe wawili ambao nao ni wajane. Hakuna wa kutafuta pesa, hakuna chakula, na inaonekana hakuna ardhi wala mali isipokuwa kile walichokiacha nyuma Bethlehemu walipokimbilia Moabu.5. “Then,” Naomi’s two sons die and she is left in a dangerous position financially: a widow with two widows for daughters in law. No one to earn money, no food, and presumably no land/property except what they left behind in Bethlehem when they fled to Moab.

6. Naomi anaona kwamba Bethlehemu imefanikiwa tena, na watu wanafurahia malimbuko ya mavuno. Anaamua kurudi katika nchi yake ya nyumbani. Jambo hili linaonyesha toba yake, yaani kurudi nyumbani.6. Naomi sees that Bethlehem is once again prosperous, and people are enjoying the first fruits of harvest. She decides to return to her homeland. This marks her repentance or returning home.

7. Neno kuu katika sura hii: Toba au Kurudi. Kurudi, mwenye toba, mwenye moyo uliovunjika na kupondeka — ingawa "kuvunjika" na "kupondeka" si visawe vya toba, kama tulivyojadili Jumanne katika darasa la Matendo la Ted. Kwa kweli toba na kurudi nyuma ndizo mada kuu za sura hii. Inatajwa mara tisa hapa. Tunajuaje kwamba kukimbilia kwao Moabu hakukuongozwa na Mungu? Kwanza, kwa kawaida kama kungeongozwa na Mungu huenda kungetajwa hapa. Pili, tunamwona Naomi mwenye toba na aliyekata tamaa. Wao ni maskini kabisa, naye yuko tayari kurudi nyumbani ambako angalau anaweza kutegemea nafasi ya kuokota masazo katika mashamba ya wengine kama mtu maskini ili aweze kuishi. Tatu, kama tulivyojadili mwanzoni, walikuwa wamekuwa sehemu ya utamaduni wa Wamoabu. Tunapaswa kuelewa kwamba makatazo ya Mungu dhidi ya kuchanganyika na mataifa mengine hayakuwa ubaguzi wa rangi, bali yalikuwa jitihada ya kuwalinda Waisraeli wasijichanganye na kuichukua miungu ya utamaduni wa kigeni. Na Mungu alikuwa na sheria zilizowazuia Wamoabu wasiingie katika mkutano wa BWANA (Kumbukumbu la Torati 23:3). Hatujui kama walichukua miungu yao ya kipagani, kwa sababu ni wazi kwamba maneno ya Ruthu ya kujitoa yanaonyesha akimchukua Yahwe kuwa Mungu wake.7. Keyword in this chapter: Repentance or Returning. Returning, repentant, broken and contrite of heart though broken and contrite are not synonyms of repentance as we discussed on Tues in Ted’s Acts class. In fact repentance and turning back are the major themes of this chapter. It is mentioned nine times here. How do we know that their fleeing to Moab wasn’t directed by God. First normally if it had been directed by God it probably would have been mentioned here. Secondly, we see a repentant and despondent Naomi. They are destitute and she is ready to return home where at least she can depend on the ability to glean in other’s field as a pauper in order to survive. Thirdly as we originally discussed, they had become a part of the Moabite culture. We have to understand that God’s prohibitions against mixing with other nations wasn’t racism but an attempt to protect the Israelites from assimilating and adopting the foreign culture’s gods. And God had rules keeping Moabites out of the assembly of the LORD (Deuteronomy 23:3). We don’t know that they adopted their pagan gods because clearly Ruth’s soliloquy shows her adopting Yahweh as her God.

8. Zingatia maneno ya kuunganisha hapa: “Kisha,” “Kwa hiyo” na “Na.”8. Note Connective words here, “Then,” “Therefore” and “And.”

9. “BWANA” alikuwa amewajia watu wake: Yahwe, jina rasmi na cheo cha Mungu mmoja na wa pekee aliye mkuu juu ya yote. Naomi bado anamtambua Mungu wake. Jambo hili ni muhimu. Naomi bado anamtambua Mungu wake aliye mkuu juu ya yote, ingawa tutaona baadaye kwamba amekata tamaa kabisa akidhani kwamba Mungu amemhukumu kwa kuruhusu haya yote yatokee. Tena, hapa kuna kidokezo kingine muhimu kwamba hawakwenda Moabu kwa uongozi wa Mungu.9. The “Lord” had visited His people: Yahweh, the formal name and title of the one and only sovereign God. Naomi still recognizes her God. This is important. Naomi still recognizes her sovereign God, though we will see later that she is in utter despair thinking that God has judged her by allowing all this to happen. Again, another key here that they didn’t go to Moab according to God’s direction.

10. Na wakwe wawili wakaanza safari pamoja naye.10. And the two DIL’s started the journey with her.

11. Naomi anajaribu kuwarudisha. Bila shaka anahisi mzigo wa kujilisha yeye mwenyewe na wakwe zake wawili. Huenda amehuzunika kupita kiasi. Hajui jinsi wakwe zake Wamoabu watakavyopokelewa Bethlehemu, lakini huenda si vizuri. Kumbuka kwamba hakuna upendo kati ya mataifa haya mawili. Hata hivyo, kwa sifa yake, tunaona kwamba anawaomba warudi na kupata tumaini miongoni mwa watu wao wenyewe. Anawatakia mema. Ni wazi anawapenda na anawatakia yaliyo bora.11. Naomi tries to send them back. No doubt she is feeling the burden of having to feed herself and her two daughters. She is most likely utterly depressed. She doesn’t know how her Moabite daughters would be received in Bethlehem, but most likely not well. Remember there is no love lost between these two nations. To her credit though, we see that she asks them to turn back and find hope among their own people. She wishes them well. Clearly loves them and wants the best for them.

12. Anamwomba Mungu awaonyeshe fadhili zake hapa. Neno kuu jingine linalojitokeza katika kitabu chote linatambulishwa hapa: Fadhili: hutafsiriwa kama upendo wa uaminifu au upendo wa agano, kujitoa na rehema. BWANA (Mwenyezi) awatendee mema. Anaomba neema na fadhili za Mungu ziwafikie wao. Kwa undani zaidi, tukirudi kwenye Kiebrania hapa, anawapa upendo wa agano wa Mungu kwa ajili ya fadhili walizomwonyesha yeye na wanawe.12. She asks for God to extend His kindness here. Another keyword throughout the book is introduced here: Kindness: translated as Loyal love or covenant love devotion and mercy. May the Lord (Almighty) deal kindly with you. She is asking for God’s grace and kindness, to extend to them. More deeply if we go back to the Hebrew here, She is extending God’s covenantal love to them for the kindness they showed to her and her sons.

13. Pia anawatakia wapate waume wapya ili wapate raha. Ni wazi kwamba maisha yalikuwa magumu kwao hadi wakati huu.13. She also wishes for them to find new husbands so that might find rest. Clearly life had been hard for them up to this point.

14. Wote wanalia pamoja. Ni wazi kwamba kulikuwa na upendo mwingi kati ya wanawake hawa.14. They all weep together. Obviously there was a great deal of love between these woman.

15. Wanaendelea kujitolea kwenda pamoja naye, lakini Naomi anawajibu kwa hoja.15. They continue to offer to go with her but Naomi meets them with logic.

16. Anatambulisha dhana ya sheria ya ndugu wa mume (sheria ya Kilawi/Levirate) hapa. Jambo hili litakuwa muhimu zaidi baadaye. Hivi ndivyo sheria ya ndugu wa mume inavyosema, kutoka Kumbukumbu la Torati 25: 5-10. Tunajua kutokana na mafunzo yetu ya Pentateuki (Vitabu Vitano vya Musa) kwamba Mungu aliweka masharti makubwa kuhusu jinsi Wayahudi walivyopaswa kuwatunza wajane na yatima. Kulikuwa na haki kwa maskini kuokota masazo katika mashamba ya wengine. Kwa hiyo si ajabu kwamba sheria ya ndugu wa mume katika Kumbukumbu la Torati iliongoza utunzaji wa mjane. Pia haikuwa desturi isiyo ya kawaida katika tamaduni nyingine za Mashariki ya Karibu ya kale. Wahiti na Waashuru pia walikuwa na utaratibu kwa ajili ya wajane uliotofautiana kidogo. Tofauti kati ya hao wengine na sheria ya ndugu wa mume ni kwamba, katika sheria ya ndugu wa mume, kulikuwa na hukumu mbaya juu ya mtu aliyekataa kuchukua jukumu la kumwoa mjane na kumsaidia kuzaa mwana kwa jina la mume aliyekufa.16. She introduces the concept of the Levirate law here. This will become more important later. Here is what the Levirate law says taken from Deuteronomy 25: 5-10. We know from our study of the Pentateuch that God made great stipulations on how the Jews were to care for widows and orphans. There were rights for the poor to glean in the fields of others. So it is no surprise that the Levirate Law in Deuteronomy governed the care for a widow. As well it was not an uncommon practice in other ancient Near Eastern cultures. The Hittitites and the Assyrians also had accommodations for widows that differed slightly. The difference between the others and the Levirate Law is that there was negative judgment on the person who refused to take the role of marrying the widow and helping her to bare a son in the dead husband’s name in the Levirate Law.

17. Tunafikiri nini kuhusu maneno haya: “Ni uchungu mwingi zaidi kwangu kuliko kwenu, kwa sababu mkono wa BWANA umetoka juu yangu”? Naomi anamwamini Mungu aliye mkuu juu ya yote, lakini pia anaamini kwamba anamhukumu kwa ajili ya dhambi zake, naye hataki adhabu hiyo iwapate wakwe zake.17.What do we think of the statement “It is much more bitter for me than for you because the Lord’s hand has come out against me?” Naomi believes in the sovereign God, but also believes that He is judging her for her sins and she doesn’t want that punishment meted out upon her DIL’s.

18. Orpa anamheshimu Naomi kwa kutii, lakini anarudi kwa utamaduni wake na kwa miungu yake.18. Orpah honors Naomi in her obedience, but returns to her culture and her god’s.

19. Ruthu anamheshimu kwa kukaa naye, kwa kuwachukua watu wa Naomi kuwa watu wake, kwa kumchukua Mungu mmoja wa kweli, kwa kuahidi uaminifu wake kwa Naomi hata hadi kufa. Anaikana nchi yake, familia yake na miungu yake ili amfuate Mungu mmoja wa Kweli kwa sababu ya Naomi. Hili linasema nini kuhusu uongozi, mafundisho na upendo wa Naomi kwa Ruthu hapo awali? Toba kwa mara nyingine. Angalia jinsi jina ambalo Ruthu anamwita Mungu linavyobadilika. Kwangu jambo hili linaonekana kuwa na maana. Kwanza anasema "Mungu wako atakuwa Mungu wangu." Hili ni jina la Mungu linalotafsiriwa kama Elohim. Na linaweza kumaanisha tu kiumbe wa kiungu au Mungu muumbaji, miungu au miungu ya kike, na kwa kweli lilitumiwa na mataifa mengine kumrejelea mungu wao. Lakini kisha anahamia kwa MIMI NIKO Mkuu, jina halisi la Mungu mmoja wa kweli, anaposema "BWANA anifanyie hivyo na kuzidi, ikiwa kitu cho chote isipokuwa kufa kitamtenganisha Ruthu na Naomi." Amevuka kutoka kumwita Mungu "Mungu wako," hadi kumdai kuwa BWANA, MIMI NIKO, Mungu wake.19. Ruth honors her by staying with her, by adopting Naomi’s people, by adopting the one true God, by pledging her allegiance to Naomi even unto death. She denies her country, family, and gods to follow the one True God because of Naomi. What does this say about Naomi’s past guidance, teaching, and love to Ruth. Repentance once again. Notice how Ruth’s name for God changes. This seems significant to me She first says your God shall be my God. This is the name of God that translates as Elohim. And it can simply mean divine being or creator God, gods or goddesses and in fact was used by other people’s to refer to their god. But then she shifts to the Great I AM the proper name of the one true God when she says May the Lord do so to me and worse if anything but death parts Ruth from Naomi. She has made the transition from calling God ‘your God,’ to claiming Him LORD, I AM, her God.

20. Ni wanawake wa Bethlehemu wanaomtambua Naomi. Umuhimu wa wanawake.20. It is the women of Bethlehem that recognize Naomi. The importance of women.

21. Naomi, kwa namna ya kushangaza, anasema wasimwite tena "tamu," bali Mara, "uchungu," kwa sababu anateseka chini ya hukumu ya Mungu juu yake.21. Naomi ironically says to no longer call her sweet, but Mara, bitter, because she is suffering God’s judgment upon her.

22. Jambo la kushangaza: Bethlehemu ilikuwa tupu, ikipitia njaa katika nchi, lakini Naomi alikuwa amejaa alipoondoka Bethlehemu pamoja na Elimeleki na wanawe wawili. Ilionekana dunia yote ilikuwa mikononi mwake. Sasa anarudi wakati Bethlehemu imejaa lakini nafsi yake ni tupu. Njaa ya chakula dhidi ya njaa ya nafsi. Anaondoka wakati wa njaa ya chakula na anarudi akiwa na njaa ya nafsi.22. Irony: Bethlehem was empty, experiencing famine in the land, but Naomi was full when she left Bethlehem with Elimelech and her two sons. It seemed the world was her oyster. Now she returns when Bethlehem is full but her soul is empty. Food famine vs. Soul famine. She leaves during a food famine and returns with a soul famine.

23. Lakini je, kweli anarudi mikono mitupu, wakati Ruthu kwa kweli anaandamana naye, naye anarudi wakati wa mavuno ya shayiri? Tumaini. Kwa hiyo ningesema kuna tumaini mwishoni mwa sura hii.23. But is she truly returning empty-handed because Ruth does in fact accompany her and she is returning during the barley harvest? Hope. So I would say there is hope at the end of this chapter.

Kufasiri:Interpretation:

1. Kwa kuzingatia tunayoyajua kuhusu Mungu na jinsi tunavyopaswa kumtumainia kwa riziki yetu ya kila siku, je, Elimeleki alikuwa sahihi kuondoka Bethlehemu na kusafiri kwenda katika eneo la adui? Ni lini jambo hilo liliwahi kuwaendea vizuri Waisraeli?1. In light of what we know about God and how we should trust Him for our daily bread was Elimelech right to leave Bethlehem to travel into the enemy territory? When has that ever gone right for the Israelites?

2. Kwa hiyo hadithi yetu inaanza kwa huzuni ile ile ambayo kitabu cha Waamuzi kinamalizika nayo. Ni hali ya kudumu ya Waisraeli: kumtumainia Mungu, kisha kufanikiwa na kumpa kisogo. Au kupitia magumu na kumwacha. Lakini tunajua nini kuhusu nafasi ya Mungu wakati haya yote yanaendelea? Msamaha uko tayari daima tunapotubu.2. So our story starts off as dismally as the book of Judges ends. It is the constant plight of the Israelites to trust God, then experience prosperity and turn their backs on him. Or to experience hardships and walk away from Him. But what do we know about God’s role when all of this is going on? Forgiveness is always ready when we repent.

3. Mapenzi kamili ya Mungu na mapenzi yake ya kuruhusu? Sura hii ya kwanza inasema nini kuhusu hilo? Mungu ametupa uchaguzi daima, tangu wakati ule Adamu na Hawa walipochagua kula kutoka kwa Mti wa Ujuzi wa Mema na Mabaya. Tafakari historia ya Waisraeli. Tafakari jinsi Yesu alivyomjibu yule tajiri aliyeshika amri zote za Mungu lakini hakukubali kuacha vyote ili amfuate Yesu. Daima hutupa uchaguzi wa kumfuata na kumtumainia au kwenda njia yetu wenyewe. Hii ndiyo sababu ninafikiri uchaguzi wa Elimeleki na familia yake wa kuondoka katika nchi ya ahadi na kwenda Moabu haukuwa mapenzi kamili ya Mungu bali mapenzi yake ya kuruhusu. Na hilo ndilo hatimaye linalompeleka Mungu wetu msalabani.3. God’s perfect will and permissive will? What does this first chapter say about that?God has always given us a choice from the moment Adam and Eve made the choice to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Consider the history of the Israelites? Consider how Jesus responds to the rich man who kept all of God’s commands but would not give it all up to follow Jesus? He always gives us the choice to follow and trust Him or to go our own way. This is why I think Elimelech and his family’s choice to leave the promised land and go to Moab was not God’s perfect will but His permissive will. And it is ultimately what leads our God to the cross.

4. Hili linasema nini kuhusu matokeo ya maamuzi mabaya? Je, Naomi yuko sahihi kudhani kwamba Mungu anamhukumu, au huenda anamruhusu tu kubeba matokeo ya maamuzi yake mabaya? Je, zamani tumedhani kwa usahihi kwamba tuna Mungu mwenye ghadhabu anayetuadhibu kila hatua? Kwa miaka mingi nilifikiri Mungu wa Agano la Kale alikuwa Mungu wa ghadhabu, na wengi bado wanaamini hivyo. Mnadhani hadithi hii inasema nini kuhusu jambo hilo? Je, huenda tunamlaumu Mungu kwa ujinga wetu, kiburi chetu, tamaa yetu ya kutawala maisha yetu wenyewe? Kila ninachokijua kuhusu Mungu ni kwamba Yeye ni Mungu wa upendo. Kumwaga ghadhabu yake ni jambo la mwisho kabisa analotaka kufanya. Mwangalie Nuhu; angalia jinsi alivyoshughulika kwa uchungu na Ibrahimu kuhusu kuangamiza Sodoma na Gomora. Angalia jinsi anavyokawia sasa. Maisha yangu yote kama Mkristo nilifundishwa kwamba Mungu wa Agano la Kale alikuwa Mungu wa ghadhabu. Lakini tunaona nini hapa Naomi anapoamua kutubu na kurudi nyumbani? Tumaini4. What does this say about the consequences of poor decisions. Is Naomi right in assuming God is judging her, or could He simply be allowing her to suffer the consequences of her poor decisions. Have we in the past assumed rightly that we have a wrathful God who punishes us at every turn? For years I thought the God of the Old Testament was a wrathful God, many still do believe that. What do you think this story has to say about that. Could we possibly be blaming God for our stupidity, our pride, our desire to be in control of our own lives? Everything I know about God is that He is the God of love. Meting out His wrath is the last thing He ever wants to do. Look at Noah look at how He agonized with Abraham over destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. Look at how her tarries now. All my life as a Christian I was taught that the God of the Old Testament was a God of wrath. But what do we see here when Naomi decides to repent and return home? Hope

5. Nini kinatokea Naomi anapotubu na kurudi katika nchi yake ya nyumbani? Analeta uzuri kutoka katika majivu. Sura ya kwanza inamalizika kwa tumaini.5. What happens when Naomi repents and returns to her homeland? He brings beauty from ashes. They first chapter ends with hope.

6. Kifungu hiki kinasema nini kuhusu kujitoa kwa Mungu kwa watu wake aliowachagua na kwa ahadi yake?6. What does this passage say about God’s devotion to His chosen people and His promise?

Kutendea kazi:Applications:

1. Ni lini nimechukua mambo mikononi mwangu ili kujipatia mahitaji yangu badala ya kumtumainia Mungu kwa riziki ya kila siku? Mara nyingi.1. When have I taken matters into my own hands to supply my needs instead of trusting for God’s daily provisions? Plenty.

2. Lo, ni mara ngapi nimejihisi kama Bruce Almighty (mhusika wa filamu), anapomlaumu Mungu kwa taabu zake zote na kumwambia Mungu, “Nipige, ewe mpigaji mwenyezi.” Ni rahisi kumkasirikia Mungu, kumlaumu au hata kumlaumu mtu mwingine mambo yasipotuendea vizuri. Lakini kama Naomi tunaweza kuwa na uchungu na kukata tamaa, wenye moyo uliovunjika na kupondeka kwa yale tuliyoyatenda, na bado tukamtumainia Mungu aliye mkuu juu ya yote kwamba atafanya anachopaswa kufanya ili kuturudisha zizini. Hiyo ndiyo toba. Tumeahidiwa katika Zaburi 51:17: "Moyo uliovunjika na kupondeka, Ee Mungu, hutaudharau." (SUV)2. Oh, how many times have I felt like Bruce Almighty, when He blames God for all of His woes and asks God, “To smite me, almighty smiter.” It’s easy to get angry with God, blame Him or even someone else when things aren’t going our way. But like Naomi we can be bitter, and despondent, broken and contrite over what we have done and still trust that the Sovereign God will do what He must to bring us back into the fold. That is repentance. We are promised in Psalm 51:17 a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.

3. Je, ninaweza kuwa zaidi kama mbwa wangu ambaye, anapokosea, huja kwangu mara moja, huketi, na kunitazama juu kwa macho yaliyojaa unyenyekevu wa toba, imani na upendo?3. Can I be more like my dog who when he’s done wrong, comes immediately to me, sits, and looks up at me with eyes of absolutely contriteness, trust, and love?

4. Ninaweza kufanya nini ili niwe kama Ruthu zaidi kwa rafiki zangu — ambaye anakuja kando ya rafiki yake kwa kujitoa, anakuwa ngome kwa rafiki yake na mama yake, na kuwa njia ambayo Mungu anaitumia kumletea baraka? Katika siku hizi, inaonekana kuna hali ya huzuni duniani kote. Kile ambacho David Brooks anakiita upweke wa ndani wa kuwepo. Dunia inamtafuta mwokozi sasa hivi. Nadhani watu wanaelewa kwamba sayari yetu inakufa. Watu wanaelewa kwamba kwa pamoja tumeiharibu na kuiteka nyara sayari hii. Nadhani watu wamejaa hasira, uchungu, kukata tamaa, huzuni na hofu, na kwa hiyo huu ndio wakati tunaoweza kuja kando ya watu hawa tukiwa na tumaini lisilotahayarisha. Huu ndio wakati tunaoweza kuwaendea, si kwa hukumu wala lawama, bali kuwapenda tu kwa upendo wa Kristo.4. What can I do to be more like a Ruth to my friends, who comes alongside in devotion, who becomes a bulwark for her friend and mother, and the method God uses to bring her blessing. In this day and age, there seems to be a sense of global depression. What David Brooks calls existential loneliness. The world is looking for a savior right now. I think people understand that our planet is dying. People understand that we have collectively raped and pillaged this planet. I think people are full of anger, bitterness, despondency, depression and fear and so this is time we can come alongside these people with a hope that will not disappoint. This is the time when we can come to them, not with judgment or condemnation and simply love them with the love of Christ.