“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.” (Ruth 1:2)

As we open the Book of Ruth one of the first things that strikes us is the meaning of the names of the characters described therein.

• We have Elimelech who was the husband of Naomi and his name meant “My God is King.”

Had the poor man fully realized the meaning of his name he would never have gone down to Moab. Sadly, how many there are today who carry the name, “Christ.” We are called “Christ-ians,” literally “little Christs,” and yet how little are we worthy to bear so marvelous a name.

• Naomi.

The meaning of this name is “My pleasant one.” The word “Naomi” stood for everything that was lovely and delightful. And so should the Christian be “My pleasant one.” Indeed, we are everything to Him. Of us He says, “‘They shall be Mine on the day that I make them My jewels’” (Malachi 3:17). We are His “pearl of great price” (Matthew 13:46). In the Song of Solomon how many times does the Lord speak in glowing terms of His own. We are set forth in that Book as the Shulamite, who embodies beauty, virtue, devotion and self-confidence.

• Mahlon and Chilion.

These two were the sons of Elimelech and Naomi. It seems incredible that the man whose name was “My God is King” and the woman whose name was “My pleasant one” should have had two sons named “sick” and “pining,” yet so it was. This was due to the fact that Elimelech and Naomi did not live up to the glory of their names.

• The name of the town and country where these individuals lived was Beth-lehem-judah.

The meaning of this name is the “house of bread and praise.” It was there that a famine pervaded the land.

How sad, how very sad that so many places where the pulpit should be filled with the finest of wheat, there is nothing there to eat, and in the pew there is a famine for the Word of God!

Guard your heart. Teach your children. Watch and pray.